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Initial Smoke

Smoky cedar planks pulled from the grill, mineral and medium soil, and a slice of sticky fruit cake slide across the tongue and nose. Underneath, an enticing herbal touch adds intrigue, as oiled leather and wet wood waft from each retrohale. Spiciness is present, but in medium amounts, and the overall feel of initial impressions is quite favorable.

1st Half

Mineral notes riding high on a wave of gingerbread and black licorice turn the first third into this mouthwatering spiced cola taste, as spicier candied ginger and cinnamon sugar add some sweetness to the smoke swirling about. Retrohales have gone a tad nutty and make the medium-bodied smoke texture feel right at home on the nostrils and tongue, as a resinous stack of cedar spills forth on the tail of each exhale. 

Medium-length finishes are preluded by dark chocolate mixed with white, stronger cola spices, and that herbal, ginger-backed bottom end. Soil and sun-grown tobacco tastes and smells are everywhere by now, and the whole mineral cigar flavor profile seems to have staked out its own little nook in the center of it all. From an overall assessment viewpoint, the central section of this premium cigar blend is equal parts impressive, potent, and persistent in its unrelenting pursuit of the cigar flavor profiles previously described.

2nd Half

Persistence and patience both pay off in the second half, when all of the criollo leaf in the filler starts to wake up. While the Habano 2000 wrapper likely accounts for 70–80% of the flavors and aromas detected while smoking, just like any other premium cigar, the contents within the filler still play a part, with aromatics, body, and strength being the three primary components. 

While the Dominican Piloto Cubano leaf definitely adds some oiled leather and spicy strength to the experience, it is the criollo combo that strikes my palate and nose as the most notable. Earthy, sweet, full-bodied, and built around a bowl of dried dark cherries, there wasn't much for me to complain about in the final third of this cigar, save for the stick running a touch hot at times.

Parting Puffs

Spicier, oilier, hotter, and rolled up in a wet bundle of funky, rain-soaked firewood, parting puffs continue to be the Achilles heel of this premium cigar blend. At some point, it would be nice to have one of these blends taste right once I get past that beautiful band. But alas, I have yet to encounter a Certitude that can deliver the goods in the extra inning, even after smoking every vitola the company offers.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Although I have had a few sticks burn a bit wonky on me, the vast majority of the Certitude vitola line has produced a solid smoking experience when it came to performance. My review stick was no different and delivered an even burn top to bottom, with very little ash flake or discoloration along the way. If I had to complain about something, it would be that the draw was a touch on the tight side, which forced me to puff a touch harder than I normally would, which may have resulted in the heat felt in the final third.

Final Thoughts

Allotting bonus points for pleasant and/or impressive parting puffs is something that, to the best of my knowledge, can only be found in an official Klaro cigar review. Since day one, I have taken it upon myself to factor anything worth burning beyond the band into consideration when conducting a review, and per usual, there's a reason for my actions.

All too often, I see people setting down a cigar instead of debanding it and soldiering on to see where the next transition takes them. Perhaps it is the fear of encountering the acrid taste of oily resins, tar, char, and various other unpleasantries commonly encountered when inhaling the burnt remnants of combusted organic matter. Maybe they are ready to call it quits after puffing for a couple of hours and consider the paper ring on the cigar as an unofficial stop sign. 

Whatever the reason, I view parting puffs as the bonus level in a video game and will almost always keep going. Just in case there's a secret treasure trove lying in wait just beyond that cigar band. Sadly, like quite a few other cigars on the market, parting puffs is where Certitude misses out on some crucial bonus points, which is a bit of a letdown considering how good every other section is up until that bitter end.

However, the blend does smell and taste absolutely incredible all the way up until you get halfway through, where the band once sat. Each cigar band also has its own little note-taking box on the back, along with a QR code for those wanting to learn more about the blend, and the pull tab on the back makes it relatively easy to remove the paper when the time comes. So, a handful of bonus points were allotted for marketing and packaging creativity and practicality. 

Now, for those of you who are looking for the nuts and bolts of the matter, and don't give a shit about anything other than a final assessment, take note. Certitude is, without question, one of, if not the most, mineral-rich cigars Klaro stocks. It goes heavy on the soil and leather without backpedaling for a second, then backs it with a bunch of cedar, and then sprinkles some brighter ginger, nut, and fruit notes throughout to support the cola and baking spice mixture. All rolled together, this makes for a fairly intense, consistently enjoyable cigar with great transitions, clean retrohales, and a balanced body that builds to near full once you near the finish line. 

Overall Balance & Repeatability