Fenrir and Soapbox – A Tale of Two Sumatras

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Small Batch Chronicles from Mount Yonah’s Exclusive Gym and Cigar Sanctuary, nestled in the serene mountains of Northeast Georgia. Here at the intersection of tactical precision and Ayurvedic harmony, we believe that life’s finest pleasures deserve thoughtful appreciation – whether that’s the burn of a perfect workout, the peace of a mountain sunrise, or the complex flavors of an exceptional cigar.

Our Small Batch Chronicles series embodies our philosophy that “Every Day Should Be a Celebration” by highlighting premium craft and boutique cigars that deserve your attention. Just as we approach fitness with intentionality and balance, we bring that same mindful approach to cigar appreciation – understanding that the most memorable smoking experiences often come from small-batch productions where artisans pour their passion into creating something truly special.

Each episode of our livestream (and subsequent blog post) features two exceptional small-batch cigars, exploring their unique characteristics, brand stories, construction details, and flavor profiles. With the same precision we bring to tactical fitness and the holistic awareness we cultivate in our wellness practices, we complement these insights with pairing suggestions and cigar science to enhance your appreciation of these artisanal creations.

The Sumatra Showcase: Finding Balance in Contrasts

For our first episode, we embarked on an exploration worthy of our mountain setting – discovering two remarkable cigars that showcase different interpretations of premium Sumatra wrapper leaf: Family by Loyalty’s Fenrir and Dissident’s Soapbox. Like the dual nature of our approach to wellness – where tactical precision meets holistic harmony – these boutique gems demonstrate the beautiful contrast of different creative visions applied to the same foundation.

Just as we believe in the mindful balance of strength training and meditative practice, these cigars represent different but equally valid approaches to craftsmanship. Like a perfectly executed exercise that recruits multiple muscle groups in harmony, these blends coordinate diverse tobacco elements to create experiences greater than the sum of their parts.

Let’s apply our trained attention to detail and dive into what makes each of these cigars special.

Family by Loyalty – Fenrir Robusto (5 x 50)

Specifications

• Wrapper: Sumatra
• Binder: Indonesian Sumatra
• Filler: Cubano 98, Corojo 2006, Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium
• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Construction: Box-pressed with pigtail cap and closed foot
• Approximate Smoking Time: 1 hour

Brand Story

Family by Loyalty was founded with a vision to create exceptional small-batch cigars. The name reflects the core philosophy that true family extends beyond blood relations to include bonds formed through loyalty and shared passion. The company values tradition, authenticity, and the communal experience of cigar smoking.

The boutique nature of the operation allows for limited production runs that prioritize experimentation and creativity.

The Mythology Connection

The Fenrir takes its name from Norse mythology, where Fenrir was an enormous and powerful wolf, son of the trickster god Loki. As Fenrir grew, he became so large and powerful that the gods feared him and attempted to bind him with magical chains. The god Tyr sacrificed his hand in the process, placing it in Fenrir’s mouth as a gesture of good faith while the other gods bound the wolf.

This mythology perfectly parallels the cigar’s “bold and luscious nature” that’s “artfully restrained” through masterful blending and construction – power contained through craftsmanship.

Flavor Profile

The Fenrir offers a symphony of complexities artfully restrained. Its impeccable construction begins with a refined Sumatra wrapper, featuring an elegant pigtail and closed foot. The first light reveals an initial sweetness from the wrapper alone due to the closed foot design, gradually introducing deeper notes of cedar and leather as the filler tobaccos join the experience.

As the journey progresses, the cigar unveils a magnificent airflow and slow burn. The Cubano 98 tobacco brings a natural sweetness and creamy texture that serves as a foundation for the more dynamic Corojo 2006 components, which add occasional hints of baking spice and subtle pepper. Each moment becomes an immersive experience as these flavors interplay and dance upon the palate, offering a glimpse into a world where strength and flavor coexist in perfect harmony.

The box-pressed format delivers these flavors with exceptional balance and a cooler burn than you might expect from such a complex blend.

