This cigar is incredibly dense and firm. This is probably the
densest cigar I’ve ever held, so solid it could double as a weapon. The dark
chocolate wrapper has a beautiful marbleized pattern that reminds me of a tie-
dye shirt, with an oily sheen that adds to its appeal. While I noticed a few water
spots on the first sample, they don’t seem to affect the cigar, but they stand out
against the dark wrapper. The cigar feels slightly rough, like old suede, and you
can feel small veins when handling it. Its head is a bit flatter than usual for a
parejo.
Final Thoughts: The cigar starts off lively, then settles into a balanced flavor
profile by the second third. The finish is clean, leaving little aftertaste, and the
slow burn adds to the experience. It offers a strong boldness and nicotine kick,
with occasional sharpness, but overall provides an enjoyable experience. The
flavor consistency fluctuates slightly in there latter half, and I wished more of the
sweetness had carried into the final third. However, the construction was good,
and the cigar performed well throughout.
Wrapper: USA (Connecticut Broadleaf)/ Binder: Mexico San Andrés/Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Factory: Tabacalera La Isla/Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Gordo/ Size: 6″x60
Cedar, Earth, Barnyard, Citrus, Mushroom
Cedar, Chocolate, Earth, Coffee bean, Baking spices
Pencil shavings, Cashews, Moss, Cream, Faint caramel
The palate is rich with notes of earth, cream, cocoa, plum, and black
pepper, while the draw is slightly tight but manageable. The retrohale is intense,
with black pepper dominating over earth and cream, and a tingling pepper
sensation on the tongue. During the first third, the burn was wavy with a small
touch-up needed at the 1-inch mark. Notes of cedar, and cashews emerge, with
caramel and chocolate cream lingering on the finish. Further in the retrohale
brings caramel, chocolate, black pepper, and woods. Despite the cigar cracking
from being so tightly packed on one sample, there were no issues with the draw.
There’s a subtle saltiness and more pronounced cocoa and earth as the smoke
progresses, with a chewy smoke and a meaty, peppery finish overtaking the
sweetness by the end of the first third.
In the second third, the black pepper spices balance well with the
creamy notes, creating better harmony. The ash becomes flaky, and while the
burn line is wavy, it corrects itself. On the palate, there are notes of oak, earth,
black and white pepper, black tea, and plum, with wheat bread, toasted oats, and
cream on the finish, along with a faint sweetness. The retrohale reveals earth,
leather, and cream. Towards the end of the second third the flavor profile
sharpens, featuring cedar, salted peanuts, and earth, with black and white
pepper and a touch of caramel sweetness on the finish; on one sample the
sweetness fades, and the strength starts to muddle the flavor profile.
The flavor profile includes notes of toasted bread, cream, earth, and
faint pepper spices on the palate. The retrohale reveals oak, cedar, cocoa,
cream, vanilla bean, and white pepper, along with a strong earthy taste
reminiscent of damp soil. Though I hoped for an increase in sweetness, it never
fully emerged as it did in the second third. The finish is long, with damp woods,
earth, leather, cream, and a hint of pepper. Peanuts also come through on some
puffs. A burn touchup was needed to prevent tunneling on one sample.
