Freud Limited Edition: Sigmund – Chapter One: The Disruptor

For its newest series of limited editions, Freud Cigar Co. is celebrating the birthday of the brand’s namesake, Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis who also happened to be a noted cigar smoker.

Since the cigars will celebrate Freud’s birthday, they will come out around May 6 each year. In 2023, the line debuted with the Freud Limited Edition: Sigmund – Chapter One: The Disruptor, which was released on May 3 during an event hosted by The Tobacconist of Greenwich at JHouse of Greenwich in Riverside, Conn., and which featured Eladio Diaz in attendance. Diaz blended the cigar and produced it at his Tabacalera Diaz Cabrera factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

It is a 7 1/2 x 50 double robusto vitola, with the blend details undisclosed, which has become common when it comes to Eladio Diaz-made limited editions. What has been said is that it uses seven distinct tobaccos, five of which are found in the filler. The company calls the blend medium-bodied and marked by notes of wood, walnut and cocoa.

Pricing is set at $42 per cigar and $420 for a box of 10 cigars. Production is limited to 3,500 boxes, which come in a shade of blue that reminds me of Tiffany & Co. at first look, and with thicker cuts of wood than you will see used for most boxes.

After debuting at The Tobacconist of Greenwich, they began shipping to other retailers in June.

This marks the third time that Freud Cigar Co. has enlisted Diaz for a cigar, joining the Freud Agape Limited Edition, a limited edition which was released in October 2022, and then Freud AlterEgo, a regular production line released in March 2023.

• Cigar Reviewed: Freud Limited Edition: Sigmund – Chapter One: The Disruptor
• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: Tabacalera Diaz Cabrera
• Wrapper: Undisclosed
• Binder: Undisclosed
• Filler: Undisclosed
• Length: 7 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Vitola: Double Robusto
• MSRP: $42 (Box of 10, $420)
• Release Date: May 2023
• Number of Cigars Released: 3,500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (35,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

I’ve always been torn about overdoing the wrapping on a cigar, but Freud Cigar Co. does the wrapping pretty well with this cigar. The Disruptor comes in cellophane and wears three bands, the top two of which are more familiar, while the third is a large piece of thick paper that covers the lower half and essentially repeats elements from the upper two bands. Two of those large bands have to be peeled off, while the third is able to be slid off without issue. Once removed, it reveals that the wrapper has a ton of tooth and thus a distinct texture in the fingers, furthered by a lack of oiliness. Veins are small and noticeable, while seams are flat and generally invisible. The cigar is rolled to a very firm, even hard density with very little give. I can’t quite place the aroma of the foot, as it reminds me of an organic, grain-forward bread, yet it doesn’t seem like an exact match for that descriptor. I’d say it also elicits thoughts of “healthy” cereals, but that isn’t a perfect description, as the aroma is on the softer side, whereas I think of cereal as having a crisper sensation. It’s almost easier to describe what it’s not, as it’s not sweet, it’s not peppery, it’s not vegetal, it’s neither nutty nor earthy, and it’s not creamy. Airflow on the cold draw is ideal in movement, while the flavor is equally toasty and peppery, and my lips tingle a good bit from the tobacco. That said, it’s a soft-bodied flavor, with a bit of creaminess on occasion, though regardless of what all is offered, my attention quickly shifts to the tingle.

The first puffs are a direct extension of the cold draw but more developed; in addition to the toast and pepper there is some dry earth and mixed nuts, a combination that tingles the taste buds and dries out my tongue a bit. Retrohales add some more pepper but not much in the way of a thump in the nostrils. A bit of creaminess comes along a bit later, along with a bit of chalky earth, a combination that shifts the profile a bit. But as I have said numerous times before, the profile shines for my palate when there’s some creaminess, which in this case manifests as melted vanilla ice cream. Retrohales begin to impart a broader tingle in the nose, spreading out the sensation without increasing the overall intensity. It’s a very good start to this long cigar, having me optimistic for what lies ahead. Flavor is medium, maybe medium-plus at times, while body is a thick medium and strength is mild. Construction is very good, with a smooth draw, generally even burn line, and good smoke production.

In terms of flavor intensity, things mellow out as the burn line gets into the second third, with a bit of creaminess coating the palate. There is still some earthiness setting the base of the flavor, while retrohales continue to be vibrant, with a slight uptick in the intensity of pepper and backing notes of plain potato chips. When I follow a puff with a retrohale, I pick up more of that earthy flavor, but when I don’t, it’s not as intense, showing off the impact a solid retrohale can have on the overall experience. I really like where the profile is as the midpoint approaches, and I like the fact that I can customize it by way of retrohales. The midway point introduces some more black pepper to the profile, occasionally on puffs but more frequently via retrohales, both of which provide some more character to the profile. The midway point also introduces some combustion issues as the cigar struggles to stay lit. In the first cigar, it is a pervasive issue, while the second has spots where it struggles and the third makes it through this section without much issue. The final puffs of this section bring about just a bit of irritation in the throat, something I’m not crazy to see happen given the smoothness of the cigar to this point. The bulk of this section is medium in flavor and body, while strength is creeping out of mild territory. Combustion issues aside, the cigar smokes pretty well with an even burn line and decent smoke production.

The final third of the Freud Limited Edition: Sigmund – Chapter One: The Disruptor starts with varying levels of frustration when it comes to the cigar’s combustion. The first one is almost actively refusing to burn, letting me get a relight and a puff or two and then going out. The second spaces out the need for a relight a bit more, while the third improves even further and smokes the most like a cigar without issue. Those first two cigars were incredibly challenging to get detailed flavors from, so I find myself relying more on the third cigar for this section. The change to a bit rougher, more textured flavor continues, though the aroma makes a pleasant shift to warmed, mixed nuts, showcasing an aspect of the cigar that hasn’t seemingly had much of a chance to shine. There’s not much change in the profile, as it stays about as earthy and peppery as it has been thus far, though some creaminess deserves recognition for its role in the profile. One final retrohale delivers a sharp hit of black pepper to the nostrils as it comes time to put the cigar down for good. Flavor in this section is medium-plus, body is up to medium-plus, while strength is shy of medium. If it weren’t for the burn issues, I’d say the cigar’s construction was very good, as the burn line and smoke production are both solid, but the frequent relights make it a challenge to enjoy the better aspects that this section has to offer.

Final Notes

• The paper used to cover the lower portion of the cigars is some of the thickest I’ve found on a cigar in recent memory; definitely a premium paper. The graphic is also quite good, making for an impressive addition to the presentation.
• I couldn’t decide what the best descriptor is for the color of the boxes; after a quick Google search, it didn’t seem like Tiffany Blue was as good of a match as I first thought, while robin’s egg blue and baby blue both seem a couple ticks away. But for someone who’s not proficient in color names, I think those form a decent trio of reference points.
• I’m also intrigued by the decision not to paint the tops of the pieces that form the box holding the cigars, though I really like the contrast.
• While not a Freud Cigar Co. release, Eladio Diaz will be celebrating his 70th birthday with a new limited edition that will debut at InterTabac 2023, though it will not be offered for sale in the U.S.
• I didn’t pick up much strength from the Freud Limited Edition: Sigmund – Chapter One: The Disruptor, as it barely touched the medium mark for my system.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time was three hours and 20 minutes on average, though the combustion issues of the first cigar hampered that number. I’d still budget three hours for this unless you are smoking it quickly.
• Site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co. and Cigars Direct carry the Freud Limited Edition: Sigmund – Chapter One: The Disruptor.