Chimolly The 'Dynasty' Series | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

I don't know about you, but every single time I say Chimolly I say "holy" right before it. That's right, we're reviewing the Holy Chimolly. Why do I do such a thing? I have absolutely no idea. Maybe ask your mom. Founded in 2024 by Zhuofeng Weng, Chimolly started out as a cigar accessory company making handmade porcelain ashtrays before storming the scene with some bangers of sticks. I've worked my way through their entire catalog, and every single stick hits, and they hit real nice. Can you find these anywhere? Probably not. If you can, should you buy them? Probably yes.

BUY CIGARS HERE or BUY CHIMOLLY HERE

🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: The 'Dynasty' Series Robusto E

Master Blender: Zhuofeng Weng - From ashtrays to ash makers, the ultimate career pivot

Size: 6 x 50

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo

Binder: Mexican San Andrés

Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican

Price: $16-18

Aging: Fresh from February 2025 release

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Perfect. Like breathing through a $100 bill.

Burn: Straighter than your uncle's political opinions at Thanksgiving

Smoke Output: Thick as morning fog in San Francisco

Ash: Holds like it's got separation anxiety

The Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper presents with a beautiful sheen and excellent construction from the Mi Havana Factory in Estelí. The blue band distinguishes this Dynasty from their red-banded Pangu sibling. Chimolly's "It's all about texture" philosophy delivers immediately - the smoke has a creamy, syrupy quality that coats the palate like an overzealous CBD salesman at a farmers market. Which is probably why I LOVE these sticks. Texture over flavor every day. FIGHT ME! No draw issues, no burn problems, just solid construction from a brand that's newer than most of your streaming subscriptions.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: THE PEANUT GALLERY

roasted peanuts, light spice/retro, bread

Roasted peanuts dominate the opening, creating that ballpark atmosphere without the $15 beer. Light spice tickles the retrohale while bread notes provide a foundation. The combination creates a PB sandwich profile minus the jelly - basically what you ate in college when the dining hall was closed, but at least this time it's intentional.

SECOND THIRD: THE NUTTY PROFESSOR

almonds, toast, light spice/retro, leather, light dried fruit

The peanuts evolve into almonds like your friend's dietary restrictions after their third wellness retreat. Toast replaces bread, adding a charred element that pairs beautifully with the continuing light spice. Leather enters alongside hints of dried fruit. The Mexican San Andrés binder shows its influence here, adding depth while maintaining that signature creamy texture.

FINAL THIRD: CEDAR POINT

charred cedar, toast, leather

Charred cedar takes command, bringing campfire vibes without the awkward silence of actual camping. Toast maintains its presence while leather intensifies. The Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers finally show their full character, delivering a robust but balanced finish that lasts longer than most people's gym memberships.

BUY CIGARS HERE or BUY CHIMOLLY HERE

🏆 THE VERDICT:

A- TIER

Flavor: A

Construction: A-

Availability: D (Good luck finding these)

Price: B+

For a company that launched in 2024, the Dynasty punches above its weight class. The blend shows sophistication beyond what you'd expect from a second release. At $16-18 it's priced like it knows what it's doing - bold for a newcomer but the quality backs up the confidence like a trust fund kid who actually earned their promotion.

📊BOTTOM LINE

The Holy Chimolly Dynasty delivers a journey from roasted nuts to charred wood that feels both familiar and unique. This isn't just another Nicaraguan factory pumping out me-too blends for Instagram cigar bros. Weng has created something with actual identity, even if finding these requires the dedication of someone hunting for Taylor Swift tickets. The texture philosophy isn't just marketing - it's a legitimate differentiator in a market more saturated than your uncle's Facebook feed with political memes.

TLDR: If you can find em, buy em - just remember to say "holy" first.

