Steve Saka should be paying royalties to David Garofalo of Two Guys Smoke Shop. Just like he should be paying royalties to Abe Dababhah at Smoke Inn. Why you make ask? 2023 saw the announcement that limited edition shop exclusives would become regular production smokes.
First off was the Red Meat Lovers which started as Smoke Inn exclusive and now Polpetta is a regular release after being launched for David Garofalo’s Meat Ball event which occurs every January. It’s not first time for Two Guys either as Steve Saka took the Mi Querida Firecracker and turned it into Triqui Traca.
I wonder how much longer until U-Boat (four sizes, Ohio, Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia) or Dondurma become a regular production? Not that it would be a bad thing!
Cigar Review: Polpetta
Size: 4 x 48
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. (NACSA)
Debut: January 2020, (Regular Production: January 2024)
Box Count: 20
The Cigar: The Rothschild size cigar features a band off white and gold denoting Polpetta while the back of the band has a fork holding a meatball. In the hand the small cigar features a toothy oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The cigar is perfectly rolled, well packed and heavy for it’s size.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Polepetta is musty with notes of barnyard (hay, cedar) and the aroma from the foot reveals more of the same though it is more muted.
As we smoke through the first third there are notes of earth, coffee and cedar and just before we quickly get to the second third a raisin like sweetness develops. The retrohale is meaty with a subtle sweetness and very little pepper though it does enhance the earthy qualities.
The second third continues to see notes of coffee and cedar with a growing amount of pepper that is noticeable on the resting aroma of the cigar. It has me thinking, “This is one spicy meatball” but actuality its medium to medium-full at most. As the second comes to a close a hint of chocolate begins to emerge.
The last third sees leather notes become dominant with coffee and dark chocolate in the background. It’s a delicious experience but just like eating a meatball or two, you want more!
Conclusion: Polpetta is a mixed fill cigar, but you would never know it. According to Steve Saka despite having table cuts (small bits of tobacco instead of whole leaf) the cigar also incorporates full leaf in the filler. The result is a cigar that is friendly to the wallet which isn’t common in the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust portfolio. The price and taste of the Polpetta allows me to grab a handful every time I visit my local tobacconist.
Score: 91
Price: $7.30 (Before local & state taxes)
