Nat Sherman Metropolitan Habano Toro Review

I have never in all my (albeit limited) years smoked a Nat Sherman I didn’t like, so when Matthias asked me for my thoughts on the Metropolitan Habano, I was psyched, having enjoyed a robusto around the time the line was first released. The Metropolitan Habano is a part of Nat Sherman’s noble endeavor to achieve the perfect middle ground cigar: a medium-strength cigar with as much flavor per puff as your average maduro. Since we’re dealing with a thicker cigar that is more filler and less wrapper here, that’s going to be a challenge…

Blend Specifics

Vitola: Toro
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano, Estelí
Binder: Estelí region, Nicaragua
Filler: Estelí region, Nicaragua
Dimensions: 6’ x 52”
Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Appearance & Construction

True to its maker, this Metro sports a Nat Sherman’s signature look: the juxtaposition of the gilded gold and brown art deco label against its natural, unpolished body makes for an appealingly unusual look of refined ruggedness. The wrapper has a relatively rough texture with a couple of visible seams and sports a natural, earthy and musky cold note. The body is packed right to the brim with filler tobacco, yet it’s also satisfyingly cushiony, ensuring that the humidity level is just right.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Metro gets an excellent start on its mission of balance by coming in firmly with a note I hadn’t tasted before: dark cedar. It’s flavorful, but it’s not so strong that it knocks me out of my Barclay Rex chair (not in that way, anyway). The draw starts out mildly constricted, it’s texture is quite musky, though again, without being heavy-handed. This makes every single puff all the more wholesome and satisfying. Mind you, I haven’t yet mentioned the thick and silky smoke clouds that every puff produces. This combination is topped off by a tingly spice undertone that resides both in the draw and in the retrohale.

The spicy undertone in the background is joined by a hint if sour wood around the time the second third begins. Not long afterward, the draw is supplemented with a sweet touch of nutmeg that compliments the dark cedar excellently as the spice retreats from the retrohale. The Metro burns with some slight inconsistencies here and throughout but these ultimately require no manual maintenance; the Metro proves itself capable of correcting itself. The ash displays great structural integrity; holding strong and steadily well into the final third.

The final third, or the Point of Convergence, as I like to call it, begins with the spice returning back to the retrohale as the dark cedar that had so consistently dominated the foreground morphs into an even richer note of woody steak, again complimented by the sweet nutmeg and spice that remain in the background. In spite of a draw that remains as mildly constricted at the end as it did in the beginning, the converging flavors still manage to shine through. Finally, after a solid hour and a half, the Metro comes to a satisfyingly flavorful end.

The Final Verdict

I’m the kind of guy who prefers medium gauge cigars because I think they generally have the best flavor profile by achieving the right ratio between filler and wrapper. That being said, I was particularly and pleasantly surprised at just how much dynamic flavor this thick Metro toro had to offer. The constrictive draw did inhibit the Metro from reaching its full potential, but even that could only do so much to keep the flavors at bay. As such, for those who prefer a bigger gauge and long to enjoy an habano filled to the brim with flavor, this cigar is most certainly for you.

Final Grade: A-

Tips for a Perfect Smoke Experience

• Smoke it inside; within a small group of friends, one on one, or alone. Because of the richness and complexity of the flavor, this high quality cigar is meant to be savored. It’s the linchpin of the time you set aside more than a supplement. Accordingly, this type of stogie is best suited to a closed environment with as few distractions as possible.
• Supplement it with something light-handed. Even though the flavor is immense, the Metropolitan is still just an habano at the end of the day. Pair it with a lighter spirit and or chocolate to ensure that the flavors are not overshadowed. Contrast is often the key.