Wrapper: Sumatra
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Vitola: Lancero 6 ¾ x 42
Purchase Link: Black Works Studio S&R
S&R REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: Starting off with cornflakes, red pepper, and some muskiness. The retro hale has a good amount of spice to it, but the flavor department is somewhat lacking.
Second third is still giving me red pepper and muskiness but includes a touch of cream. I took a sip of water and was blindsided by a profile change to macadamia nut and vanilla.
The final third features a combination of red pepper, nut, and vanilla, with a very faint fruit sweetness. Maybe peach? No touch-ups throughout.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: An elevator ride with a stranger.
Pairing Suggestion: Piña Colada.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
S&R REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This cigar brought voluminous smoke, with flavors of pepper, cream, spice, nuts, cedar, coffee, and bread. It brought moderately heavy pepper and spice in the first half, then mellowed out a bit and added more oak in the second half.
Its' draw was perfect. The burn needed a couple of touch-ups. Overall, the construction was good.
No major complaints and a good amount of enjoyment from this one. It did bring a bit of a kick, though, especially at the beginning. So be ready for that.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Jalapeños in your hot dogs.
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
S&R REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: This cigar has a sleek looking wrapper and a cool “cinnamon bun” pigtail on the cap. That should be a dead giveaway... but it isn’t. Nice cold draw and a little pepper spice on the lips. Nice.
Without letting me down, pepper spice is on the palate, in the retro hale and wow... bold! This cigar is belching smoke too. Some charred oak, walnut and red pepper spice build in the profile. I can’t tell if the retro hale heat is white pepper or wasabi, but it’s really warm. Rolling around through the middle of all the flavors there are some baking spice notes as well.
Towards the middle, the flavors have mellowed, but in a good way. Bran flakes, oak, hints of caramel and cinnamon toast are all trading places in the mix. There’s still a bit of heat as well. The retro hale smoke is spicy but offers up some hints of citrus for me. Mechanics? Perfect...couldn’t ask for better performance.
Near the end, the strength is of course, picking up but things are still very enjoyable. The flavors seem very similar to the middle experience. It’s all good though. Very enjoyable cigar!
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Shuffling through sunny vacation photos.
Pairing Suggestion: Gin and Tonic.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
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