TX Duo Review - Crux Ninfamaniac Dark c2015

[Çnote]

I got in trouble smoking cigars on a work trip in 2005, so wasn't paying attention to NC trends and brands until about 2015 or so. Getting back into cigars at that time, the NC kool kids were smoking Lanceros and Ninfas. There's still a few brands regularly making them, but looking at review sites from back then, there seemed to be a lot more. I do distinctly remember ordering mystery bags from vendors with the notes 'no skinnies please' as a 10 pack could easily be 7 Lanceros and Ninfas, and I was looking more for PCs and Robustos. I certainly remember these being highly touted, and was surprised to find packs of these in the wild last fall, although these came from a collector downsizing. I do recommend you be very careful if you Google for these, it's just a letter or two away from very NSFW.

I didn't cut the foot. Blast of bitter high cocoa chocolate that never fades. Almond and hazelnut skins. My initial cut was way too tight, but a snip and we're back on track. Picks up a clove and nutmeg pattern going into the 2nd third, and becomes a chocolate mousse at about 1/2 way. Removing the band immediately changes the game, pumpernickel and cream cheese become the dominant profile. Incredible transition. I'm guessing that's the blend as opposed to removing a choke point as the band easily slides right off. It was pretty rich before, but now it's like motor oil.

Smoke is velvet, construction seems spot on, no relights and barely a wave on the burn line. With a couple inches to go, this could easily be cigar of the month, picking up rum raisin, dark treacle, a trace of ginger cake. Intense enough to feel the hiccups start. Picks up some rich espresso at the climax.

I'm really looking forward to @Capn_Jackson's copious notes with retrohales, I tried today but it wasn't happening.

Call this a solid 91, barely finicky at all and worth every puff.

[Capn_Jackson]

Smooth, dark wrapper. Can’t find a single seam. Some bumps and veins, and a great wrapper aroma. Barnyard, a little coffee. Lighting up this closed-foot cigar, I get so many delicious things…through a very tight draw at first. Great tobacco, bright roasted coffee, glazed doughnut, and rye bread. Draw is better immediately after burning through the foot..

Going on, so much Upmann DNA. I text @Çnote “Is this secretly an Upmann?” The doughnut glaze combines so well with coffee and cream, just a heavenly smoke so far. Some blueberry comes in. I thought cranberry at first but there’s no tart. Cobbler-sweet.

Moving on, coffee becomes a more prominent figure. Still sweet glaze and berries, but coffee-forward. Creamy mouthfeel, good smoke output even sipping it, and such an excellent finish. Almond ganache. 

Second third is laden with cappuccino, and also some linden honey. A small burst of pepper in the nose that was not there before, but it’s only on the front of the puff. Doesn’t get in the way. If anything it adds a nice little kick.

Hot outside today. The perfect weather for wasps, and of course our back porch is a magnet for them and hornets. Inevitably, one of them gets me on the arm. Flushing pain for a second or two, and then it’s back to the cigar. I’ve been stung so many times on this porch, our girls joke that I’m going to become some radioactive superhero. Don’t know about that, but it’s a fun thought.

Going into the last act, there’s a marked change. Still coffee and some honey, but now there’s more cocoa and damp earth. Honey soon turns to molasses. Whereas before this had no strength to speak of, it’s getting a few notches over medium now. Ends a little bit hot and muddled, but some good notes of gingerbread and dark prunes before the nub. Great burn. Fantastic construction. Really a great stick today, thanks Cody!

[Çnote]

@Capn_Jackson that is looking like the same cigarz. I hope I can retro next time for all that berry goodness you got.

[Capn_Jackson]

The glazed doughnut is what sticks out most, hours later.

[Cigar Surgeon]

Ninfas are great, love the Ninfas.

[Hoosh]

I hate to raise a thread from the dead, but I just came across a box of these last night. There were four packs of the natural and four of the dark (Five cigars in each wrapper). I passed on them because they were $10.19 + tax for each cigar, so ~$60 for the fiver. I had never heard anything about them prior to seeing them last night so I passed on them. Now, I’m wondering if I should go back and pick them up…?

[Çnote]

I've made worse cigar decisions. Skinny isn't my daily go-to, but I should probably go look to see if there are any of these left.