Camacho Liberty 2013

Since 2002, Camacho has released a yearly limited edition commemorating the freedom the Eiroa family, the company’s former owners, found in America. While a few releases have strayed from the pack, the vast majority of the cigars have shared the 11/18 Perfecto and a release size of 40,000 coffins annually. The first release in 2002 was limited to just 25,000 cigars spread evenly between five different vitolas. The original, along with the 2004 version, are the only two years when the company has released multiple sizes.

The 2013 incarnation of the Liberty series is the same 11/18 vitola, which measures 6 x 48/54/48, each packed with tissue paper in an individual coffin. The blend comprises of filler from the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua, a Nicaraguan binder and is covered in a Habana 2000 wrapper.

Here is a breakdown of what was released:

• Camacho Liberty 2002 (Five Vitolas) – 25,000 Total Cigars
• Camacho Liberty 2003 (8 x 52) – 1,250 Boxes of 20 Cigars (25,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2004 (Two Vitolas) – 60,000 Total Cigars
• Camacho Liberty 2005 (6 x 48/54/48) – 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2006 (6 x 48/54/48) – 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2007 (6 x 48/54/48) – 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2007 Executive Travel Bag Edition (6 x 48/54/48) – 5,000 Bags of 4 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2008 (6 x 48/54/48) – 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2009 (6 x 48/54/48) – 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2010 (6 x 48/54/48) – 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2011 (6 x 48/54/48) – 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2012 (6 x 48/54/48) – 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Camacho Liberty 2013 (6 x 48/54/48) – 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)

Earlier this year, Davidoff—who purchased the Camacho brand from the Eiroa family five years ago—introduced its major revamp of the brand. This included some reblending of lines, deletions of lines, deletions of SKUs, new packaging, new price points, new branding, repositioning of staff, a new name for the factory and a new focus for the company. The Liberty 2013 is the first in the series to carry Camacho’s new bold branding, which means a contrasting black and natural wood box with the words “Freedom Isn’t Free” made rather obvious.

Here are what the coffins each Camacho Liberty 2013 come in look like:

• Cigar Reviewed: Camacho Liberty 2013
• Country of Origin: Honduras
• Factory: Agroindustrias Laepe S.A.
• Wrapper: Habana 2000
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras & Nicaragua
• Size: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 48/54/48
• Vitola: 11/18 Perfecto
• MSRP: $17.00 (Boxes of 20, $340.00)
• Date Released: September 30, 2013
• Number of Cigars Released: 2,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 2

As I take off the tissue the cigar comes wrapped in, I am literally assaulted with a heavy scent that I can only describe as baker’s spices: basically, a combination of cinnamon, cumin and black pepper. The stark black and silver band contrast well with the dark mocha brown wrapper that has a bit of obvious tooth to it. There is a bit of give when the cigar is squeezed, and some noticeable oil on the wrapper as well.

The first third of the Camacho Liberty 2013 starts out with strong notes of bitter espresso, oak, creamy leather and dark chocolate, along with just a touch of cinnamon that comes and goes. There is an almost punishing amount of black pepper on the retrohale for the first 15 puffs or so which seems to recede a bit after that, but it is still a major part of the profile for the entire first third. I notice a bit of indistinct sweetness every now and then, but it is not strong enough at this point to identify fully. Construction-wise, the draw is excellent with just the right amount of resistance, and the burn is razor sharp. Smoke production is well above average, and the strength ends the first third firmly in the medium range.

An extremely interesting combination of flavors comes to light during the second third of the Liberty 2013, namely strong notes of anise, cinnamon and milk chocolate that are dominant and quite distinct. Although they are dominant, other flavors of earth, creamy leather and coffee flit in and out as well, and the black pepper on the retrohale continues at about the same strength as the latter part of the first third. The sweetness I was noticing before has become a bit stronger on the finish, but is sadly still indistinct, while the smoke production shows no signs of letting up any time soon. The overall strength has not budged, and remains a solid medium while the burn and draw continue to impress.

The final third of the Camacho Liberty 2013 seems to turn a bit bland in terms of the profile compared to the first two thirds, with less spice and flavors of milk chocolate, creamy leather, earth and espresso. Unfortunately, the sweetness does not amount to much by the end of the cigar, and the smoke production takes a major hit as well. There is also noticeably less black pepper on the retrohale and strength-wise, the Liberty 2013 never rises above the medium mark. Thankfully, the construction remains excellent until the end of the cigar, and I am easily able smoke until less than and inch without the nub getting hot.

Final Notes:

• • While many believe that the Liberty is supposed to debut around the July 4 holiday, it’s been a few years since that has happened. Interestingly, the late September release means there is not a full month in between the release of the Liberty 2013 and Camacho’s next limited edition, Blackout, which ships on October 25 according to Dylan Austin, brand manager for Camacho.
  • I have always loved the 11/18 vitola, which gets its name from the birthdate of the mother of the company’s ex-president Christian Eiroa.
  • The bands are upside down when I hold the cigar in my left hand (as I do when I am smoking or photographing), so I turned them around for the above photographs. If you hold them in your right hand, they are right side up.
  • The 2005 version of the Liberty series featured slightly over the top individually painted coffins that combined to form a full American flag.
  • The new bands are 1 3/4 inches long, and because of the 11/18 vitola, they don’t lay flat against the body of the cigar closer to the cap, which can be slightly annoying.
  • In his Liberty Series 2012 review, Patrick provided information about the provenance of the pre-embargo tobacco used in some of Camacho’s projects, including the Liberty series:

It was also around 2004 when Camacho Liberty Series cigars were said to contain pre-embargo Cuban tobacco that had been left over from DWG Cigar Company in Lima, Ohio. That company was purchased by American Cigar, who liquidated the inventory. Pedro Martin then sold that tobacco to Simon Camacho, who didn’t use it all, so when the Eiroas bought Camacho in 1995, they found the unused tobacco and set it aside for special projects such as the Liberty and Pre-Embargo 1962. Read the full interview where he discusses it here.

• There were two different releases in the Liberty series in 2007, both in the 11/18 vitola: the regular barber pole wrapped Camacho Liberty 2007 with 40,000 total cigars, and the Executive Travel Bag version which featured a reverse wrapped barber pole wrapper and had only 20,000 total cigars released.
• The final smoking time for the two samples of the Camacho Liberty 2013 averaged one hour and 40 minutes.
• Camacho’s parent company, Oettinger Davidoff AG, is a sponsor of halfwheel.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Camacho Liberty 2013, site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Best Cigar Prices have them in stock at this moment.