Cigar Science Spotlight

The Fenrir’s box-pressed construction isn’t just about aesthetics – this technique gives the cigar its distinctive squared-off appearance by placing freshly rolled cigars in wooden boxes under pressure during aging. This often results in a slower, cooler burn with potentially concentrated flavors.

The closed foot design serves a purpose beyond visual appeal. When you first light a closed foot cigar, you’re initially only burning the wrapper leaf, giving you a concentrated taste of the wrapper’s flavor profile before the filler tobaccos join in – an ingenious way to introduce you to the different components of the blend in sequence.

The pigtail cap isn’t just decorative either – it’s a traditional Cuban-style finishing technique that helps concentrate flavors with extra compression of tobacco at the head, influencing the draw and initial flavor delivery.

Recommended Pairings

Coffee Pairings

• Butter Coffee: The rich, creamy texture creates a luxurious complement to the Fenrir, coating the palate and allowing subtle notes to shine through
• Medium Roast: A balanced medium roast complements without overwhelming the cigar’s medium body
• Cold Brew: Brings out the cigar’s nuances with its smooth, low-acidity profile

Spirit Pairings

• Redemption Rye: The whiskey’s warming spice notes enhance the complexity in Fenrir’s fillers, while its subtle sweetness accentuates flavors from the Sumatra wrapper
• Arette Blanco Tequila: The crisp, agave-forward character creates an unexpected harmony with Fenrir’s complex blend, with clean, bright notes cutting through the cigar’s medium-bodied richness
• Aged Rum: Quality aged rum enhances the cigar’s complexity without overwhelming it
• Bourbon: The natural sweetness of bourbon complements Fenrir’s medium body

Dissident – Soapbox Robusto (5.5 x 52)

Specifications

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Binder: Ecuadorian
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Strength: Medium to Full
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Smoking Time: Approximately 1hr 15min

Brand Story

Dissident Cigars was originally established in 2013 as a boutique brand in the premium cigar market. The brand underwent a significant transformation when it was acquired by Cynn and Joshua Coburn in 2021, who revitalized its direction. The brand name “Dissident” reflects a philosophy of challenging industry norms and expectations.

Their partnership with the prestigious Oveja Negra Factory in Nicaragua ensures exceptional craftsmanship and quality control. Their renewed vision focuses on creating distinctive blends that stand out in an increasingly crowded market while maintaining limited production runs that guarantee attention to detail.

Flavor Profile

Standing atop its Soapbox, this distinguished offering commands attention through its masterful blend of power and finesse. The dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper hints at the complexity within. The first light reveals commanding notes of earth and leather, while subtle undertones of nutmeg and freshly baked rye bread provide elegant counterpoints.

As the journey progresses, a creamy finish lingers pleasantly, while delicate hints of white pepper dance with whispers of caramel sweetness. The marriage of the Sumatra wrapper’s earthy sweetness with the robust Nicaraguan filler creates a compelling dialogue of flavors that evolves throughout the smoke.

The progression from medium to full body throughout the experience showcases the blender’s skill in creating a dynamic yet balanced cigar that rewards patient, attentive smoking with new flavor discoveries.

Cigar Science Spotlight

The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper has become increasingly popular among premium cigar makers because Ecuador’s natural cloud cover creates ideal growing conditions, often producing more consistent wrapper leaves than those from Sumatra itself. This natural cloud cover acts as a diffuser for sunlight, resulting in thinner, more elastic leaves with subtle flavor characteristics.

Nicaragua’s volcanic soil is rich in minerals like potassium and magnesium. These minerals are absorbed by the tobacco plants and directly influence the earthy, leathery notes that are prominent in the Soapbox. The influence of terroir on tobacco flavor profiles is similar to its impact on wine grapes, creating regional flavor signatures.

The medium-full classification comes from nitrogen compounds in the tobacco. This strength profile indicates the blenders carefully controlled fermentation to retain more of these compounds than a milder cigar would have, while still ensuring a smooth smoking experience.

