Muestra de Saka Krakatoa

In 2017, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust released the first cigar in what has since become one of the company’s more popular lines. Named Muestra de Saka—which translates to “sample of Saka”, a reference to company founder Steve Saka—the series is a collection of cigars that use various blends, vitolas and factories that Saka says “reflect the blending machinations of myself.”

While covering the 2021 TPE Convention—which was, incidentally, the first cigar convention that was held after the coronavirus pandemic—I spoke to Saka about a new addition to the Muestra de Saka line he had named Krakatoa, after the infamous volcano that is located in between Indonesian islands which killed over 35,000 people following a massive eruption in 1883.

The 6 x 48 cigar was originally scheduled to be released in the spring of 2021, pandemic-related delays pushed it back to the end of that year. Saka then pushed Krakatoa back another year, replacing the cigar on the schedule with another Muestra de Saka creation, The Bewitched.

According to Saka, the blend took dozens of reworks over a period of two years to perfect and is made up of a grade A1, Ecuadorian-grown habano-seed wrapper covering binder and filler tobaccos grown in Nicaragua. Specifically, the filler incorporates a mix of broadleaf, criollo and corojo leaves, though where they are from has not been disclosed. In addition, each cigar is made with a spiral colita on the cigar’s head that is designed to look like a volcano.

Each cigar is priced at $20.75—or  $145.25 for a box of seven cigars packaged in individual coffins—and they were made at Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A. in Estelí. Boxes of the Muestra de Saka Krakatoa finally started shipping to retailers in September, alongside the nationwide launch of the Red Meat Lovers Club.

• Cigar Reviewed: Muestra de Saka Krakatoa
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua (Broadleaf, Criollo & Corojo)
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Vitola: Corona Gorda
• MSRP: $20.75 (Box of 7, $145.26)
• Release Date: September 2023
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

I have always loved the utilitarian look of a cigar with just a ribbon foot band, and the Muestra de Saka Krakatoa nails it easily. Even with some large, overt veins and noticeable mottling, the cinnamon brown wrapper is attractive in a visual sense, and the overall presentation is only helped by the spiral colita on the cap. All three cigars are extremely firm when squeezed and all three feature the same sandpaper rough exterior. Aromas from the wrapper are surprisingly generic, with woodiness leading creamy nuttiness, black pepper, barnyard and earthiness, along with some light indeterminate sweetness. However, scents from the feet are substantially more aggressive, with very distinct aromas of sawdust, peanuts, earth, cedar, brewed coffee and a slight note I can only describe as musty carpet. Finally, after straight cuts the cold draws bring flavors of bright, fruity sweetness, sourdough bread, black pepper, creamy peanuts and cedar.

A combination of espresso beans and significant–but far from overwhelming—spice is the first thing I taste after lighting the Krakatoas. After about eight puffs, the profile shifts, with aromatic cedar and cinnamon flavors easily taking over the top spots, followed by brewed espresso, leather, hay, dry cereal and a very light citrus peel note. The retrohales feature a honey sweetness and black pepper combination, although the latter is definitely stronger than the former at this point. Flavor ends the first third at medium-full, while the body is at a solid medium and the strength is just under medium and increasing. When it comes to the construction, the draws, smoke production and burn lines all have no issues whatsoever on any of the three cigars.

While the aromatic cedar remains at the top of the profile during the second third, the cinnamon note has moved to the background, replaced by a distinct salted peanut flavor. Additional notes of powdery cocoa nibs, toasted bread, straw, lemongrass and the aforementioned cinnamon flit in and out at various points and while one cigar has a distinct raw broccoli note on the finish, it does not stick around long enough to have any significant impact on the profile as whole. The retrohale has also changed, with a fruity note that reminds me of strawberries leading black pepper. Flavor increases to full and the strength increases to land at a solid medium, but the body stays put at a solid medium. Construction-wise, one of the cigars runs into a small burn issue that needs a quick correction—it is fine after that—but both the draws and smoke production continue to be excellent.

During the final third, the profile shifts again, with a combination of rich dark chocolate and salted peanuts easily taking over the top spots. Secondary flavors of lemongrass, espresso beans, creamy hay, cloves, leather and earth follow close behind, while the strawberry sweetness remains strong on the retrohale, all but drowning out the black pepper at certain points. Flavor ends the cigar firmly in the full category, while both the body and strength increase to land at medium-plus and medium-full, respectively. Finally, the construction returns to its former glory from the first third, meaning I had no issues at all with the burns, draws or smoke production until I put the nubs down with less than an inch remaining.

Final Notes

• Krakatoa is the second deadliest volcanic explosion in modern history, with an eruption was so loud it could be heard almost 3,000 miles away. The explosion also generated a tsunami that was close to 37 meters high that destroyed 300 towns and killed more than 36,000 people.
• Growing up, I was fascinated by anything having to do with ancient history, so I read all I could about Krakatoa, albeit in actual books back in those days instead of online.
• In case it was not obvious, I moved the foot band to the top of the cigar in an attempt to make the smoking photos slightly more visually interesting.
• Earlier this year, Dunbarton announced that it was stopping production on both the Muestra de Saka #NLMTHA and Sin Compromiso Selección Varita Mágica, with Saka saying he has no current intent to make more as he wants to make space for new sizes in 2024.
• Although I have smoked at least one of every Muestra de Saka release at some point, I have only reviewed one other release in the series other than this one: the Unicorn.
• Other than a very minor burn correction in the second of my second cigar, all three Krakatoas were virtually flawless when it came to construction.
• Despite the name and the description on Dunbarton’s website, I found this to be a medium-full blend at best, nowhere near strong enough to impact the flavor profile or affect me physically.
• Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust advertises on halfwheel.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time averaged two hours and six minutes for all three cigars.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Muestra de Saka Krakatoa cigars, site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., Cigar Hustler, Cigars Direct, Famous Smoke Shop and JR Cigars all have it for sale on their respective websites.