Betsy Ross cigar. Rolled in PA 1916~. Likely a clear Havana. Purchased about 10 years ago from a fellow BOTL on this board. A few of these are floating around and I've seen one review that made me a bit apprehensive.

Feb 22 2017. 65 degrees outside.

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Appearance: Cello is brown and shows the cigars age. Out of cello, the cigar displays a hard crystallized plume. I thought it was mold before unwrapping from the cello. Feels slightly dry and firm but kept at 65 for the last 10 years.

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Pre draw- light mild tobacco. Tea notes. Perfect draw.

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My concerns about this one being either off or dead are immediately pput to rest after lighting. It's good! After lighting predominant tobacco flavor with bitter chocolate and cinnamon notes. Brown full smoke.

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1/3 hints of cherries and walnuts. Much more complex then I was expecting. Burning crooked. Still a little bit of pepper on the finish for a 100 year old cigar. Perfect amount to not over power the complex flavor.

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1/2 Chocolate predominant. More black pepper. Pepper & tobacco getting more now dominating. Back to dark chocolate. Floral notes on nose exhale. Really delicious!

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2/3 floral notes picking up. Sweetening with notes of cinnamon & graham on exhale. More black pepper on finish. Label off Ash fell. Burn evening.

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Getting close. Slight bittering. Slow draw Full bodied full flavored tobacco walnut notes. Still tasty. Oak notes on finish. Peppery. Fingers burning. Slower draw reveals some sweetness and fruity notes but it's close. Getting too hot. Have to put it down.


Just a beautiful and delicious cigar. Much better then I could've expected and even could've hoped for. Very complex and spicier then I'd expect for such and old cigar. Glad I finally smoked this one.
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Awesome review. I have a clear Havana circa 1919 I plan to smoke in two years. Can only hope it's half as good as yours.
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That's very cool. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for the great review. More jealous I could not be.
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Very cool! Thanks for the fine review!
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I'm with Yoda on this. :-)
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Awesome review and cool smoke, thanks!
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Yoda with this I am on.
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:-)
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Excellent review and crazy it's 100 years old!!!! I might have a 100 month old cigar laying around but probably not any older then that :-)
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Great review, I'll have to pick up a box. :-)
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Wow! That was kinda cool. I do not ever expect to smoke anything like that.

Thanks for the journey!

Peace of the Lord be with you.
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Glad you guys liked the review! I liked the cigar and have another one sitting in my humidor. I'll probably wait another 100 years for that one.

Honestly, though. I wish I could find some more clear Havanas. They're harder to find then pre-embargos.
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Great to see you around Adam, I smoked one of these probably 5 years ago, mine was a little more flat than yours but still had a fair amount of flavor to it, just didn't change as much. Thanks for posting this :-)
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Yes. I knew of a few of these around and hadn't heard the best things. I was really pleasantly surprised. I was really expecting more rotten cheese and mildew.

For me, all of the flavors were exactly what I was looking for in a cigar.
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It's been a while but the words "musty tobacco" come to mind
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Sounds like a great experience, Adam. I've had some mega-old cigars that were pretty decent, but nothing like the complex flavors you got from Ole Betsy.

I have a 1998 Bolivar Royal Corona that I am waiting to smoke in 2098. :-)
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Glad to hear you had a good experience with it...I'm still sitting on a couple of those too!
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Awesome review and pics! Thanks!
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Great Review & Pics!:-) Thanks, Adam!:-)
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