Review: Nobel Petite Brasil

The only problem with the C.A.O. Brazilia Minis, which I really enjoyed when I reviewed them last summer, is that they are increasingly hard to find. My B&M no longer carries them and I can’t find mention of them in a cursory search online. Luckily, however, the Nobel Petites seem to be available everywhere. I read about them in a Cigar Aficionado piece a while back, then last year I spied a box at Peretti’s in Boston. They’ve been behind the counter at any number of shops I’ve stopped at in the interim, but for some reason I’d never bought them until a couple weeks ago. When I saw a 20-pack of these ubiquitous cigarillos on sale for $10 at a local cigar bar, I decided to right a wrong and give them a try. I was not disappointed.

Rough-looking but toothy, these smokes have a heady pre-light aroma of pepper. On firing them up, however, the Nobel Petite Brasil is less reminiscent of a Pepín García spice-monster than it is a Padrón maduro: woody, earthy and pungent. If smoked slowly, these cigars retain their balance and leathery notes mix pleasantly with creamier tones to create a rich whole. An excellent accompaniment for a cup of coffee, these small cigars do fine outside the humidor. Even after a couple weeks’ rest on my shelf, they’re as full-bodied as ever.

I actually wonder if the Brazilia Minis were just a re-branding of these smokes. The Nobels are imported by C.A.O. and in every respect bear a striking resemblance to the Brazilia cigarillos. I for one, am happy they do. 5 / 5

~ by Ben Brown on April 9, 2009.