Fighting Cock Chuck

Cock fighting is a sport in The Philippines that captures the complex spirit of the native Filipino like no other. And as the cigars distributed by the Splendid Seed Tobacco Company are all hand rolled in Manila, they found it appropriate to name this month’s featured cigar after the sport. The Fighting Cock brand features a sun-grown Javan wrapper imported from Indonesia, while its wrappers and binders are constructed from Philippines Isabela Superior Fina tobacco. Each cigar in the line is named for an actual champion rooster: Texas Red (square); Sidewinder (pyramid); Smokin' Lulu (perfecto); Rooster Arturo (robusto); Chuck (Torpedo) and C.O.D. (churchill): each vanquished a total of 7 rival cocks during the Super Derby, held annually in the world's largest cockpit, Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila. The cigars are packed in 25-count blonde Narra boxes that are sanded and varnished to a vanilla-like glow. These boxes are individually handcrafted and finished in Pampanga province, some 100 km from Manila. The cigars are wrapped in the famous Filipino Ikat cloth and each textile was designed and hand-woven exclusively for Fighting Cock.

This very well constructed cigar was wrapped to just the right firmness and offered a nearly perfect draw. We found the Chuck to have a wonderful, medium-to-full-bodied, complex tobacco taste. It was obviously properly aged. Look for a complex aroma with some strong spicy and cedar notes. Its well-balanced flavor was slightly fuller-bodied than the other cigars featured in this line. Look for a mild finish with no harsh aftertaste whatsoever. Consider pairing this one with a fine single malt scotch or brandy.