Free Will 'center cut' limited production morsels.Free Will is here and to get you restocked, we've put together a 10-cigar introductory sampler composed of the full range of vitolas – all told 10 stately Oliva-made morsels + FREE branded double-walled tumbler and priced it sharp.... to the tune of 71% off sharp.\xa0
This is a scrumptious morsel made in Esteli, Nicaragua by the Oliva factory - makers of the 95- and 96-rated Serie V and V Melanio. But it's not just any cigar, it's a special undertaking. Rolled with a special Nicaraguan-grown, 'Center Cut' Condega leaf that's harvested at the end of the season. This special cut is part of what makes Free Will cigars so unique, as it's engineered for optimum sugar and nicotine (i.e. flavor and body). Tobacco growers look at plants in terms of cuts - each plant has from 7 to 9 primings, with 2 or 3 leaves per priming, or 'cuts.' 60 days after planting, picking begins from the bottom up. The bottom third is picked after 60-70 days, middle third 70-90, and top third 80-90. Once picked they enter curing barns. Once cured, they move to fermentation. The first fermentation leads to sortation by Seco, Viso, and Ligero classifications, and it is the texture that drives this classification. Next, all leaves are organized by texture and separated where they continue fermentation together with like textures in order to continue processing at the same rate. Heavier Ligero leaves will take longer vs. thinner Seco and as a rule of thumb, Ligeros have more strength and character largely driven by sun exposure. In general, nicotine = strength and sugar = flavor. Sugar concentrations are always highest in the middle of the plant (centro fino) regardless of the time of year or other factors (driven by root). Nicotine on the other hand is always highest at the top of the plant, although it varies throughout the growing season based on external factors (namely, sun exposure). Free Will cigars capture both the highest sugar and nicotine concentrations by isolating not just those particular leaves, but the particular part of those leaves.
The growing season is December to May – with planting done at various times over the 6 month period. From start to finish there is a 30% variance in the amount of sun light. Hence the 'late harvest' in May enjoys significantly more sun hours as the season progressed. The centro fino yields the thickest texture of the season based on the extra sun exposure, which in turn produces leaves containing max sugar and nicotine to produce a cigar rich in flavor, depth, body, and overall strength.
So you've got the optimum tobacco which is center cut at the top of the plant and maximum sun exposure given the time of year it was harvested. This cut is so limited that it represents just 0.8% of Oliva's total filler harvest annually, meaning a max production of just 125,000 cigars per year. The gorgeous, oily Habano Ecuador wrapper is paired with an Habano Condega binder, and Habano Condega, Habano Ometepe, Habano Jalapa long-fillers. The end result is a higher level of nuanced intensity which doesn’t overpower the palate. Complex, deep, rich flavors, including notes of dark chocolate, peanut, earth, and creamy nougat. The finish is intense but smooth, with a decadent maple syrup character. Full in body, full in flavor, utterly unique. Not punch you in the junk power but instead a round, rich, complex flavor profile you can enjoy any time of day.
