Description
Churchill's Cat
Size: 6 x 54
Vitola: Toro
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo and Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Condega, Nicaragua
Fillers: Jalapa, Nicaragua
Flavor Notes: Sweet cedar, graham cracker, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, red pepper, tamarind, toasted brown sugar, baking spice, roasted nuts, orange peel, clove, toasted grain
Pairing Notes: Café con leche, spiced chai, aged rum, tamarind candy, graham crackers, caramel flan
Manufacturer: Lanuza Family Cigars
Privada Storytelling
Churchill's Cat started with a question.
What if we could take the idea of a barber pole cigar and do something completely different?
Brian had been pushing Raul Lanuza to create something unusual. Not another traditional barber pole with two wrappers running along the entire cigar. Something that could actually change the smoking experience as you moved through it.
The idea was simple.
Instead of wrapping the entire cigar with two different tobaccos, why not introduce sections of a second wrapper at specific points throughout the cigar?
As the burn line reaches each section, the contribution of the wrapper changes. The profile shifts, settles, and then begins changing again.
They started calling it Three Stripes.
Making it, however, was anything but simple.
Every wrapper section had to be positioned and applied correctly. Every transition had to work. And at the end of it all, the cigar still needed to burn properly.
The process takes roughly twice as long as producing a normal cigar.
Raul was not particularly happy about that.
But the result was worth exploring.
After one year of aging, Churchill's Cat brings together Nicaraguan Corojo and Maduro wrappers over a Condega binder and Jalapa fillers.
The flavors move between sweetness, spice, cedar, and an unexpected tamarind character.
And because this was created for Halloween, Winston Churchill ended up dressed as Garfield on the band.
Some cigars are supposed to be serious.
This one is supposed to be fun.
Flavor Journey
The first third opens with sweet cedar, graham cracker, and caramel. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and a light red pepper tingle add warmth while a bright tamarind-like acidity keeps the sweetness lively.
In the second third, the sweetness becomes deeper. Toasted brown sugar and baking spice move forward alongside creamy cedar. Tamarind remains present while roasted nuts and orange peel bring a brighter dimension to the middle of the cigar.
The final third develops richer caramelized cedar and graham cracker notes. Red pepper and clove begin building in the background while toasted grain and baking spice round out the profile. A lingering sweet-tart fruit character carries through the finish.
Throughout the experience, the changing wrapper sections bring movement to the flavor profile, creating a cigar that doesn't necessarily follow the same progression twice.
Why It Belongs in Privada
Churchill's Cat represents the kind of experimentation that makes Privada different.
It began with an unconventional question and became a cigar that challenged the way a wrapper could contribute to a blend.
This wasn't about making something unusual just for appearance.
It was about exploring whether changing wrapper tobaccos at different points could create a more dynamic smoking experience.
The result required considerably more work than a traditional cigar, which also makes another production run unlikely.
Members get to experience an experiment that probably would never make sense as a regular production cigar.
Three wrapper sections. One year of aging. A blender who questioned the entire process.
And a cigar that was never supposed to take itself too seriously.
Production Notes
Churchill's Cat #102633 was produced at Lanuza Family Cigars in a 6 x 54 Toro format.
The blend uses Nicaraguan Corojo and Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper tobaccos over a Condega binder with fillers from Jalapa, Nicaragua.
Rather than using a traditional barber pole construction, the cigar incorporates sections of different wrappers at specific points along its length.
The concept, affectionately called Three Stripes, was developed with Raul Lanuza to explore how changing wrapper contributions could influence the smoking experience.
Each cigar requires roughly twice the production time of a conventional cigar because of the additional wrapper placement and construction requirements.
The cigars were aged for approximately one year before release.
The Halloween presentation features Winston Churchill dressed as Garfield, reflecting the playful nature of the project.
Highlights
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Aged approximately 1 year
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6 x 54 Toro format
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Nicaraguan Corojo and Maduro wrapper combination
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Condega binder and Jalapa fillers
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Unique Three Stripes wrapper construction
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Developed with Raul Lanuza
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Approximately twice the normal cigar production time
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Produced at Lanuza Family Cigars
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Cedar, caramel, baking spice, and tamarind driven profile
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Unconventional Halloween release with limited likelihood of repeat production
