Wunder|Lust PG County

In June 2016, RoMa Craft Tobac released a new European-exclusive creation dubbed Wunder|Lust that included four different vitolas. According to co-owner Skip Martin, the name of the cigar “is a combination of the idea behind wanderlust and the German cultural use of the word and prefix wonder.”

Additional vitolas followed over the years since, including a release named after Martin’s youngest daughter, Fiorella, in 2019 and some packaged in samplers.

However, the company had a major announcement in March 2021 when it shared its entire release calendar for that year. Included in that calendar were not only details of a September rerelease of the four original Wunder|Lust sizes and the 5 5/8 x 60 Gran Perfecto that debuted in 2020, but also a 4 1/2 x 60 petite gordo named PG County. According to RoMa Craft Tobac, 250 boxes of each vitola were made available to European retailers coinciding with the Intertabac trade fair that took place in Dortmund, Germany.

• Wunder|Lust Petit Belicoso (4 5/8 x 54) — February 2016
• Wunder|Lust Robusto (5 x 50) — February 2016
• Wunder|Lust Gran Corona (5 5/8 x 46) — February 2016
• Wunder|Lust Gran Toro (6 x 52) — February 2016
• Wunder|Lust Fiorella (5 5/8 x 46) — September 2019
• Wunder|Lust Gran Perfecto (5 5/8 x 60) — July 2020
• Wunder|Lust PG County (4 1/2 x 60) — September 2021

As with the rest of the Wunder|Lust line, the PG County is made up of a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper covering a binder from Indonesia and an undisclosed filler blend. MSRP is set at €9,20 each—about $10.50—packaged in boxes of 20—each box contains two sealed bundles of 10, as seen above—with a total of 250 boxes released.

According to Martin, the PG in the name PG County has two meanings: not only does it designate the vitola as a petite gordo, but it also refers to Prince George’s County, Md., a place where one of the company’s employees is from.

• Cigar Reviewed: Wunder|Lust PG County
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos NicaSueño S.A.
• Wrapper: Brazil (Mata Fina)
• Binder: Indoensia
• Filler: Undisclosed
• Length: 4 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 60
• Vitola: Petite Gordo
• Est. Price: €9,20 (Box of 20, €184)
• Release Date: September 2021
• Number of Cigars Released: 250 Boxes of 20 (5,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Short, stocky and dense when held in my hand, the Wunder|Lust PG County is covered in a dark and oily mottled brown espresso brown wrapper that is smooth to the touch. In addition, there are plenty of veins running up and down its length and the cigar is just short of rock hard when squeezed. Aroma from the wrapper is a combination of earth, leather, tar, generic wood and slight mint leaves while the foot brings notes of rock candy sweetness, cedar, dark chocolate, freshly roasted espresso beans and hay. Finally, after a v-cut, the cold draw includes flavors of aromatic cedar, dried tea leaves, cocoa nibs, leather tack and slight black pepper.

While it takes a while to toast the foot of the Wunder|Lust, once I have it lit I immediately taste flavors of earth and black pepper that quickly transition to main notes of grilled steak and coffee beans. Additional flavors of cedar, cocoa nibs, leather, hay, cinnamon and a slight floral note flit in and out, while there is some very obvious black pepper on the retrohale along with a small amount of honey sweetness. Construction-wise, the draw is excellent after a v-cut and there is a copious amount of thick gray smoke, while two out of the three samples have no issues with the burn. Flavor is medium, body is medium and the strength is between mild and medium by the end of the first third.

Coming into the second third of the cigar, the grilled steak and espresso bean flavors seem content to be the top flavors for the foreseeable future. The profile also includes notes of salted peanut shells, cedar, cocoa nibs, hay, earth and floral, as well as a touch more honey sweetness on the retrohale. In terms of construction, both the burn and draw are working in perfect harmony on all three samples, while the smoke production remains at an almost insane level. Flavor and body have increased to slightly above medium while the strength stays put firmly in the medium range as the second third comes to an end.

While from a bad thing, there is not much change in the profile of the PG County during the final third. The grilled meat and espresso bean flavors lead the way, interspersed with secondary flavors of hay, creamy leather, cedar, toasted bread, salted peanuts and a floral note. In addition, both the black pepper and honey sweetness remain very obvious on the retrohale, although both are slightly stronger compared to the second third. While the draw and smoke production continue on their excellent paths, the burn for one sample does get a bit problematic, leading to a quick correction with my lighter. Flavor and body both end the cigar at medium-full while the strength level stalls out just above the medium mark as I put the nub down with less than an inch remaining.

Final Notes

• To my knowledge, RoMa Craft has never given detailed information on what the filler blend contains. When I asked, Martin had this to say, “I’ll just say that it’s a product made by a Nicaraguan company for the European market and that there are no limitations on the tobaccos we use.”
• According to Martin, while these cigars are not available in the United States, some U.S. retailers are buying them from stores in Germany and selling them to their customers.
• This ring gauge is right on the edge of being too large to feel comfortable in my mouth, especially with no box press.

• If you are wondering, the cigars come in boxes that contain two 10-count bundles that are individually packaged.
• There is an absolutely massive amount of smoke that comes from this cigar that is both thick and plentiful.

• While construction was excellent overall, my first sample had some significant issues with the wrapper busting just after the first third. However, while it was slightly annoying, the burn actually did not suffer in any significant way.
• The Wunder|Lust Robusto finished 9th on halfwheel’s Top 25 of 2016 list.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel from a German retailer.
• Final smoking time averaged one hour and 29 minutes for all three samples.