Description
K Decadencia No. 1 By Karen Berger Aged 3+ Years
Size: 6×54 Box Pressed Toro
Vitola: Toro Box Press
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro (Karen’s Farm, Estelí)
Binder: Nicaraguan Maduro (Karen’s Farm, Estelí)
Fillers: Nicaraguan Maduro (Karen’s Farm, Estelí)
Flavor Notes: Dried apple, apricot, cinnamon, chocolate, hazelnut, oak, lemongrass, white pepper, nutmeg, freeze-dried strawberry, cream, adobo, tonka bean
Pairing Notes: Brisk iced tea, Long Island iced tea, apple pie, dried peaches, aged cheddar, Cabernet Sauvignon, strawberry tart, vanilla pudding, peaches and cream, vanilla soda, Cognac, Armagnac, Chimay beer
Manufacturer: Karen Berger / Don Kiki Cigar Factory (Estelí, Nicaragua)
Privada Storytelling
Few projects in Privada history carry the depth of meaning found in the K Decadencia No. 1. This is not just a puro—it is an Estelí puro, every leaf grown, fermented, aged, and rolled at Karen Berger’s own farm and factory. And it is not just any Estelí puro—it is a Karen Berger puro, bearing the fingerprint of a woman who began rolling cigars as a teenager in this very factory before one day owning it herself.
Karen’s story is as inspiring as the cigar itself. She is the widow of Don Kiki Berger, one of the industry’s most influential figures, and she has carried forward his legacy with remarkable vision. For Privada, this cigar has been in the works for over two years—named, banded, and reserved before the first roll. After being crafted at Karen’s factory, it aged for eighteen months in Estelí before resting another six months in Privada’s cooler aging program.
The result is a cigar that embodies the very soul of Nicaraguan tobacco—powerful, complex, and refined. Decadencia is not only a testament to Karen Berger’s mastery but also to Privada’s mission of bringing forth cigars that simply would not exist without its community.
Flavor Journey
First Third: Opens with dried apple, apricot, and a pepper kick that evolves into creamy oak and cinnamon. A smooth, warming start with rich textures.
Second Third: Dried fruits remain at the forefront, joined by lemongrass, dried herbs, and a shift from black pepper to refined white pepper. Oak and cream carry through, while chocolate and hazelnut rise subtly in the background.
Final Third: Complex and indulgent—nutmeg, cinnamon, oak, freeze-dried strawberry, cream, and a touch of adobo seasoning. A unique tonka bean note emerges, reminiscent of vanilla but layered with hazelnut depth. Balanced, aromatic, and distinctly Nicaraguan.
Why It Belongs in Privada
Privada exists to spotlight tobacco that tells stories, and this cigar tells one of the most powerful: a young woman who became one of the great figures in today’s cigar world, preserving a legacy while carving her own. K Decadencia No. 1 is not a rebanded release or a common market find—it is a cigar born of collaboration, patience, and intention. Its three-plus years of aging have refined it into something elegant and singular, making it a perfect example of why Privada is the home of cigars you can’t find anywhere else.