Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the Privada 1928 Steamboat is dark brown and has some thick, raised veins. The seams are a bit raised and the caps have some wrinkled edges. The band is white, yellow, black and red and denotes Privada Cigar Club, the line name and has an image of Steamboat Willie. The aroma from the wrapper is damp wood and earth, while the foot brings cedar and some light earth. The pre-light draw brings airy cedar with a bit of stone fruit sweetness.
Seth: The Privada 1928 Steamboat is an average cigar in appearance. The wrapper of the cigar is not attractive, but rough and rustic, and while the band coloring pops against the cigar, I am not a fan of what is going on with the band. Small to medium sized veins throughout, the cigar has some oily qualities and marbled coloring throughout. Colorado Maduro to Maduro with aromas of earth, cocoa, coffee and spices.
John: The Privada 1928 Steamboat came in cellophane and had a UPC sticker on the main cellophane body to remain intact when opened. There is a single band indicating 1928 and Privada Cigar Club in a white background and yellow background respectively. I weighed the cigar at 14.8 grams and measured the humidity at 61.2% with the HumidiMeter Pro. Aromas from the wrapper included sweet tobacco and wood. Out of the foot, I could detect the same notes of sweet tobacco and wood.

Privada 1928 Steamboat

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with toasted and lightly creamy cedar along with mild earth and black pepper. The retrohale is toasted cedar with some dry earth a bit behind. At three quarters of an inch in, the earth increases a bit. At an inch and a half in, the earth is now right behind the toasted cedar. As the third comes to a close, the toasted, creamy cedar is just ahead of the dry earth while the black pepper remains in the background. The strength was slightly below medium.
Seth: The first third begins with some faint cocoa and coffee bean notes. There are some earthy and tobacco qualities present as well and the finish is of faint spices. Medium in strength and body. Possibly just below medium-full.
John: Tobacco starts the first third with wood following and mild to light strength leather on the finish. After just a few puffs, earth joins the leather on the post draw. As the first third settles in, light spices move into the center of the retrohale. The leather on the post draw moves up to medium strength as the first third continues. Progressing to the halfway point, sweet tobacco joins the retrohale with a raisin-like sweetness.

Privada 1928 Steamboat

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the earth mellows just a bit, giving the toasted, creamy cedar a bit more of a lead in the profile. At a half inch in, a light chalkiness joins the profile. The retrohale is now toasted cedar, earth and chalkiness. At an inch in, the black pepper picks up a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted, creamy cedar is a bit ahead of the earth, with black pepper not much further behind and some chalkiness in the background. The strength bumped up to medium.
Seth: The second third is in line with the first. Not wowing, but delivering those coffee, cocoa, earth, tobacco and barnyard notes. Medium to medium-full in strength and body. Fairly in line with the first third.
John: Creamy earth kicks off the second third with medium earth and leather finishing. The earth is the primary flavor component on the post draw, building to medium plus strength. The earth falls to medium minus as the second third continues. Creamy leather joins the main profile by the halfway point and the retrohale takes on mild spices and earth. Through the bottom half, the earth ranges in strength up to medium-full on the finish.

Privada 1928 Steamboat

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the black pepper picks up a bit more. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and earth with some chalkiness and black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the toasted, creamy cedar is ahead of the earth and black pepper while some chalkiness remains in the background. The strength remained at medium.
Seth: The final third is a continuation of the second. The cigar is not unpleasant, but it is lacking in complexity and some wow factors. Solid profile of coffee, cocoa, earth and tobacco. Faint spices. Medium-full in strength and body.
John: Creamy earth is the initial flavor impression with some mildly acrid earth into the finish, lingering between each draw. That acrid note fades as it continues, with the profile being driven by slightly creamy and dry wood and medium minus strength dry wood on the post draw. Some intense honey-like sweet tobacco joins the profile after the re-light, as the acrid char returns to the finish.

Privada 1928 Steamboat

Burn

Aaron: The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on through each third.
Seth: The burn was consistent from beginning to end. Nice burn line throughout.
John: The burn was straight through the first and second thirds, becoming wavy in the last third, where it eventually went out, requiring a re-light.

Privada 1928 Steamboat

Draw

Aaron: The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.
Seth: The draw was solid from start to finish.
John: The draw initially started at 2-1/2 to 3 notches into the resistant spectrum, but early into the first third, opened to 1-1/2 to 2 notches into the resistant spectrum which lands as a very good rating for draw.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with toasted and lightly creamy cedar along with mild earth and black pepper. The second third saw a light chalkiness join in. The final third saw the black pepper move up to become even with the earth. The Privada 1928 Steamboat had an average flavor profile throughout. The flavor components moved around in fullness, creating some transitions, but not enough to truly make the cigar exciting. Overall, not a cigar that did enough to make me interested in coming back to it.
Seth: I am not sure what is going on with the Mickey Mouse Steamboat theme, but it’s not a nostalgic cigar because of the blend and packaging. I guess if I went to Disney World, I would smoke these? This Privada 1928 Steamboat is not a bad cigar, but not much going on with the blend. I am not crazy about the packaging and themes, and I don’t think the cigar is attractive as well. Average in every category.
John: The Privada 1928 Steamboat was pleasant enough in the first and second thirds, with the flavor combinations never quite delivering complexity or significant engagement. The last third was somewhat off-putting with heavy earth and an acrid quality on the finish. The draw was slightly into the resistant spectrum once it settled and the burn required a single re-light in the final third. Minor burn issues aside, the overall flavor delivery was fairly unremarkable for me and it isn’t something I would see myself returning to. Total smoking time was 2 hours and 20 minutes on the nose.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.50

Cost/Point

$2.36

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.25

Cost/Point

$2.48

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

5.05

Cost/Point

$2.57

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Privada 1928 Steamboat