Martial Law by Nomad Cigar Co. | Cigar Reviews by the Katman

Wrapper: Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 50 Toro
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $12.00 MSRP
Number of cigars smoked prior to review: 1

Today we take a look at Martial Law by Nomad Cigar Co.
Thanks to a reader for the sticks.

BACKGROUND:
Factory: Fabrica Oveja Negra

From Fred Rewey on the Nomad Cigar Co. web site:
“For nearly 15 years, I was simply an appreciative cigar smoker.
Then it all changed…
Just over three years ago, at the urging of people in the cigar industry, I boarded a plane and headed to Dominican Republic and the small town of Tamboril.
Mostly a fact-finding trip that later led me to the tobacco fields of Nicaragua.

I admit it. I am not your typical cigar maker.
I am not a 40th generation Cuban.
I did not work side-by-side with my father in the tobacco fields starting at the age of four.
I do not have countless family members all raised in the art of growing, blending, and rolling cigars.
Nope, I was never that lucky. But I did have a very important game plan.

Check the ego at the border.
Every time I cross the border to Dominican Republic or Nicaragua I check the ego at the door.
The people living there have tobacco in their DNA. I can spend the rest of my life there (and I seem to be trying) and not know 1/10th of what they know.

Nomad’s success is due to nothing more than learning all I can and not cutting corners
• Work with great tobacco.
• Blend to showcase the tobaccos greatest attributes
• Quality construction

My blending skills are simply the result of time spent in the thick of it, playing with as much tobacco as I can get my hands on.
I spend approximately three months a year abroad. And that time could be the most enjoyable part of the process. Sure, I love the events and meeting people…but that almost seems like the celebration party after a cigar is ready.
It is no secret that I modeled the business side of Nomad after some of the world’s best – but with my own twist, passion, and influence.

I truly hope you enjoy Nomad cigars, tell friends, and join me* on this incredible journey.
Fred “GodFadr” Rewey
Founder, Nomad Cigar Company, Inc.”

Fred Rewey is a simple man. But what he didn’t mention is that he was the inventor of the following medications: Cialis, Staxyn, Levitra, Sildenafil, Edex, Stendra, Muse, and Maalox. Someone got to Viagra before he did.

Now about Martial Law. Fred’s mentor was Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr…the now, and still, dead former president of the Philippines. Part of his internship was to try on all of Imelda Marcos’s shoes before she put them on in case of shoe bombs. Fred also had to start President Marcos’s limo before the limo driver got in.

Fred also became the Head Kleptocrat of one of the smallest countries on the planet: Liechtenstein. There is no statue of him.

Why the Martial Law? He wanted an amped up version of Esteli Lot 8613.
The new cigar features tobacco from all four regions of Nicaragua; Jalapa, Condega, Esteli, and Ometepe.
Now you know everything.

DESCRIPTION:
The oily stick is has hues of chocolate and pecan on its semi-toothy wrapper.
No seams visible but lots of small veins. The triple cap is absolutely splendid in its application.
Odd but true, one of the few actually round sticks in my possession. Futzing around in warehouse storage, handling, shipping, humidor stuffing; and cigars rarely maintain their perfect circumference. This one does.

AROMAS AND COLD DRAW POINTS:
From the shaft, I smell sweet floral notes, honeysuckle, chocolate, cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and buttered rye toast.

From the clipped cap and the foot, I smell the same notes as above but with the addition of a potent red pepper and, for the first time ever ladies and germs…fresh cut horseradish…just a touch.

Growing up, I was forced to eat Gefilte fish. The worst. A fish cake stored in a bottle in its own jelly and refrigerated. It looked like a giant fish dumpling. The only way I could eat it was dumping mounds of horseradish on it. Then…all I tasted was the hot stuff.

The cold draw presents flavors of milk chocolate with red pepper overtones. Creaminess, cinnamon, gingerbread, floral notes, cedar, baking spices, rye, and malt.

