Cigar of the Week: Nat Sherman Host Selection

When you think of the Tabacos Rancho Jamastran and Camacho Cigars, your mind immediately conjures up visions of powerful, full-bodied blends like the Camacho Corojo, Camacho Coyolar Puro or Camacho Havana series.

But the father and son combination of Julio and Christian Eiroa can make music at any octave of the cigar world and their work on the Nat Sherman Host Selection proves it.

Already the makers of the mild and elegant Baccarat "The Game" Havana Selection, the Eiroas were asked by the famed retail tobacconist Nat Sherman to create a lively blend at the lighter end of the scale in the 1980s for what was called the "Nat Sherman Host Selection."

It was one of seven lines that Sherman offered with varying tastes and names such as Exchange Selection (named after Manhattan telephone exchanges), Landmark Selection (Manhattan landmarks), Gotham Selection (famous addresses), Manhattan Selection (Manhattan neighborhoods), VIP Selection (famous New Yorkers), City Desk Selection (newspapers) and the Host Selection, named after well-known New York families, all beginning with the letter "H."

All are gone now except for the Host – with its distinctive blue band – which has survived because of its accessible style and reasonable pricing. It features a medium-brown Connecticut Shade wrapper and combined with Honduran-grown binder and filler leaves, produces a marvelously sweet and rich caramelized flavor that stays consistent from beginning to end. Its flavor is untroubled by spiciness or even a trace of a peppery finish; a pure pleasure for those of us with a terminal sweet tooth.

This cigar has a mild body, so it’s presence in the mouth isn’t all that much, but that’s part of its charm. This is a social cigar, one to enjoy with friends. It’s easy to smoke, easy to enjoy and isn’t taxing or so subtle as to ask for your constant attention. It also burns well and doesn’t tire you out as you enjoy it. In our CigarCyclopedia.com tasting, the Host Selection earned a grade of "A: Exceptional" for its consistency in construction, flavor and a straightforward, honest approach.

It also comes in regal-looking chests that are quite useful after the cigars are gone. And at suggested retail prices of $2.75 to $4.40 each (not including local tobacco taxes), they’re quite reasonably priced. The line comes in seven sizes, from the small Hudson at 4 3/4 inches by 32 ring to the double corona-sized Hampton (7 x 50). You best bets are the perfectly-balanced, Toro-sized Harrington (6 x 48) or the clever Hanover, a short torpedo of five inches and 56 ring.

(Rich Perelman is editor-in-chief of CigarCyclopedia.com, offering comprehensive daily coverage of cigars, accessories, issues, people and prices at www.CigarCyclopedia.com.

Cigar Cyclopedia

12/26/07

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