Please see both the title of this post and its subsequent (mainly) repetitive subtitle for any bearing you may need as to expectations here. Also please note that the cigar names listed below are links to their full reviews here on KM. Thank you and have a pleasurable rest of your read.
Bocock World Traveler Connecticut (primary band)
White with gold trim including some nifty filigree. Tastefully embossed framing and main lettering of 'BOCOCK BROTHERS.' On the thinner sides of its traditional shape reads, 'Hand made' and 'Honduras.' Smack in the middle is Beau, their rooster logo in black silhouette with fuchsia-leaning red comb and bowtie. The border is hard to describe but here goes--of average width, gold of course, with a bit of white alternating vertically-so in cut-out fashion.
It's got all the info. A classic gold-white scheme, and a bit of its own 'cocky' addition. Not shabby at all. The aforementioned filigree works stay clear-away from overly-ornate distractions. Nicely accented, say. Its pleasant attainability is on-par with the line's profile and intent. Is Beau out of place? Sure but hey, that's Beau! (I guess. Full disclosure, we have yet to meet.)
Whether it's the blank white stock or that it's a bit towards thin, you can see the printed back from the front if you hold it up. What's there? The company's hashtag, URL, and bowtie, all of which are golden. That's cool. Why not paint up the canvas and why not give more info? I like this one a lot. It ticks most of the boxes, stays classy, and offers a bit of personality all its own. It also takes the silver medal back to its coop.
La Finca
The ::: very ::: best thing I can say of this band is what I'll say of its marketing writ large, that is it does not hit on value in a sad manner. Its name is not indicative of 'value' nor is it mentioned on the band. Nothing to me is as insulting as when a product, any product, which caters itself to the budget-friendly crowd uses things like Best Value in its name or slogan. Have you smoked the new Sorry, Chumps? See?
Anyways, the band of this 'The Farm' is of decent stock and even embossed some. Its main color is a red-orange rather bright but dirty hue with black font and gold embellishments. Well, LA FINCA is actually in fancy-ish text gold but set inside of a simple black banner. The border is gold, as well, with a similarly thin black line running inside and parallel. Pin-stripey. 'NICARAGUA' and 'HANDMADE' are one on each of the narrower sides. The center is shaped like three ovals strung-together, side-by-side, and positioned vertically.
Directly behind the name is a golden tobacco leaves design. Off to each side of that is a pair of stylized sorta tribal suns. It's OK. I personally don't adore the main color and it does swallow-up the gold some. The text all works well within the design, though. No real legit complaints. It just somehow looks old-grimy not timey, not quite in a cool vintage way. That said, it does have a sort of classic appeal it might cash on in a bit more time. That said, it's been around since 1972--or at least the blend has--I'm unsure of its dress.
Bronze medal, which is fitting because the reddish color makes the gold swing thatta way anyway.
Partagas 1845 Clasico
Get this: the band design is side-ways. And get this: the cigars are meant to be displayed side-ways. The shape is traditional with less of a taper than is traditional. So not traditional at all? No, it is. In the fingers, it feels a bit less glossy than normal. Oh, and it's ALL GOLD COLORED. Other than a black border and inner rings, one which serves as a backdrop for 'PARTAGAS,' and the other which encircles (enovals?) '1845.' Surrounding that number is the only other bit of black in the form of font that runs, 'FLOR DE TOBACCOS' atop and underneath, 'CIFUENTES Y CIA.'
There are lightning bolts of perhaps more silvery bent, gold medallions, a scant peek at black laurels I missed earlier, and oh, the medallions are outlined in black. Sneaky amount of black but none on the GIGANTIC FLIPPIN' EAGLE on prominent front and (rather) center display, perched on the year. Further look-seeing shows a subtle yellowness of line inside the black boundary. Wow. Brash and subtle. Take my monies and this here gold medal.
I feel a mix of wanting to look at it more and being afraid to because I'll probably realize I missed noting something else of nuance. But it ain't busy and it doesn't overload. It's just kinda hypnotizing and so very timeless. OK, I'll look. OK, I think I covered it. Un-garish in the same way as awarded medals avoid it. That gold medal is gonna look great on it.
::: very :::