Paul Stulac White Blinding Light

Purchased: 5 Toro (6 X 56)
Price: $30
Store: MiamiHumidor.net
Purchase Again: Yes
Box Worthy: Oh yeah!
Experience Rating: 99

Holy shit! I’m having a Curivari moment while I write this; that is, I’m scratching my head thinking How the hell does Paul Stulac create such freakin’ great cigars at a reasonable price and no one knows about them?! On the other hand, if he spent money on marketing, his prices would go up. It’s a dilemma for sure, but we are the beneficiaries of that.

To be blunt, in my opinion, Paul Stulac makes some of the finest cigars on the market today and his cigars have quickly become some of my favorites. From the first puff, the White Blinding Light shot up the charts. For me, it’s another winner from Paul Stulac.

Like all Paul Stulac cigars, this cigar is a solid stick. No soft spots. The cigar has been impeccably rolled. The skin is a little rustic, but the wrapper is rolled tight, and it carries a light sheen of oils with a gorgeous fragrance of spices and wood. The cold draw is fruity and woody. That took me by surprise. Is this going to be a sweet experience?

The one thing that I can rely on with Paul Stulac cigars is strength. This is not a cigar for the newbie. The WBL is the strongest cigar in his lineup and it’s an ass-kicker from light-up. First up is a hit of cedar and black pepper. Then that’s suddenly followed up by a wave of dark, dark cocoa that rushes in – and stays there. This cigar seems to be built on this cocoa foundation. This is the second one I’m smoking and that cocoa foundation was there with my first one.

Well into the first third, the smoke becomes creamy, and the cigar starts to settle down after that initial flex. Or maybe I’m acclimating to the sheer strength of the cigar. Added to the mix now is a hint of smoked meat. My mind is transporting me back to roasting meat over a campfire with my childhood friends almost forty years ago (damn! has it been that long?). The dark cocoa foundation is still there.

As I get into the second third, some red pepper spice creeps in; subtle at first, then building up to where my lips and tongue tingle on the finish. This is the sweet spot of the cigar. While the first third was an assault on the senses to establish its dominion, now that that phase is complete and everyone’s settled in and cozy, this is where the show starts. The cigar starts a dance here, shifting and turning. It’s complex and sophisticated but amazingly still bold. It’s like a tiger; so lithe and graceful in its movements, but so powerful. Flavors shift, with each puff revealing another aspect. Sometimes it’s sweet, sometimes it’s earthy. I get shiitake mushroom, baking spices, wet earth, cream, butter, black pepper, cayenne, and even a bit of clove.

Nicotine has also settled down, though I must admit it could be as I mentioned above that I’m acclimated. At the halfway point, the spiciness is apparent. My mouth is tingling with delight! I’m not normally one for spicy cigars, but the bite from this is light and pleasing. The dark cocoa is persistent, though not as pronounced as in the first third.

The campfire smoke has returned, and a deep, rich, aged cedar element comes into play. Think of an old-school cedar-lined room filled with musty old books with a fire blazing in the hearth. I’m imagining sitting in a comfortable, overstuffed leather lounge chair, sipping a peaty scotch in front of the fire. I’m loving where this cigar is taking me!

Still in that room, my wife brings me dessert. It’s a dense, dark chocolate cake covered in a dark chocolate ganache. I take a small forkful and enjoy the richness and decadence of the cake. It’s not too sweet. As the cake dissolves in my mouth, coating it with creamy chocolate, I realize that a little cayenne was added to the batter to give it a little kick and act as a foil to the richness of the cake.

Wow! Talk about waxing poetically! But that’s what smoking a great cigar will do, transporting my mind to a happy place. I’m now in the final third of the cigar and it has taken me on a journey. Spice is king in the final third though interestingly enough, it only shows up on the finish. The draw reminds me of sitting by a campfire making s’mores. I’ve got a pot of hot coffee on the fire. I’m washing the s’mores down with a gorgeous, black Italian roast. Fuckin’-A! It’s taking me to yet another place!

I’m going to stop writing now and just enjoy the rest of this journey! I had a similar experience with the first one of these I smoked. I was going to write about it, but my mind was wandering so much that I just wanted to sit and enjoy the ride. I’ve had very few cigars that have had that effect on me. Yeah, this is going to be my next box.