Description
Blackbird Cigar Co. Minnesota Fats Aged 5+ Years (Not Barrel Aged)
Size: 4.5×58 Box Press
Vitola: Short Gordo Box Press
Wrapper: Brazilian Cubra
Binder: Indonesian
Fillers: Pennsylvania Ligero, Corojo Viso, Cuban Criollo 98 Viso, Cuban Criollo 98 Seco
Flavor Notes: Leather, chocolate iced shortbread cookies, oatmeal, oak, roasted nuts, sage, rosemary, licorice, charred wood, black pepper, cinnamon gum, graham cracker, minerality
Pairing Notes: Cappuccino, flan, roasted nuts, bourbon, whiskey, rye, apricot-peach iced tea, root beer barrel candy, cream soda, rum and coke, pork dishes, brie cheese, vanilla sundae with fudge and peanuts, red Twizzlers
Manufacturer: Blackbird Cigar Co. (Dominican Republic)
Privada Storytelling
The Minnesota Fats is the grand finale of a saga that began with Fast Eddie and The Vince, each release a nod to the pool-hall legends of The Color of Money and its predecessor The Hustler. While Jackie Gleason’s portrayal of Minnesota Fats never made it into Scorsese’s sequel, his legend inspired the final chapter in this trilogy. A big man deserved a big ring gauge, and so we end on a bold, box-pressed 58.
Each release in this series has been a study in how a simple change—length or width—reshapes an entire smoking experience. This cigar was blended at Blackbird by “Caballo,” a master roller once hailed as Davidoff’s fastest, producing a record-setting 500 cigars in an eight-hour shift. Caballo represents the unsung artisans of the craft cigar movement, those whose names seldom leave the factory floor but whose work shapes the culture we celebrate.
Now, after five years of Privada-controlled aging, Minnesota Fats emerges as both a tribute and a farewell. It’s big, bold, complex, and unapologetically rich—fitting for the close of a story about legends.
Flavor Journey
First Third: The opening surprises with a sour cheese note off the body and chocolate chip cookies off the foot. The draw reveals Fig Newtons, dried apricot, and granola before shifting into leather, iced shortbread cookies, oatmeal, oak, light brown sugar, and gritty black pepper. Roasted nuts anchor the flavor while the retrohale bursts with cedar, black pepper, cashew, and sage.
Second Third: The cigar evolves toward herbal brightness with sage, rosemary, and dried basil layered over salted mixed nuts, graham cracker, and minerality. Leather deepens, while retrohale sharpens into Big Red cinnamon gum, more sage, and a refreshing menthol coolness through the nose.
Final Third: Darkness and depth define the finale. Hickory, charred oak, and cedar combine with sage, black licorice, and a stronger pepper core. The cigar finishes savory, woody, and bold—like the last shot in a high-stakes pool game.
Why It Belongs in Privada
Privada doesn’t just release cigars—it documents eras. The Minnesota Fats marks the conclusion of a trilogy that embodies storytelling through tobacco, showing how one blend can become three entirely different experiences simply by changing vitola. Aging it over five years has unlocked a new level of depth, making this cigar not only a celebration of craft but a capsule of Privada history. It stands as proof of why Privada matters: preserving moments, elevating artisans, and turning cigars into legends.