Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the Patina Anniversary is a marbled medium brown, with well pressed veins and a fine grit sandpaper feel. The seams are slightly raised and the caps are very well applied. There are two bands, both in a pastel green, copper and white color combination. The primary is the standard design for the company and carries the company name, while the secondary strip band denotes Anniversary. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of earth and cocoa powder while the foot brings wood, earth and light breadiness. The pre-light draw brings musty cedar and floral perfume along with a very mild spice on my lips.
Seth: The mint green, white and brass coloring really pops off the dark wrapper of the Patina Anniversary. Beautiful presentation and cigar. This is top notch presentation. The Broadleaf has a great maduro coloring, really the color of dark coffee beans. Heartiness on the wrapper with lots of bumpy tooth. Leather texture with medium veins throughout. Aromas of rich earth, chocolate, barnyard, espresso, tobacco and sweet spices.
John: The Patina Anniversary comes in cellophane and does not have a UPC sticker. There are two bands present with the Patina primary band and a simple, but easy to read, thin secondary band. Aromas from the wrapper included barnyard, mossy earth and an aged wood. From the foot, I was getting sweet tobacco, and a combination of hay and earth.
Jiunn: The Patina Anniversary has a great looking wrapper, providing an oily and rustic Colorado Red. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and the head is well wrapped and capped. Aromas from the wrapper tell of cedar, hay and black tea. Aromas from the foot give a blast of black pepper spice and rich nuttiness. Cold draws reveal hay, rich nuttiness and aged cedar.

Team Cigar Review: Patina Anniversary

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with a detailed toasted cedar, baking spice and light mustiness. At a quarter inch in, some earth joins the profile. At a half inch in, the earth is now right behind the toasted cedar and a light meatiness is now present. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth and light mustiness. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and earth are even up front with the baking spice a bit behind and light mustiness and meatiness in the background. The strength was medium-full.
Seth: The cigar begins with damp wood, rich earth, strong cocoa and espresso notes. Mineral and pepper qualities present, but in a really good way. Lots of tobacco. Filling and balanced. Medium-full in strength and body.
John: Mild wood leads off the first third, with chocolate on the retrohale. A creamy, medium-minus baking spices develops after a few puffs. As the first third settles in, mild leather is present on the finish and retrohale. The profile remains consistent for the remainder of the first third, with the flavors finding a natural balance point.
Jiunn: The first third shows a proper Connecticut broadleaf experience. Rich in cocoa, hay, dirt soil and leather tannins. Retrohaling brings almost a Mexican hot chocolate sensation. The finish is long with a mixture of cocoa and dried red pepper spice. Strength is medium and body is medium-full.

Team Cigar Review: Patina Anniversary

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the profile has become slightly dry. At a quarter inch in, the baking spice transitions to black pepper. At three quarters of an inch in, the black pepper takes on a light creaminess. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth, black pepper and light mustiness. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and earth are up front with lightly creamy black pepper just behind and light mustiness and meatiness in the background. The strength remained at medium-full.
Seth: The second third shows a continuation of rich earth, coffee and cocoa flavors. Espresso, black pepper and rich spices present as well. Tobacco and leather on the finish. Medium-full in strength and body.
John: Medium strength baking spices start the second third, with chocolate and wood to follow. As the second third continues, some mild chalkiness develops in the center of the profile, with chocolate to offset. The profile remains consistent, with the chalkiness falling to a background note approaching the halfway point.
Jiunn: The second third adds a wonderful creaminess to the profile. The creaminess mixed with the cocoa is awesome. Furthermore, the wood and spice notes elevate, which makes the profile become much fuller. Strength and body remains medium and medium-full, respectively.

Team Cigar Review: Patina Anniversary

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the black pepper becomes slightly sharp on some draws and the meatiness has increased a bit. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth, zingy black pepper and light mustiness. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar and earth are up front with sharp black pepper just behind and light mustiness and meatiness in the background. The strength remained at medium-full.
Seth: The final third delivers that rich earth, coffee and cocoa flavor profile. Espresso, black pepper and rich spices present as well. Tobacco and leather on the finish. Medium-full in strength and body.
John: The last third greets me with creamy chocolate, and a spicy wood center that lingers well into the post draw. Medium wood is present on the finish as the last third settles in. Some light-plus earth moves into the post draw as the Patina heads to the halfway point. Medium tannic wood settles into the post draw by the halfway point. Medium baking spices move into the center of the profile, at times reaching medium-plus and lingering between draws.
Jiunn: The final third’s flavor profile isn’t as amazingly full as the second third, but it still holds its weight. Still a great mixture of cocoa, leather tannins, cedar and dried red pepper spice.

Team Cigar Review: Patina Anniversary

Burn

Aaron: The burn was slightly wavy at times, but never needed any correction. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.
Seth: Perfect burn from start to finish.
John: The burn was straight in the first third, with a minor uneven burn in the second third that never required intervention. Straight burn through the last third.
Jiunn: Burn performance was perfect. Even burn, ample smoke production, tight ashes and cool burning temperature.

Team Cigar Review: Patina Anniversary

Draw

Aaron: The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.
Seth: Perfect draw.
John: The draw was right in the ideal zone between open and resistant.
Jiunn: Flawless draw, giving the best balance between air flow and resistance.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with a detailed toasted cedar, baking spice and light mustiness. Some earth joined in fairly quickly. The second third saw the baking spice transition to black pepper and it took on a creamy component a bit later. The final third saw the black pepper drop the creamy component and become a bit sharp. The Patina Anniversary had a nice flavor profile through the first two thirds, dropping a level in the final third as the creaminess dropped from the black pepper and it became a bit sharp. This is a nice Anniversary release from the brand that doesn’t have a lot of new releases. The price point is high, but I could see myself coming back to this from time to time.
Seth: If Surgeon does not have an incredible experience with this cigar, I am quitting. I found this Patina Anniversary to be a great Broadleaf offering. Great Anniversary cigar. The Broadleaf profile is not revolutionary, but it is a very good profile. It has a quality that is connected with HVC’s first Broadleaf, some of Pete’s, Steve Saka’s, and Nick’s Broadleaf releases as well. There is this NACSA quality to the Broadleaf as well that I really enjoy. I feel like NACSA has this rustic quality that is old school flavors with strength and body. It’s an enjoyable mineral spice that has richness, sweetness and pepper. Great Patina release.
John: The Patina Anniversary did a consistently good job of showcasing some of the best flavors Connecticut Broadleaf has to offer, while delivering engaging flavor combinations through every single third. The burn and draw were perfect, a great representation of a premium anniversary cigar release. I think the Patina Anniversary is going to go down as one of the more memorable Broadleaf’s released in the past few years. While the price point is on the higher end, it’s consistent with what we typically see with an anniversary release and the cigar delivered consistent flavors and perfect construction. I would happily smoke the Patina Anniversary again if I had the opportunity. Total smoking time was a long 2 hours and 23 minutes.
Jiunn: I hope Mo is debiting cash and crediting AR for this Patina Anniversary because everyone should go buy it. It’s been a while since I smoked a legit, true Connecticut broadleaf. One that sings harmoniously of cocoa, earth and spice. Although a small brand, Patina should be deeply looked into, especially the cigars coming out of NACSA.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$2.98

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

7.52

Cost/Point

$2.66

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

7.17

Cost/Point

$2.79

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.52

Cost/Point

$2.66

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Patina Anniversary