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Once in a while, I like to break into the vault and smoke one even older than me. Today it's a Natividad Pals from 1951.

Without breaking out ring gauges and tape measure, it looks to be about a petit lancero. At 5¢ apiece, these were about average/slightly above-average for the time. They might or might not be Clear Havanas, the box doesn't specify.

The wrappers are dark and the sticks are still firm, but not dry. These have been with me for years, well-humidified and cool. Look at that cello.


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I cut the absolute least I could from the tip. Pre-light, the smell is slightly floral, perfumy; the draw reveals the same.

Upon lighting, the same floral notes persist, along with grassiness and a slight astringency, like walnuts on the finish.

The first half-inch is more of the same, with those three pervasive flavors fighting for dominance. After that, the grassiness begins to fade, along with the astringency, and what is left is that pleasant perfume; some tobacco notes begin to be noticeable.

I'm so excited that I have to remind myself to sip, not puff. If this isn't Cuban tobacco, then they did a hell of a job with the blend to simulate it.

About halfway in, the floral qualities are barely discernible, and—unexpectedly—what totally dominates is a well-rounded, pure tobacco taste and aroma; some hazelnut in the background, a slight bit of creaminess too.

That pure, old tobacco flavor persists until the last draw, which I take about a half-inch from the tip.

A very interesting experience; I like my small-ring Cuban cigars, and I'd say that anyone else who does would probably enjoy this as well. If my palate favored Carillos or Antanos...probably not.
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very cool review!

Dan
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Gotta say I've got time for any cigars that call themselves "Pals".

I love those boxes, as well, that say things like "exceptionally mild" and also "full flavored". :-) :-)
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You've got the craziest sh!t, Joe ... just amazing
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Enjoyed the review, Joe, thanks! :-)
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I would say that there is little chance they are actually clear havana cigars and I'll tell you why I think so.
But this is only my severely untrained opinion. I have some good basic knowledge, but am nowhere near
expert in this category. But I vote against it in this case.

I would think that during this period of manufacture, companies knew where the world's best tobacco was
being grown and they didn't waste any time in the small print, or in the larger graphics, in telling the consumer
that they were created with the finest havana tobaccos. For it not to be mentioned on the box, and instead
use the words "finest imported tobaccos" would lead me to believe that they used the SECOND finest imported
tobaccos. Just by the fact that you OWN that box, however, means you likely know more about this subject
than I do. :-)
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Nice review Joe, sounds like a great smoke
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I tend to think that you are on the right track at least; I had the same thought.

There is a small chance, however, that they may have used Cuban tobacco; back then, it wasn't as big a deal as it is to us today, being "the forbidden fruit" and all.

Also, Cuba used to supply many of the American cigar makers with leaf and many either chose not to acknowledge provenance, or might have been forbidden from doing so by contract; after all, Cuba was selling leaf to practically anyone who could pay, not like now that they don't export any leaf at all nor private-label any brands. They may not have been eager to announce that they were providing tobacco to makers who sold their goods for 3-5¢ a pop, when they were trying to get more for branded Cuban cigars.

Cuba also had contracts to provide leaf to make Bonded Havanas, which were sold and advertised as using Cuban leaf, and cost twice as much or more as Clears. Those makers (Garcia-Vega was one in the 1940s) may have had either tacit or explicit agreement with Cuba not to let others state provenance and undercut their prices as well.

So, there's a chance, however convoluted.
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Here are some Garcia y Vega Bonded Havanas from 1943; note that even though they were marketed 8 years before the Natividad, they were 2 for 25¢:

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Interesting Review. I would love to have a box like this in my collection.

I did a little research on Coast Cigar Company.

Came up with an ebay listing for a La Natividad Match Book.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NATIVIDAD-CI...-/200643041807
If you look closely you can see "Coast Cigar Co San Francisco"

So I then dug a little deeper and found a business listing from 1949 in San Francisco under "Coast Tobacco Distributors"

http://www.archive.org/stream/polksc...e/390/mode/2up

Connecting the dots here... assuming that the Distribution company in San Francisco is somehow linked to this 'Coast Cigar Co' and given the fact that most Clear Havana's that I'm aware of were made in Tampa (Ybor City) it seems unlikely that these were clear havanas and more likely that they were just your average 5c cigar.

But, that's all a stretch at best. Interesting stuff though.
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There were bonded factories throughout the East Coast prior to the revolution. NYC had a large number of factories as did most of the other large cities. :-)

Thanks Joe, its always nice to read about these rare smokes. :-)
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Very cool review! :-)
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Wow, cool stuff! Two of my favorite things: cigars and history. :-)
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Thanks for the comments, guys, and thanks especially for the research. I enjoy "sharing" these rare smokes with you.
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Great review, I love the look of that ancient cello!
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Wow, great review. I've had the pleasure of smoking a cigar with not so clear celo before, but damn, that $hit is old. I always love hearing about old cigars.
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