Recommended Pairings

Coffee Pairings

• Dark Roast: The fuller body stands up well to the cigar’s medium-to-full profile
• Espresso: Concentrates coffee notes that complement the earthy leather profile
• Butter Coffee: Helps temper the stronger profile, making the complexity more approachable

Spirit Pairings

• Redemption Rye: The earthy leather notes in the Soapbox find a perfect counterpoint in the whiskey’s spice profile, with the rye grain character complementing the “freshly baked rye bread” notes in the cigar
• Arette Blanco Tequila: The Soapbox’s earthy leather notes and hints of white pepper create a surprising harmony with the tequila’s crisp agave character and subtle citrus tones
• Rye Whiskey: Beyond Redemption, other ryes stand up well to the cigar’s fuller body
• Cognac: A VSOP cognac matches nicely with the leather and earth notes while adding fruity complexity
• Peated Scotch: Creates an interesting counterpoint to the earthy leather notes

Beyond the Expected: Elevating Your Experience Through Mindful Pairings

Drawing from our Ayurvedic background and nearly 20 years of expertise in balancing the six tastes and 20 distinct qualities, we’ve developed pairing concepts that enhance not just the flavor experience but the holistic enjoyment of premium cigars.

Premium Olive Oil Pairing: Just as we incorporate tactical precision into our fitness approach, applying a carefully considered technique can transform your cigar experience. Taking a small “shot” of high-quality, single-origin olive oil before or during these cigars enhances the experience in unexpected ways:

• The peppery finish of quality olive oil creates a beautiful prelude to both cigars’ flavor profiles, preparing your palate just as our breathwork practices prepare your body for optimal performance
• The oil’s smooth mouthfeel coats your taste receptors and helps prevent palate fatigue during longer smoking sessions, much like proper form prevents muscle fatigue during training
• The fatty acids in the oil allow you to experience the cigars’ complex notes more fully by creating a foundation for flavor development – similar to how our foundational fitness practices support more advanced movements

This pairing approach represents our philosophy of #ElevatedPleasuresGA – finding the perfect balance between indulgence and mindfulness. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different varietals of olive oil to find your perfect match, just as you would customize your fitness journey!

Sumatra: A Study in Contrasts

What makes this pairing particularly fascinating is seeing how two different interpretations of Sumatra wrapper can create such distinct experiences:

• Fenrir’s Sumatra approach leans into refinement and balance, using the wrapper as part of a harmonious ensemble where each tobacco plays its role with precision
• Soapbox’s Ecuadorian Sumatra takes a bolder approach, allowing the wrapper’s natural characteristics to lead the experience with support from its Nicaraguan fillers

This comparison showcases the versatility of Sumatra tobacco and the artistic vision of each blending team. Both cigars honor this prestigious wrapper type while expressing unique brand identities.

About Small Batch Chronicles: Where Mountain Living Meets Refined Enjoyment

This Small Batch Chronicles blog post emerges from our unique sanctuary in Northeast Georgia, where the mountains provide both inspiration and context for our appreciation of life’s finer experiences. Just as our MY Gym serves as a speakeasy fitness studio and cigar sanctuary – a place where “fitness meets freedom” – this series represents our belief that physical wellness and thoughtful indulgence can coexist in perfect harmony.

Each featured cigar from our livestream receives this comprehensive treatment, analyzed with the same attention to detail that Tim brings from his tactical background and appreciated with the holistic awareness that Vie contributes from her Ayurvedic expertise. Together, we create valuable resources for both new and experienced aficionados.

We believe that understanding the story, science, and sensory experience behind each cigar enhances appreciation and enjoyment – just as understanding proper form and technique enhances your fitness journey. By documenting these details, we hope to contribute to the preservation and celebration of craft traditions that honor both precision and pleasure.

Follow us on Instagram @trcigars_and_cafe for upcoming Small Batch Chronicles livestreams and other mountain lifestyle content. Remember, as we say at MY Gym: “Strength in body, peace in mind, pleasure in moderation.”

In strength and serenity,
Tim & Vie
Founders & Master Trainers
Mount Yonah Speakeasy Gym and Cigar Sanctuary