FIRST THIRD:
I’m dying to try this blend. I do expect to rave and rant about this blend so put your seat belts on. And God bless….

Whamo! Flavors jump out at me on the very first puffs. How irregular and surprising for any cigar. Usually takes a few puffs to get any blend into first gear.
Chocolate, coffee, malt, creaminess, red pepper, cedar, gingerbread, and sweetness.
How splendid.

The red pepper accelerates through the curve. It does half a dozen doughnuts on my palate leaving my nose and sinuses flowing with human lava. I do three quick sneezerinos in a row. Now my nose is back to its usual stuffiness. Kleenex to the aid! (If I had a dime for every time I said that growing up…I’d be a rich man).

The creaminess kicks in with the mighty thunderbolt of a pearl necklace.
Back in the 90’s, at friends’ house for dinner, that phrase came up. I had no idea what it meant. I was in my mid-40’s! The gorgeous, drop dead beautiful hostess explained it to me in great detail. She was a witch as I felt something stirring in my loins as she painstakingly described it. Oy Gevalt!
So I went home and tried it out on our dog. Didn’t like it.

Now, I’ve reviewed 10 different Nomad blends. All winners. Over the last few years, Fred has been a real show off. Each blend stands on its own but you can feel his growth right along with him. Always a pleasure to try a new Nomad. Few cigar manufacturers I can say that about.

Construction is excellent. Nice char line. I didn’t realize what a heavy cigar this is until I let it hang from my lips while typing. Fully packed. Perfect draw.

The Martial Law by Nomad Cigar Co is gearing up for something great. The early potential of this blend has me balls all a’ twitterin’, mate.

Strength is just about to hit medium/full at this early stage. Going to be a power house.
The “It” factor hits hard and heavy right this moment in my timeline.
Flavors are swimming and complexity kicks in. Transitions begin.

I wish I could have allowed this stick more humidor time but I have a time constriction as the end of the year is nigh.
Thankfully, Nomad Cigar Co. is a New Breed style outfit. Things mature much more quickly, than say a CAO?

Graham cracker replaces the ginger bread but that gingery taste still lingers on my tongue.
A gentle smoothness appears tapping down the strength of the cigar.
Fruits make an appearance: Black cherry, raisin, and dried apricots (for some tang) and dried mango (for intense sweetness).
The flavor profile becomes an out of control Ferris wheel with folks riding it screaming with laughter and some of them puking.
OK. The puking part was taking it a little too far.

The Nomad site says only that the wrapper is Habano. The Estelí Lot 8613 uses an Ecuadorian Habano and the rest; like the Martial Law, uses strictly Nicaraguan binder and filler.
I read my own review and damn…I’m describing some of the same flavors. The only difference is that the Martial Law starts out with a punch to the throat.

SECOND THIRD:
Smoke time is almost 40 minutes.

There is a struggle inherent in this blend. Designed to be an “amped up” version of the Estelí Lot 8613; yet it is so smooth that I predict the ratcheted up Martial Law won’t hit like a sledge hammer.
No sooner did I finish typing the last sentence when I get bitch slapped by the Martial Law.
Holy crap! The plutonium has landed.
For a moment, I go blind. My forehead sweats. My tush feels a sharp pain.
Oh. I sat down on top of the cat after taking a photo. My bad.

I hate using the term “well-rounded” so I will use it. It is such a vague, inconsequential term if put in the wrong hands. Speaking of hands, my arthritis bothers me. But…due to 50 years of bass playing, I still have the strength and callouses in those phalanges. I can choke you to death with one finger. Your pick.

The spiciness has taken a break. In its place, the sweetness of the dried fruit, creaminess, chocolate, malts, and candied coffee influences the direction of this blend.
Gingerbread went to graham cracker and then moseys on to buttery shortbread. The caraway element brings the rye malt to a head.

Next time you attempt a brat fest at home, throw the sauerkraut in at the end to warm it up and cook it a bit….But always throw in some caraway seeds to make it genuine German. Trust me when I say there is no upcoming shortage of sauerkraut and brats here in Wisconsin.

