Stogie Reviews: Jameson Declaration Iniquity

Declaration’s website makes no bones about where its inspiration comes from. “A cigar created with purpose and passion, Declaration embodies our independent spirit and inspires a statement about personal liberty, ‘Smoke to be Free.'”

A creation of the Jameson Cigar Co., this isn’t the only cigar to draw inspiration from the fight for the freedom to smoke. Before Declaration there was Defiance, a project of Xikar and Jesus Fuego, that sent a portion of sales to fight anti-cigar legislation. More recently, Paradigm 262 by Revolution Cigars takes aim at anti-smoking forces with its “262 Manifesto” in defense of the freedom to smoke.

Along those lines, Declaration only comes in one size: the 5 and a half inch by 50 ring gauge “Iniquity.” The name works on two levels. Defined by Websters as “a gross injustice” or a “wicked act,” anti-smoking activists may see smoking as an iniquity, while cigar smokers see iniquities in the smoking bans and tobacco taxes those same activists push.

Whatever the context, Iniquity features a muted brown habano ’98 wrapper with just a bit of oily shine. The Dominican puro uses a criollo ’98 binder and with “select filler tobaccos from the prime growing regions of the Dominican Republic.” It is firm to the touch and, pre-light, reveals coffee flavors.

The long robusto starts with a bit of sweet grass, but evolves quickly to reveal coffee, woody, and toasty flavors. A bit of pepper goes in and out and there’s also a hint of leather.

Throughout the smoke I repeatedly noticed a dominant dark coffee flavor. Occasionally that manifests as  bitter notes of burnt coffee grounds, while at other times it had the richness of a dark french roast.

With ever changing flavors, complexity abounds. It isn’t the most balanced smoke, but deep burnt flavors make it a unique medium- to full-bodied creation. The draw can be a bit tight and the burn needs a few  touch-ups but, on the whole, construction is above average.

I’m a sucker for declarations of liberty, so if I were to rate the Declaration on it’s “Smoke to be Free” concept there’s no doubt this smoke would get a perfect score. But this is a cigar review, not test of one’s devotion to freedom. Fortunately, the Declaration Iniquity has a lot to offer as a cigar too, and it earns a most respectable rating of three and a half stogies out of five.

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–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys