Powstanie Connecticut Justice

This year, Powstanie expanded its Connecticut line with a new vitola called “Justice,” which is a corona gorda format. The Powstanie Connecticut is the third core-line offering for the brand. The Powstanie Connecticut debuted in 2023 in four sizes: Toro, Robusto, Perfecto, and Belicoso, marking the first new regular-production for the company since 2015.

A similar version of the Powstanie Connecticut was originally released a decade ago under the name ApolloDani. This was a very limited release, marking the birth of company co-owner Mike Szczepankiewicz’s middle child. This addition of the corona gorda size was given its own name—Justice—to distinguish the new size from the previous cigars. Like the others, it is released in 21-count boxes. In keeping with the blend style of the others, it brings an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Pennsylvania Broadleaf binder, and Nicaraguan filler.

“The Connecticut shade wrapper adds a touch of refinement to the blend, providing a smooth and delightfully bold smoking experience. We are confident that our loyal customers and new enthusiasts alike will find the Powstanie Connecticut Blend to be one of a kind […]” —Mike Szczepankiewicz, co-owner of Powstanie / Pospiech Inc.

Powstanie Connecticut Justice Breakdown

Appearance

Powstanie Connecticut Justice is similar in appearance to the former cigars in this line. The main band displays the Powstanie logo of a capital “P” with an arrow pointing down from the letter (said to be symbols of the Polish uprising in WWII). The logo is printed in gold on a black background, with additional gold scroll work in the corners. Both the feel and look of the background give the impression of a leather texture. The Justice has a smaller second band below the main one. This band is similar in color, with “JUSTICE” printed in a bold serif typeface. The cigar has no veins, with a single spiral seam noted. The wrapper is smooth, with a light, creamy brown shade. The gold and black bands, along with the smooth wrapper, give a look of refinement and luxury.

Smoking Experience

To the touch, when holding the cigar, there is a soft, velvety feel to it. The cap gives off a floral aroma, while the foot has more of a sweet pepper note. With a straight cut, the cold draw produces straw or hay flavor. After a proper toast of the cigar, right away, a roasted walnut flavor is encountered. Slight notes of oak and red pepper are noticed at times, joined by barnyard hay through the retrohale.

During the smoking experience, the ash stays on for about one centimeter at a time, offering a light, loose, flaky ash. The burn line is wavy, being accompanied by a very light white smoke output. The construction has a loose draw, seemingly leading to a noticeably fast burn.

Continuing into the mid-substance of the cigar, intense roasted walnut flavor, along with some sweeter caramel flavors, produces a very enjoyable smoking experience. Some faint hints of oak and floral notes are picked up at times, but these are not the most powerful flavors. Meanwhile, the retrohale picks up into a mild red pepper flavor.

As the cigar nears the end, the Justice really drives home that roasted walnut flavor through and through. However, that caramel flavor from the middle of the cigar has faded. Some hints of oak and light hay flavors are also noted, with the retrohale maintaining a consistent mild red pepper flavor.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

Powstanie Connecticut Justice has a nice luxury look, paired with a soft, velvety feel. The prominent flavor of roasted walnut really hits the palate nicely. Personally, I am always a sucker for cigars with flavors of nuts (peanut, cashew, almond, or in this case, walnut). However, the Justice had a loose draw and burned extremely fast, which was a disappointment for me. The additional hints of oak, caramel, and floral flavors made for an overall good flavor profile, but I would have preferred a longer-lasting experience (especially when taking the price into account). Sure, I’d smoke it again, but I’d be more likely to try the other sizes to hopefully experience a slower burn and tighter draw.

• The Powstanie Connecticut ranks in the top 18 percent of cigars on the Dojoverse all-time leaderboard, having a “99% Smokable” rating.

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