Paul Stulac Red Screaming Sun

Purchased: 5er Toro (6 X 56)
Price: $35.00
Store: Miami Humidor
Buy Again: Yes
Box Worthy: Absolutely
Experience Rating: 98

For so many years, I wasn’t at all brand aware. I loved cigars, but just didn’t pay that much attention to the particular brand that I was smoking. Okay, I did have some standards that I’d go with such as Macanudo, Montecristo, RyJ, and Fuente. They were well-known and I knew that in general I’d get a decent smoke because of their history.

But a few years ago, I decided that I wanted to delve deeper into the world of cigars and started branching out to discover cigars from all around the world. And it has been a fantastic journey! I’ve discovered all sorts of different cigars from the DR, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Brazil, and the US. But more importantly, I’ve come to appreciate different types of tobacco and what pleases me. And that brings me to the Red Screaming Sun.

If there’s one type of tobacco that I’ve absolutely fallen in love with, it’s Connecticut Broadleaf. The Red Screaming sun is wrapped in CT Broadleaf, and it’s amazing. I’ll provide tasting notes below, but I thought I’d provide a summary of the overall experience first. With this cigar, there’s a limited number of flavors that it presents. But it presents them through transitions that never stop, especially in the second half of the cigar. And the combinations it presents during these transitions are unique. It’s a similar experience to the Undercrown Maduro: A limited palate of flavors but constantly shifting.

Prelight (Nose): Roasted cacao beans, grape jelly, steamed asparagus, citrus. Cold draw reveals more asparagus and a sour barnyard.

Light-up: Cedar, white pepper (light), espresso, cacao, grassy element. Strength is a solid medium+.

First third: More of that vegetal quality, a little red pepper spice, black pepper, roasted nuts. Smoke is creamy smooth. Not super complex but constantly shifting. Love it.

Second third: White chocolate pastels, creamy, tickling red pepper spice on retro. Underlying sweetness that jumps back and forth between grape jelly and a green Albanese gummy bear (if you haven’t had this brand of gummies, you gotta try ’em). Cashews.

First half has gone by quickly – 30 minutes. But then the burn slows WAY down.

Into the second half, the vegetal quality comes back, this time it reminds me of green bell pepper. Red pepper spice, now making itself known. Transitions are starting to come rapid-fire.

Final third: Strength ramps up to full. Fleeting honeycomb cereal (lasted 2 puffs, then the cigar transitioned). Turkish coffee consistency, but creamy. Sweet Persian tea, artichoke, oak, cotton candy. Transitions come with every puff, with high smoke production, even with smaller puffs.

This is an amazing cigar! I highly recommend getting some of these to try. As for me, I will be getting a box or bundle of them soon!