Hermanos de Armas Sentinel: The Last One on the Shelf

During a recent visit to the Slow Burn Cigar Lounge, my intent was to grab a Hermanos de Armas Sentinel Limited Edition cigar that I’d been reading about on social media. It had been a few weeks since I’d visited the lounge, and I was hoping they still had them in stock. When I arrived, I headed directly to the HDA shelf and saw the box — with a lone cigar left.

Relieved, I grabbed the cigar, picked up a bottle of locally made cream soda, and settled in to enjoy a new smoke.

Hermanos de Armas Cigars (HDA) is the creation of two U.S. military veterans with a deep passion for cigars. The name, which translates to “Brothers in Arms,” reflects both their bond and their background. So far, the company produces three core lines, along with the occasional limited release. Sentinel is the newest limited edition from HDA and began shipping in late July of this year.

The 6 x 50 Toro sports a dark, oily Mexican San Andrés wrapper, with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Lighting up, my palate is initially greeted by rich, sweet chocolate. There’s a bit of peppery spice, but it stays in the background. The chocolatey sweetness remains consistent throughout the cigar. As the smoke progresses, the spice notes become more noticeable, providing balance without ever taking over.

As I smoked, another patron came in and sat down. He looked over at my cigar and remarked, “You got the last one.” He said he was also hoping to try the Sentinel and regretted sitting in his car talking on the phone. Indeed, I had seen him in the parking lot when I arrived. One man’s loss …

The production of the Sentinel was limited to only 600 boxes of 20 cigars. While chatting with Slow Burn proprietor Len, he told us that he had spoken with Zack from HDA the other day and confirmed that there were no more boxes to be had.

Maggie’s Cream Soda is the product of a local eatery in downtown Fredericksburg. Made with all-natural ingredients, the soda is minimally sweet, with a much lower carbonation level than many sodas. It made for a light, refreshing drink that allowed the cigar’s flavor notes to remain at the forefront.

The Hermanos de Armas Sentinel developed into a flavorful medium-to-full-bodied smoke. It combines rich dark chocolate, cocoa, natural sweetness, and restrained spice to create a rich but easygoing cigar. I don’t know if I’ll come across any more, but if I do, I won’t hesitate to grab a few.

Cheers!