Originally released as a 7 ¼ x 48 Long Belicoso in October 2016, the Krueger is the 9th Monster after Frank, Wolf, Drac, Face, Mummy, Jason, Jekyll, and Hyde. The dress box this cigar was originally released in is quite neat and fitting to the name, as it mimics the sweater that it’s namesake, Freddy Krueger, wore. The sides are designed to look and feel like Krueger’s face. Per the norm, 666 of these dress boxes were released to an Unlucky 13 retailers, with 5,000 plain, 10-count boxes being released. This makes this the largest release, I believe, to this point in the original Monsters lineup.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 ⅜ x 48 let’s call it a corona gorda maybe.
Release Date: September 2021
Company Website: https://www.tatuajecigars.com/
Expectations
I have smoked an aged full sized Krueger, and from that I anticipate full flavor and body with a profile that includes earth, pepper, cocoa, some earthier spices, and some minerality. The aged cigar, if I recall, showed some nice nuance without much strength, but I assume this Monster Mash release will show some strength that builds into the final third.
Prelight Characteristics
The wrapper is quite veiny and milk chocolate in color. The vein structure and texture reminds me of Cuban wrapper leaf. The cigar is light and a bit spongy. I really like the hunter green band with red font, and given it is two days after christmas, it still seems festive. The cigar smells of coffee that has cocoa notes to it. The cold draw is sweet and creamy like strawberry milk.
First Third
The cigar starts off with medium-full body and medium flavors of sugary sweetness, leather, and some slightly bitter wood and earth on the finish. The retrohale is fruity and chocolatey. About an inch in there is not much to update on in the flavor profile. It is performing fairly well with the exception of necessary double puffs to get decent smoke output. Nearing the end of the first third I get the first hint of minerality and there was a brief moment of slightly sour acidity.
Flavor - 2/4
Performance -2.5/3
Experience - 1.5/3
Overall - 6/10
Second Third
The ash dropped right at the start of this third. The cigar is showing some nice tangy chocolate notes, a slight minerality, and very slight earth. Approaching halfway the retrohale is getting a sugar sweetness with a touch of cocoa and pepper. The profile is consistent through halfway. It’s about medium-full in flavor and medium in body. There is no strength to this point. The retrohale starts with some pepper and wood and the finish of the retrohale is loaded with chocolate. The end of this third sees the flavor bump up to full and add a bit of pepper to the draw.
Flavor - 3/4
Performance - 3/3
Experience - 2/3
Overall - 8/10
Final Third
The final third starts to see a bit of charred wood play a bigger role in the profile. The chocolate has lost the tangy sweetness and is more of a dark chocolate. Approaching the band the pepper and earth are coming up. There is a touch of charred wood left and the chocolate is on the finish and getting sweet again. The retrohale is still pepper and wood forward with sweet chocolate on the end. Into the band the wood and pepper are becoming more prominent on the draw. The burn and performance have still been great. Closing out this third there was never a strength build, and the only flavor change is a bit more of a pepper and earth.
Flavor - 2.5/4
Performance - 3/3
Experience - 2/3
Overall - 7.5/10
Overall Experience
The cigar had a total smoke time of about an hour and 40 minutes. This was not exactly what I anticipated, but in a good way. I really enjoyed all the chocolate notes throughout, especially how well balanced it was with the softer wood, pepper, and earth. The cigar performed wonderfully throughout, the only knock was the double puffs that were required in the first third. All in all, I think this was a solid cigar and among one of the bigger surprises for me in this series. I think I would have liked to have seen a bit more boldness in the profile and maybe some signs of strength coming in as the cigar closed out. I enjoy when decadent, chocolatey cigars transition in flavors in the final like this cigar did, but with a bit more oomph.
Final Score - 7/10
This Monster Mash box was purchased by me through UpDown Cigar in Chicago. Feel free to reach out to me with questions, concerns, criticisms, or just to talk at @guitarsandcigarsfarm on Instagram, or via email at trevor@whiskeyandwhitetails.com.