Foundation The Tabernacle Knight Commander - Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Nick Melillo received the title of Knight Commander of the Ethiopian Star of Honor from the Ethiopian Crown Council in recognition of his contributions to Ethiopian heritage. Including but not limited to the time he tossed a cat a distance of three American football fields. This prestigious honor, originally established by Emperor Menelik II in 1889, inspired the creation of this limited-edition perfecto. The Knight Commander follows the same blend as the regular Tabernacle but in a 6 3/4 x 52 perfecto shape, with 100% of net proceeds going to the Royal Ethiopian Trust for education, cultural restoration, and community development in Ethiopia.

BUY TABERNACLE HERE

🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: The Tabernacle Knight Commander

Master Blender: Nicholas Melillo - Chief of the Broadleaf and apparently an actual knight, which is more titles than most LinkedIn profiles

Size: 6 3/4 x 52 Perfecto

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Mexican San Andrés

Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí and Jalapa)

Price: $40

Aging: 15 months cedar aging post-roll

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

The construction presents beautifully with the signature oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper that Foundation is known for. Initial draw was slightly plugged - a little action with the PerfecDraw cleared that right up faster than deleting your browser history before a work presentation. Decent smoke production once opened, though less than a standard Tabernacle. The smoke has a notably chewy texture that coats the palate. Nice cream notes emerge immediately at light up, and if you know me, you know that I love that cream.

🎯 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: THE BROADLEAF BREAKFAST

cream, espresso, dark chocolate, slight spice/retro

Cream leads the charge, followed closely by espresso and dark chocolate notes that create a mocha-like profile. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper shows its character immediately with rich, earthy undertones. A slight spice appears on the retrohale, providing complexity without overwhelming the creamy base. The chewy smoke texture enhances the chocolate notes, creating a dessert-like quality that pairs perfectly with morning coffee - or your third energy drink if you're keeping it real about your caffeine dependency.

SECOND THIRD: THE EQUILIBRIUM

cacao, cream, coffee, smooth retro

The blend transitions smoothly as cacao replaces the dark chocolate, becoming more refined and less bitter. Cream maintains its presence as a binding element while coffee notes intensify. The retrohale has smoothed out considerably from the first third, losing its edge but maintaining interest. This is where the 15-month cedar aging plus additional humidor time shows its value - the flavors have married beautifully, like a couple that actually still likes each other after quarantine.

FINAL THIRD: THE FOUNDATION

earth, espresso, cream

Earth emerges as a new player, grounding the sweeter notes from earlier. Espresso returns with increased intensity, accompanied by the persistent cream that has been the cigar's backbone throughout. The Mexican San Andrés binder's influence becomes more apparent here, adding depth to the earth and coffee combination. The finish is long and satisfying, with the chewy texture maintaining consistency to the nub - lasting longer than most people's New Year's resolutions but actually delivering on its promises.

BUY TABERNACLE HERE

🏆 THE VERDICT:

B+ TIER

Flavor: A

Construction: B+

Availability: B

Price: C+

At $40 a pop, this is a two-year-aged Tabernacle that delivers on its premium promise. While it had less smoke production than its regular Tabernacle sibling, the flavor complexity and progression make up for it. The fact that all proceeds support Ethiopian charities adds philanthropic value to an already excellent cigar - you can finally tell people you're into philanthropy without them assuming you just watched a YouTube video (too soon) about tax write-offs. Limited to 700 boxes annually, this perfecto showcases why Melillo earned his "Chief of the Broadleaf" moniker.

TLDR: Great stick, but save yourself the money and get a Tabernacle.

Plasencia Alma Del Cielo by Plasencia | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Oh baby, the soul of the sky. If anyone has followed me for a while knows that I love Plasencia as a brand as much as they love naming their cigars after souls. From top to bottom, they are a unified brand. They own the tobacco, they own the factories, and it shows. This particular soul comes from tobacco grown at an unprecedented 3,500 feet above sea level at Finca San Julian in Condega, Nicaragua - making it the world's first high-elevation cigar.

