Powerband Island

Another long week of work had passed full of meetings and conference calls and by the end I was ready to get out and dance it all away. Luckily, being in Miami, I can find just about any event to suit my mood and I had been invited to a private island party in the middle of Biscayne Bay. I’ve written about Biscayne Bay many times in my blogs and it’s fairly safe to say it’s one of my favorite places to relax and enjoy a cigar.

I had never been to any of the islands that are in the bay before and I was ecstatic that I was about to spend my entire Saturday dancing to the sounds of our amazing local DJs. I called up some of my more adventurous friends and we all gathered at the dock to wait for the ferry to the island. After a long wait, (Nothing runs on time in Miami after a while you embrace it) we were finally stepping ashore on a beautiful tiny tropical spot and the party was just getting warmed up.

After I had exhausted myself dancing to the pulsing island beats I returned to our blanket under the sea grape tree we had used for shade and poured myself some Jack on the rocks and settled in to smoke my chosen cigar, the brand new fresh-on-the-market Camacho Powerband. I knew I was going to want to smoke a cigar with a powerful punch and after seeing all the press releases touting the strength of this cigar, I really couldn’t think of anything more worthy of my first private island party.

The construction of the cigar was immaculate and I was impressed that it had survived the hustle of the ferry boat ride. In all the excitement I had forgotten to bring my travel humidor and the poor cigar had to make the journey in my beach bag. Nevertheless, it was in perfect shape and as soon as it was lit and I took the first draw I knew why it was named Powerband.

The first draw was an intense, powerful explosion of smoke and flavor but the intensity came with an amazing balance of spice, sweet, and nuttiness that finished off with a lingering creaminess. That was just the first draw. As I continued smoking and enjoying the heavy bass the DJs were spinning, the cigar continued to rev-up into a complex palate of flavors that included cocoa, coffee, notes of citrus and every draw hit with a powerful amount of smoke. This cigar drew so well that I had to remind myself more than a few times to slow down and enjoy. The smooth flavor of the Jack on the rocks paired with the Powerband’s complex notes and I was as happy as I could have possibly been underneath my shady sea grape tree on my beach blanket with all my friends but, like all things, the cigar came to an end. Even though I was puffing away like I was about to get caught doing something I shouldn’t, the cigar had burned evenly the entire time and even the ocean breeze didn’t dislodge the ash.

I was more than impressed with the Camacho Powerband, but I don’t think I would smoke this as my daily cigar. I think, with all its flavor and the intense amount of smoke with each draw, not to mention how revved up this amazing cigar had made me after I finished, I’ll keep the Powerband as a “special occasion only” choice.

As always I’d love to hear from you. Have you tried the Powerband yet? What did you think?