Tiger Kitty Soft Paws by Black Label Trading Co. | Cigar Review

Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder and Filler: Undisclosed
Size: 5 x 52 “Robusto”
Body: Medium
Price: $9.00

Today we take a look at Tiger Kitty Soft Paws.
Thanks to my neighbor, Travis, for the 5 pack. He is 25 and I’ve taken him under my tutelage. We don’t smoke together that often because who wants to sit with an old man and smoke a cigar? But I did give him some Grand Daddy Purple, that a California reader sent me, so he returned the favor. I made sure that he gets all the email updates from the online stores, that count, on his smart phone.

The cigars were produced by Black Label Trading Company at their Oveja Negra factory in Esteli.
Only 500 cigars were released.
I got mine yesterday and smoked one ROTT and it had that wonderful fresh rolled taste so this was the time to strike.

DESCRIPTION:
This is a jam packed cigar. Feels very heavy in the hand. But the perfect amount of give when depressed.
The oily, beige wrapper is a little funky looking with exposed loose seams, lots of veins, and slightly sloppy quadruple caps.
The cigars are very round which you don’t see very often.
The only adornment is a blue ribbon footer. So, a plain looking cigar.

AROMAS AND COLD DRAW NOTES:
From the shaft, I smell cinnamon, gingerbread, spice, cream, milk chocolate, coffee, cedar, and citrus.
From the clipped cap and the foot, I smell strong red pepper, cinnamon, cream, milk chocolate, cedar, coffee, barnyard, and citrus.
The cold draw presents flavors of milk chocolate, dried fruit, red pepper, cream, coffee, spice, cinnamon, citrus, and cedar.

FIRST THIRD:
Last night’s first Tiger Kitty Soft Paws had a wavy char line the first 25%. I did not touch it and voila….the remainder of the cigar provided a razor sharp burn line.
Now, less than 24 hours later, we shall see what we shall see.

First up to bat is a blast of black pepper. Followed by nice gingerbread cookie and creaminess. A slight touch of milk chocolate and coffee. The next pair is malt and citrus. And lastly, a healthy dose of cedar.

Regardless of the construction issues, I will not blame the manufacturing. I am an anxious boy for not waiting as I wanted to capture that special fresh rolled taste that has such a short window. Although, here in SE Wisconsin, the weather has been gorgeous with the temps in the 60’s. So now we enter March’s rainy season.
The Tiger Kitty Soft Paws is a slow smoke. It lies heavy between my lips. Nice.

The char line is behaving but I have a wrapper crack near the foot. Like I said earlier, not the cigar’s fault. Toxic shock syndrome from extreme temperature, and humidity, change.
Strength is medium body…on the money.

There is a nicely aged flavor to it…in addition to the fresh rolled flavor.

I’ve never been able to train my palate to definitively recognize what that flavor, as a whole, really is. It something that tells you that you’ve hit the blender’s intent just like that pop up button on the Butterball turkey.

A touch of caramel comes through. Making it taste like a caramel latte because of the coffee and cream.
The spiciness has all but disappeared.
Last night’s cigar had plenty of pepper to spare. Even resting overnight can change the flavor profile somewhat. I should have reviewed it last night but I wouldn’t get a single decent photo. If there is such a thing for me.

SECOND THIRD:
Smoke time is 25 minutes.
I know this is a silly thing to point out but the ribbon footer on the Tiger Kitty Soft Paws cigar is a stout mother. It is thick and feels good to the touch. It isn’t the usual flimsy, thin ribbon seen on 99% of other cigars with a ribbon footer. They skimped on the cigar band but did not so on the ribbon.

Spice returns. Nice.

I’ve burned through the crack now. The flavors provide a kick in the ass.
Here they are: Red pepper (I know, it keeps changing), creaminess, chocolate, coffee, citrus, cedar, caramel, cinnamon, fresh berries, malts, and gingerbread.

Strength reaches medium/full.
The ash is hanging tough.

I’m very impressed with this cigar just like the J.W. Marshall by BLTC. Both are big leaps as far as I’m concerned. Sure, the other blends are very good. But these two blends are “Special.”

I discover a new flavor in the back of my throat. It is part mineral, part earthiness, and part graham cracker.
The halfway point is upon me.

Smoke time is 45 minutes.
Strength remains at medium/full.

And the flavor profile is singing opera to me.
In comparing the Tiger Kitty Soft Paws with the J.W. Marshall, I’d say the latter has a slight edge over the former. The reason? The Marshall starts off at medium/full and gets stronger. It is just a preference, not a knock on the TKSP blend. I just prefer stronger cigars. Plus the spiciness was more consistent throughout the cigar experience of the Marshall.
But I am, in the end, splitting hairs as each blend has its own attributes that put a big smile on my puss.
The char line has, for the most part, been spot on. Only a couple minor touch ups required.

LAST THIRD:
Smoke time is one hour 5 minutes.
Strength is a touch above medium/full.
The black pepper is going strong.

So are the other flavors. Nothing new to add just intensity and complexity.

The time to go back and try the balance of my 5 pack will be in a couple months or so and a good time to compare.

I reviewed the RP Hercules the other day. Clearly, the cigar is not well thought of or there would be more reviews. But in the rush to be the first on the block, reviews were done too soon. Thanks to John Moyer for sending me a stick with a couple years on it, I got to really taste the blender’s intent. But it is a total mystery as to why some cigars fade from time and others flourish. The Hercules flourished.

This is a fine cigar. But it didn’t have that big oomph at the start like the JW Marshall did. Small thing really. Still gets a good rating.
The last third is magic time.

The complexity is stunning. The balance and finish are luxurious.

The spiciness is right where I like it. I never would have had a chance to get this stick if not for my neighbor Travis and Grand Daddy Purple (“Introduced in 2003 by Ken Estes, Granddaddy Purple (or GDP) is a famous Indica cross between Purple Urkle and Big Bud. This California staple inherits a complex grape and berry aroma from its Purple Urkle parent, while Big Bud passes on its oversized, compact bud structure. GDP flowers bloom in shades of deep purple, a contrastive backdrop for its snow-like dusting of white crystal resin.
“Its potent psychoactive effects are clearly detectable in both mind and body, delivering a fusion of cerebral euphoria and physical relaxation. While your thoughts may float in a dreamy buzz, your body is more likely to find itself fixed in one spot for the duration of GDP’s effects. Like most heavy Indica varieties, Granddaddy Purple is typically pulled off the shelf to treat pain, stress, insomnia, appetite loss, and muscle spasms. GDP blesses growers with massive commercial yields which are ready for harvest following a 60 day flowering time indoors.)

Where was I? Who’s my Daddy? What day is it?

One thing that really impresses me about Tiger Kitty Soft Paws is the construction. It is a hearty soul for being able to hold up after its long trip. No undue wrapper issues. A good and steady char line. Never gets soft. And that long steady ash.
And no nicotine.

It is a real shame that manufacturers are developing this trend that if you don’t have the dough to buy their cigars on the first day of its release, you are SOL. They should want to share it a little more. Not necessarily a regular production blend…but come on….give the customers a few days to get their finances in order if they have to.
So why am I reviewing a cigar you can no longer purchase. Merely to document its existence…that’s all. Like a silent fart in the woods. If no one is there to hear it, does it exist?

The Tiger Kitty Soft Paws finishes with lots of flair. No harshness. No heat. Firm to the touch. And a boat load of flavor.
Good on ‘yer BLTC.

RATING: 90