Hot damn. I don’t know why I thought of this but anyone old enough out there that remembers Groucho’s TV show, “You Bet Your Life?”
On it, he gets a contestant. This is their conversation:
“Woman: “I have 14 children, Groucho”.
“Groucho: “You have 14 children? Why do you have so many kids?”
“Woman: “Because I love my husband”.
“Groucho: “I love my cigar too, but I take it out of my mouth every once in a while.”

I see no reason to ever take a cigar out of my mouth. And besides, Charlotte is 66 (She’s just a kid). Don’t think we will have any more children. Although…I’m doing my part.

The Martial Law by Nomad Cigar Co. is making me slap happy.
Fred, my kindele, my bubbelah….you have created another baby Jesus miracle.
Spice returns. Must have needed a break. Black pepper this time around.

Halfway point.
Smoke time is one hour.

You like toasted bagels with melted butter? I do. I’m getting an insane flavor of buttered, toasted bagel. There is a tiny, tiny chain of bagel shops here in Milwaukee. Only place to get authentic NYC bagels. My dear wife becomes an eating machine if I also buy some Smoked Sockeye Coho Salmon. If I dare touch it, I get water boarded.

Martial Law by Nomad Cigar Co. is performing Irish Riverdance on my palate.

Strength hits full body with extreme prejudice. Fred often likes to shave his head and recite all the Marlon Brando lines from “Apocalypse Now.” I hear he is very good.

This is the portion of the show where I usually say this is the best blend this manufacturer has ever produced. I cannot say that in this case. Nomad is so diverse in its blends that each not only stands on its own but each and every blend excels in performance and depth of character. Just another notch in Fred’s Winchester.

The myriad of flavors are all intact. Blossoming under the new FDA rules. (Threw that in. Ptooey on the FDA).

Sweetness soars. You name it, it’s got it.
If you haven’t tried the Martial Law by Nomad Cigar Co., then I must instruct you to stop reading me and buy some.

The entire blend has been one big sweet spot. But now…the sweet spot has left the planet for an elliptical orbit around the cosmos.

The next “time capsule” satellite is launched, it should have a couple of Martial Law sticks in it. How else will aliens know what we do best? (That’s the royal “We.” I had nothing to do with it.)
Killer cigar.

Another manufacturer that made the same deal as Robert Johnson.

The Martial Law by Nomad Cigar Co. is so packed that it has become an adventure that only Ramar of the Jungle would understand.

Listening to music. Smoking my Fred blend. It’s snowing like crazy. It is arctic cold (Currently 3° but going up to 11° this afternoon). I’m warm and comfy and I’m happy.

The Martial Law is now so complex that my puny brain is spinning.
Pepper and malts are killing it. The espresso is decadently strong. Sweetness keeps the blend balanced. And the strength makes my lips do the snigger that Elvis was famous for. Thank you.
Not a lick of nicotine.

LAST THIRD:
Smoke time is one hour 25 minutes.

Nirvana…without Cobain. Bliss…without genuflecting. Warmth…without the heating pad.
Oozing character. (I get a mop).

“Heaven, I’m in Heaven,
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak;
And I seem to find the happiness I seek.”

Jinxed the nicotine comment. Heeeere’s Vitamin N!
But not so bad. I don’t foresee hallucinatory effects.

How does a guy without three generations of cigar family do this? He studied hard. He walked hard.
A place awaits this cigar in my 2016 list.

The finish is so long that I take naps between puffs.

It’s almost over. I could easily smoke this cigar all day long. Different sticks; not the same one.
Rewey creates shock and awe with his techniques.
The shock part is over for me since I sat on my cat. Now, I’m just left with awe.

The significance of this blend is staggering. Explodes from the starting gate and increases in pure persona and disposition til your ‘nads hurt.

On that poetic note, the Martial Law by Nomad Cigar Co. expires.
Big smile!

Final smoke time is two hours 5 minutes.

RATING: 96