Dominican Republic / Medium

Création Liberté

Meerapfel

By Benjamin Charles Brown

A charity Master Blend Toro in vintage Meerapfel Cameroon that builds from almost disappointingly mild into honeysuckle, milk chocolate, and a rosemary-mint finale. 100/100 alongside the Meir Pyramid: flawless if you accept delicate wrappers and immaculate storage as the cost of entry.

In the Cigar Database

100.0Captaincy Score

Published: July 23, 2026
Vitola: Toro, 6 x 50
Wrapper: Meerapfel African Cameroon (vintage)
Price: $120 single / $240 two-count Paulownia chest
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed (decades-aged)

Unlit Meerapfel Création Liberté held outdoors showing toothy Cameroon wrapper — Toothy, oilier Cameroon than prior problem stock. Cold draw perfect.

Close-up of the ornate gold Meerapfel band on Création Liberté — Gold Meerapfel band catching sun on the vintage Cameroon leaf.

Création Liberté resting on the two-count Paulownia chest — $240 two-count Paulownia chest; wrapper slightly delicate at the foot.

First light on Meerapfel Création Liberté with short ash — First light: extremely smooth, light-bodied, burn still skewed.

Long ash tower on Création Liberté over a balcony railing — Ash stacks cleanly once the burn line self-corrects.

Création Liberté mid-smoke with ash and gold band on a balcony — Second third: honeysuckle, eucalyptus, mint, and milk chocolate.

Macro of Création Liberté ash and wrapper near the burn line — Looser packing as style; wrapper can loosen near the foot.

Création Liberté with long ash and V-cut head mid-smoke — Fluffy smoke density that suits the delicate Master Blend profile.

Late third of Création Liberté showing toothy wrapper and ash — Final third: toasted bread, espresso, butter, and caramel.

Final nub of Meerapfel Création Liberté on a cigar pick — Smoked to the nub: rosemary, mint, and a late nicotine lift.

Construction

Excellent to arguably perfect if you accept looser packing as a stylistic choice: burns quickly like lighter Cubans, ash stacks cleanly, and the line that starts skewed self-corrects by the end of the first third. The vintage Cameroon is delicate. This stick’s wrapper loosened slightly near the foot without ruining the smoke, but these demand vigilance, same as the Master Blend series.

Draw and Burn

Draw: Cold draw perfect. Lit draws stay easy and generous; smoke density starts light, then builds while staying fluffy rather than syrupy, suited to the delicate profile.
Burn: Opens with a wavy, wet-looking line and stays straight but skewed early despite a 48-hour dry box (Humidimeter still read high: foot 66%, cap 68% after two months at 65% RH). Evens out perfectly toward the end of the first third and holds through the nub.
Smoke time: 100-130 minutes

Pairings

Still mineral water to keep honeysuckle and Cameroon citrus clean
Light or medium roast coffee that will not bury the milk chocolate
A modest pour of aged rum to meet butter, caramel, and toasted nuts in the close

Tasting progression

First third

First draws extremely smooth despite residual wet notes that fade after a few puffs, a good sign and common when RH is still elevated. Profile is elegant and light-bodied: nutty, floral, incredibly subtle yet well integrated. Classic Meerapfel eucalyptus and citrus are present but more blended than on lesser sticks. Milk chocolate develops: milky and buttery without heaviness. Zero pepper and no sting on the retrohale. Cedar is there but woodiness stays surprisingly low. Reminiscent of Meir, Ernest, and Richard yet milder so far; no doubt some Master Blend leaf is shared. Highly reminiscent of a light Cuban.

Second third

Still incredibly light and delicate. You have to focus at first, then flavours open so you no longer hunt for them. Florality clarifies as honeysuckle; a light monofloral honey joins. Emblematic eucalyptus, mint, and citrus become far more prominent. Milk chocolate and vanilla intensify; light-roast coffee arrives; a mild musty woodiness enters without taking over. Retrohale remains as smooth as any cigar in memory. Smoke density rises but stays light; texture feels almost fluffy.

Final third

Burnt toast arrives, slightly harsh yet pleasant, while coffee shifts toward dark-roast espresso. Sweetness, milkiness, wood, florality, toasted bread and nuts, and citrus lock into harmony without any one note dominating. Fermented bread and cookie dough emerge; milk chocolate leans into butter and caramel reminiscent of Trinidad. Body climbs from light into medium. Retrohale still does not sting but intensifies with wood and toasted, almost burnt nuts. The finale hits with unexpected nicotine, denser smoke, and herbaceous rosemary and mint: extremely pleasant. You want this smoked to the nub.

Final Verdict

100/100. Strength begins light, builds through medium, and finishes on the full side of medium (overall medium). This is one of those cigars that crescendos into maximum expression: almost disappointingly mild at first, then steadily more articulate until the rosemary-mint close. You will want to smoke it to the nub, as you should at $240 for a two-count chest ($120 per stick). Alongside the Meir Pyramid, this receives our highest possible score. There is no real flaw except the delicacy of the Cameroon wrapper and the need for immaculate storage. Ideally a $120 cigar would not be fussy; with Meerapfel’s premium tier and these wrappers, that fussiness is unavoidable, and worth it when condition is right.