News: No. 17 Cigar of the Year 2023 – Muestra de Saka Krakatoa

Since the original Exclusivo cigar, Muestra de Saka has consistently been the go-to line for hardcore enthusiasts—those looking for unique, in-depth tobacco recipes from the mad genius behind the brand: Steve Saka. In 2023, Muestra de Saka entered what is officially considered the seventh blend in the series with the Krakatoa.

The cigar was named for the Indonesian volcano of the same name—an active volcano that recorded one of the deadliest eruptions known to man. As such, you’d be forgiven for assuming the cigar might follow suit with one of the strongest nicotine outputs known to… humidors. This is not exactly the case. Instead, Saka describes his intensions as alluding to the heavy usage of tobaccos grown in volcanic soil, as well as sneaky strength “much like no one expected the Krakatoan explosion.” He’s also noted a desire to create an experience that “taste[s] like something that was like a really strong cigar that had been aged for a decade in a Spanish Cedar trunk.”

The process of creating such an experience was among the most arduous from Dunbarton to date, being under production for roughly three years before the eventual launch. The blend is one of the more complex recipes (at least on paper) from the company as well, including an Ecuadorian Habano Grade A1 wrapper, a Nicaraguan sun-grown binder, and all-Nicaraguan fillers that include a “potent Corojo ligero,” Nicaraguan Broadleaf, and the leaf that tied it all together: a Cuban-seed Criollo selection from the fields of Aganorsa. In our experiences, the Krakatoa was indeed more restrained in profile than the nicotine bomb that many have advertised. What it does deliver is a deep, syrupy texture, being punchy yet balanced throughout. The cigar is concentrated through the retrohale, offering earthy-sweet characteristics that hit notes of red pepper, candied pecans, toasted oak, and molasses.

Muestra de Saka Krakatoa Breakdown

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