Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the The Wise Man Firecracker from the 2022 release. This is a cigar blend previously assessed back in November, 2017 in the Robusto size.

Wrapper: San Andres Mexican
Binder: Corojo ’99 (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A.
Firecracker: 3 1/2 x 50

In 2017, Nicholas Melillo’s Foundation Cigar Company released a Maduro counterpart to its El Güegüense cigar called “The Wise Man”. El Güegüense was Foundation Cigar Company’s initial release. The name comes from the Nahuatl language (a Central American Indigenous language) which translates to “The Wise Man.” For the Maduro release, Melillo opted to make the English translation the primary name of the release. The cigar went on to receaive a massive amount of accolades in 2017, including #8 Cigar of the Year in 2017 on Cigar Coop. In 2021, the Wise Man blend was selected to become one of United Cigars’ Firecracker Series. With the Firecracker Series, United Cigars teams up with leading manufacturers to produce a 3 1/2 x 50 vitola with a long fuse – resembling a Firecracker. For the Firecracker releases, distribution is handled by United Cigars. Fast forward to 2022, and a second batch of the Wise Man Firecrackers was released. Today we take a closer look at the 2022 version of the Wise Man Firecracker.

In addition to the San Andres Maduro wrapper, the blend features all-Nicaraguan tobacco for the binder and filler, including a binder from the Jalapa region. Production comes from Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A., the factory better known as TABSA. One difference with the Firecracker is that while most of the core line is box-pressed, the Firecracker is a parejo (rounded).

The Wise Man Firecracker opened up with notes of roasted coffee, earth, cedar, cocoa powder, and a mix of black and white pepper. The coffee notes moved to primary early on. There were a few times the cocoa snuck into the forefront with the coffee. The mix of pepper notes was the most prominent of the secondary notes with the cedar and earth notes in the background. The second third saw the cocoa notes diminish, and the pepper notes did increase slightly toward the end, but did not eclipse the coffee notes in the forefront.

The flavors delivered were medium to full in body, countered by medium to full strength. Both the strength and body balanced each other nicely throughout the smoking experience. The burn did require more touch-ups than I prefer. While I normally like a touch of snugness on the draw, the Firecracker was a little tighter than I prefer.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Overall the Wise Man Firecracker was an enjoyable cigar. In terms of how it stacks up with the core box-pressed offerings, I found it bolder in terms of strength and body. When rating it against the box-pressed core line offerings, I didn’t find the Firecracker offered a better experience. Still, the Firecrackers are fun cigars to smoke and the Wise Man Maduro is no exception. This is a cigar I’d probably steer toward a more seasoned cigar enthusiast. As for myself, it’s certainly a cigar I would buy and smoke again.

Summary

Key Flavors: Coffee, Cocoa, Earth, Cedar, Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Very Good
Complexity: Medium Minus
Strength: Medium to Full
Body: Medium to Full
Finish: Very Good