The Nub Cameroon cigar entered the premium cigar market in 2008 with a unique concept: to deliver the "sweet spot" of a cigar from the very first puff. The idea was that the cigar wouldn't need time to warm up or develop, but would immediately provide the most flavorful portion of the smoking experience. Whether or not this concept holds true is subjective, but the Nub Cameroon has undoubtedly made a name for itself.
NUbs have successfully infiltrated the culture of premium cigars. Since the brand's debut in 2008, anytime a cigar is short and fat, smokers will casually refer to it as a nub, no matter the brand. They are made by Oliva Cigar Co.
A Gamble That Paid Off
Oliva took a significant gamble that paid off handsomely. In a world that was dominated by Robustos, Toros and Churchills, Oliva took a big gamble that paid off in spades. Who’d a thunk that an entire line of 4-inch cigars with ring gauges around 1-inch in diameter would be such a hit?
The Nub is available in five wrapper varieties:
- Cameroon
- Connecticut
- Habano
- Maduro
- Corojo
Today I’ll be smoking the Nub Cameroon 460. The Cameroon wrapper is very rugged in appearance; dark brown and veiny. Underneath is a blend of finely aged Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The cigar itself is firmly packed without a single soft spot to be found. Pre-light aromas are loaded with sweet barnyard notes and a dash of chocolate. Once cut, the cold draw paints a slightly different picture, as notes of peanut and coffee stand out.
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The Cameroon wrapper, which comes from Africa is one of the more difficult wrappers to work with. As a result, there are only a handful of cigars that I feel do a good job with the Cameroon wrapper. From what I also understand, Cameroon wrappers come from Sumatra seeds and are simply grown in Africa (open to corrections here if I’m wrong…).
First Impressions and Flavors
Once lit, medium flavors of nuts, leather, and pepper are first to greet my palate. The smoke is both smooth and thick in the mouth. I find a slightly sour edge to the smoke but it is working well with everything else going on. The Nub Cameroon is burning along evenly as a salt and pepper ash forms.
Initial flavors reveal the strong nuttiness I experienced on the cold draw, as well as a delightfully mild spice. As the tobaccos slowly warm up, bitter notes of dark chocolate and roasted coffee beans enter the fold.
To my surprise the Nub Cameroon does not start with the peppery/spicy flavors I thought it would. Instead it starts off really good and flavorful with lots of dark flavors. To me it’s like a roasted smoky wood with some coffee beans followed by full body strength.
As I reached toward the middle of the smoke, there’s still rich dark flavors, very heavy on the palate, but not harsh at all. It’s just a heavy dose of smoke that will cover your entire palate. It’s not a complex cigar at all, there’s nothing “wow” about the flavors, but it’s consistent with the dark smoky/roasted flavor profile that sticks around to the end.
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Evolving Flavors Throughout the Smoke
After about 20 minutes of smoking, I finally reach the second inch of the cigar. The sweet chocolate notes have disappeared and an earthy flavor emerges. The final act of Nub Cameroon is unlike the rest of the cigar. The profile is full of nuttiness and a bit of bean flavor. The combination of pepper and lentils reminds me of red beans and rice. As I round out the last inch, I notice the coffee and wood flavors that were present during the first 3 quarters had completely vanished.
The profile has downshifted from medium to mild as the Nub Cameroon burns into the second third. The sour edge in the previous third is more of a lemon zest now, while the other flavors in the profile remain consistent. The sour quality has faded out as the leather kicks up a few notches and a deep earth and cocoa flavor joins in. The thick texture of the smoke remains the same.
The retro-hale is smooth but still brings enough spice to the table to tickle my sinuses. This may have been my first go-around with the Nub Cameroon and it was a very positive one at that. The mild to medium profile makes this a perfect morning to early afternoon cigar, but there is also enough spice from the Nicaraguan tobacco to kick your palate into gear. The thick texture paired up with the smoothness of the smoke made it a satisfying experience.
Construction, Burn, and Draw
The burn was excellent. This cigar burned for just over an hour. Yes, a 4-inch cigar actually lasted more than an hour. The draw has perfect resistance, but make sure to smoke it slow. If you puff too fast, Nub tends to heat up tremendously. Smoke production was above average and gave off a wonderful room note. Strength teetered right on the medium-bodied border, clocking in at 5 out of 10. Lastly, if you are a fan of a tight ash, take notice.
Like the other two Nubs ive smoked, the Nub Cameroon has one amazing quality wrapper. A very smooth, nice in color with no veins, healthy wrapper. It’s still oddly shaped (I guess I was hoping for a corona gorda) and it’s still eye catching. Oh boy, this cigar smells amazing! I don’t know if it’s just the one I have today, but it’s really nice. On the smell, it’s nothing but rich tobacco with a sugary-woodsy-tea like smell all around the cigar. Seriously, take a second and just give it a good sniffle action, it’s worth it.
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The first third gave me a problem with the burn, but it then fixed itself and remained perfect throughout the entire cigar. There wasn’t much aroma found and the draw remained excellent.
Final Thoughts
The Nub Cameroon is a pretty good cigar with lots of strength and lots of dark flavors on the aftertaste and palate. If you’re a fan of the “Cameroon” taste, I think it will suit you really well.
When it comes to a short vitola with a big ring gauge, the Nub line is pretty much the industry leader. Originated by Sam Leccia (formerly with Oliva), he Nub line is a brand under Oliva Cigars. In fact this type of vitola has garnered a reputation similar to calling adhesive bandages “Band Aid” - namely this type of stick is commonly referred to as the “Nub” size.
This may have been my first go-around with the Nub Cameroon and it was a very positive one at that. The mild to medium profile makes this a perfect morning to early afternoon cigar, but there is also enough spice from the Nicaraguan tobacco to kick your palate into gear. The thick texture paired up with the smoothness of the smoke made it a satisfying experience.
Cigar Details:
The Nub comes in a variety of different vitolas. These are all true to the definition of what I consider a nub - big ring gauge and short in length.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vitola | Nub |
| Length | 4″ |
| Ring Gauge | 60 |
| Country of Origin | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Cameroon |
| Binder | Nicaragua |
| Filler | Nicaragua |
| Factory | Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua |
| Blender | Undisclosed |
| Price | $6.49 |
| Release Date | 2007 |
| Source | Holt’s Aaron Loomis Jiunn Liu |
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