Check out this sick 1 of 1000 Plasencia Lighter

BUY PLASENCIA HERE

The farm was originally a cattle and coffee operation owned by Nestor Andrés Plasencia's grandmother, sold in 1961, then repurchased by Nestor Sr. in 1998 as a surprise gift for his wife. I'd be hard-pressed to find a brand with as many quality blends and vitolas. Padron comes to mind, but Plasencia seems a little less snooty, more approachable like your weird uncle from Reno.

🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Alma Del Cielo Boreal(weird way to say Toro)

Master Blender: Nestor Andrés Plasencia

Size: Toro (6 1/8 x 54)

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan (including high-altitude tobacco from Finca San Julian)

Price: ~$26.50

Aging: Meticulously aged tobaccos, organically cultivated

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Excellent if not slightly loose draw that flows easier than conversation at your ex's wedding. Tons of flavor and smoke production at light up - no waiting around for this cigar to get going. The construction is solid with a beautiful golden-hued wrapper that showcases the craftsmanship. Silky smoke texture coats the palate with a medium-long finish that lingers pleasantly.

🎯 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: THE OPENING ACT

Sweet Cream, leather, tobacco, slight spice/retro, cashews

Sweet cream and leather dominate the initial draws, creating a luxurious entry point. The tobacco presents itself clearly alongside these primary notes. A slight spice on the retrohale keeps things interesting without overwhelming - like that friend who brings just one conspiracy theory to dinner parties. As you approach the second third, cashew notes begin to emerge, adding a nutty complexity to the cream and leather foundation. Light pepper maintains a consistent background presence throughout.

SECOND THIRD: THE COMFORT ZONE

cream, cashews, leather, spice has diminished

The cream and cashews take center stage while the leather remains as a supporting character. The high-altitude tobacco's influence becomes apparent here, with the cooler nights and direct sunlight at 3,500 feet creating distinctive flavor nuances. The spice that was present in the first third has diminished significantly, allowing the creamy nuttiness to shine through. This is where the cigar finds its groove - smooth, balanced, and approachable. It's performing better than your investment portfolio but with less anxiety.

FINAL THIRD: THE HOMECOMING

tobacco sweetness, leather, some earth, light nuttiness

Tobacco notes become more prominent as we enter the final stretch, joined by leather and some earthiness. The organically cultivated, high-elevation tobacco exposed to mountain breezes and nourished by an untouched natural stream shows its terroir here. The complexity has simplified into core flavors that are robust but not overwhelming, which is how my wife describes my....Moving on. The finish remains consistent and satisfying through to the nub.

BUY PLASENCIA HERE

🏆 THE VERDICT:

A- TIER (WITH AGING POTENTIAL!)

Flavor: A-

Construction: A

Availability: A

Price: B

Is this the best Plasencia? No. Is it good? Yes! With some age on these bad boys, they will be absolute bangers. As the fourth release in the Alma series following Fuerte, Campo, and Fuego, this cigar represents Plasencia's continued innovation in premium tobacco cultivation. The use of high-altitude tobacco creates a unique profile that sets it apart from traditional valley-grown cigars, but not super different. The construction is excellent, the burn is even, and the progression from creamy sweetness to earthy tobacco is well-executed.

💨 BOTTOM LINE

The Alma Del Cielo demonstrates why Plasencia has earned its reputation as both a premier grower and manufacturer. This isn't just marketing fluff about altitude - the unique growing conditions genuinely translate to the smoking experience. At around $27.50, it's priced appropriately for the innovation and quality. While it may not dethrone the Alma Fuerte as the line's heavyweight champion, it offers something different: a medium-bodied journey that showcases what happens when you take tobacco cultivation to new heights, literally. Give these some time in your humidor and they'll reward you like finding an unopened box of thin mints in the freezer - unexpected but deeply satisfying.

TLDR: Pretty damn good, but pretty damn expensive