Meerapfel Square Line No. 5

📌 Brand: Meerapfel
📌 Line: Square Line
📌 Size: No. 5 (Gordo, 6" × 62)
📌 Weight: 22.9 g
📌 Age: 3 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

Tasting Notes

• Dry Cedar – Clean but muted wood note

• Light Cocoa – Soft, fleeting sweetness

• White Pepper – Mild and short-lived

• Paper-Dry Finish – Thin and lingering

First Impressions

The square-pressed format gives the cigar a distinctive feel in hand. Construction appears tidy, though the bunch feels slightly soft. Pre-light aroma offers cedar and faint cocoa. Cold draw is loose and airy, hinting at diluted flavor delivery.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Smoke output is plentiful due to the loose draw, but flavors feel thin and restrained. Cedar leads with minimal depth.

• Second Third – Profile remains very one-dimensional, with faint cocoa and mild pepper failing to build complexity. Burn stays even.

• Final Third – Flavors flatten further, leaving a dry, linear finish. The loose draw continues to reduce concentration and richness.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Hennessy VSOP Cognac - Smooth oak, dried fruit, and subtle sweetness add depth where the cigar remains flat.

• Tea – Taiwan GABA Oolong - Naturally sweet, soft-bodied tea that helps round the thin mouthfeel and soften dryness.

Music Pairing

“Corcovado” – Antônio Carlos Jobim
Smooth and understated, matching a mild and uncomplicated smoke.

Final Thoughts

Meerapfel Square Line No. 5 offers a clean presentation and even burn, but a loose draw and very one-dimensional flavor profile prevent it from delivering depth or engagement.

Final Score: 5/10
Why not a 10?
Excessive airflow and lack of complexity limited flavor intensity and evolution.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.