Originally released in 2019 as part of Smoke Inn’s Microblend Series, the Red Meat Lovers comes from Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust in partnership with the South Florida based Red Meat Lovers Club. It wasn’t the only limited edition cigar released by Saka in 2019 that would be added to the 2023 portfolio. The other cigars were the Mi Querida Firecracker from Two Guys Cigars & United Cigars which donned a red band that year and would become Triqui Traca. The other cigar Polpetta was too born out of Two Guys Smoke Shop’s Meatball Event.
The Red Meat Lovers come in 4 sizes Beef Stick (6 x 48), Red Meat Lovers Club Filet Mignon (5 x 54), Ribeye (6 x 52) and Porterhouse (6 x 60). All of which are box pressed with the exception of Beef Stick which is in the round.
Cigar Review: Red Meat Lovers
Size: Ribeye (6 x 52)
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: San Andres Negro
Filler: Nicaragua & USA (Pennsylvania)
Debut: October 2023 (Regular Production)
Box Count: 10
Final Smoking Time: 2 hours 33 minutes
The Cigar: Unless you are versed in all things Steve Saka you would have no idea this was a DT&T cigar as there is no branding anywhere on the cigar. The box pressed Red Mead Lovers features a very toothy looking Broadleaf wrapper with a pigtail cap. It’s oily, heavy in the hand and the foot is well packed.
The Taste: The cold draw of the RML serves up a bitter dark cacao and oak with a touch of anise in the background. The anise is more noticeable off the foot of the cigar which also has a some leather present. Once the cigar is cut and lit there is a balance of sweet and spicy which catches me off guard.
As we progress through the first third I expected the cigar to be much stronger with its combination of Nicaragua and Pennylvania fillers. Instead, the nature sweetness of the Broadleaf shines through. There is a berry like sweetness with hints of oak as the primary components. Additionally the cigar sees a subtle mocha and nuttiness while the retrohale has hints peppercorn and various spices.
In the second third, the Red Meat Lovers Ribeye begins to lose some of its sweetness as hints of coffee beans begin to emerge with a subtle dark chocolate in the background. Occasionally the cigar sees nuances of cinnamon and nuttiness but the coffee beans are dominant throughout the second third. The retrohale continues to offer black peppercorns with a touch of cayenne added to the palate.
Moving on to the final third notes of red pepper begins to emerge on the palate with nuances of cinnamon and leather. There is an oak component lingering in the background along with earth and a continued coffee bean. The finish of the cigar has a subtle sweetness while the retrohale has a lot of cayenne spice to it.
Conclusion: Steve Saka has been involved in some of the most sought after cigars in the market like Liga Privada as well as heavily debated cigars like the, is it sweet tipped or not, Sobremesa Brûlée. He’s opinionated and at times long winded, love him, tolerate him or dislike him one cannot deny he makes great cigars. The Red Meat Lovers adds to his lengthy resume of cigars where I really can’t recall a flop. This slow smoking medium-full bodied cigar is complex and balanced and while pricing north of $15.00 have become the norm and this one stands apart.
Score: 95
Price: $15.45 (Before local & state taxes)
