My Weekend Cigar Review Surrogates Closing Time

Could this Cigar Be the Perfect Night Cap?

The Surrogates Closing Time is the eleventh size for L’Atelier Cigars. Rolled to a 6x50 Toro, Closing Time is not an homage to the hit song by Semisonic. Rather, this cigar gets its apropos name from L’Atelier Imports co-founder and Surrogates brand manager, Dan Welsh, who has made it a nightly, before bed smoking ritual. More specifically, Dan starts his day with a full-bodied cigar and ends it with a medium-bodied cigar.

As to the blend, which is made by My Father Cigars, Closing Time opens with a Garcia-grown Nicaraguan Corojo 99 shade-grown wrapper that caps tobaccos from Nicaragua, Mexico and the U.S. Priced reasonably, Closing Time is offered in boîte nature boxes of 20 cigars.

Cigar Details:

Factory: My Father – Estelí, Nicaragua
Size: 6” x 50 Toro
Body & Strength: Mild to Medium
Wrapper: Shade Grown Nicaraguan Corojo 99
Binders: Nicaraguan & Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan, Mexican
Flavor Profile: Nutty, woody, delicately spicy

Presented in boxes of 20

Surrogates Closing Time Cigar Review

The cigar has an attractive and even-colored, blonde Corojo 99 wrapper that issued a sweet hay aroma, while the tobaccos at the base of the cigar had the familiar molasses-like, sweet tobacco scent. The rolling was pretty seamless and evenly packed with a neat triple seam cap.

After cutting, the draw was just right with a lightly sweet and airy tobacco flavor that was also very mild in body.

By the first inch, the smoke was mostly mild with an appealing nutty flavor—something in the neighborhood of cashew—which nicely complemented the sweet tobacco layer.

Edging toward the middle of the cigar, Closing Time was well-balanced and began shifting to a more medium body. The nutty aspect continued but sweet tobacco was now center stage. And by the time the burn met the midpoint, the blend began to open up. A subtle woodiness snuck into the mix – a welcome change – plus a drive-by note of earthiness.

Coming out of the midsection a light floral note arose, and I began to pay closer attention as Closing Time began to impart a mild Cuban-ish nature. Light spices followed as all the flavors, though more nuanced than vivid, came together with an impressive balance.

From there the cigar had pretty much stuck it, keeping a cool, medium-bodied head about itself as not much else had changed - making the Surrogates Closing Time a pretty relaxing smoke overall.

Was Surrogates Closing Time Weekend Worthy?

Did you ever have a cigar that you appreciated more after you smoked it? That’s what happened with the Surrogates Closing Time. Both of my samples were creamy and medium in strength with subtle, likeable flavors evenly stirred into a sweet top layer. As I noted above, it seemed to have a similar flavor profile to some of the milder Cuban cigars I like – the Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill, for example.

So, the more I thought about the Closing Time the more I enjoyed it, and I can clearly see it as a true end of the night cigar. Conversely, it’s a pretty good morning cigar, if you like starting your day with a lighter smoke. I enjoyed it with coffee, but as illustrated on the cigar’s band, with a good cognac before bed, Closing Time just might be a perfect nightcap. I will definitely smoke it again.

Please Note: Gary’s review was based on his experience and that your mileage may vary.