Wrapper: Pennsylvania Maduro
Binder: Sumatra
Filler: Dominican
Vitola: Robusto (5 x 50)
Purchase Link: Caldwell Blind Man’s Bluff Maduro
BLIND MAN’S BLUFF MADURO REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: Floral notes, hickory, and tons of smoke kick this cigar into gear. There's something refreshing about this smoke that I can't quite place (it's 90+ degrees outside so maybe I'm just thankful for lounges with AC). Nuttiness. Nice.
Second third features more of the hickory, baking spices, and a faint fruitiness. The nuttiness is still hitting as well. Even though the burn has been a bit wavy, I have no gripes.
Black tea and red pepper in the final third. FLAVORTOWN! (Does Guy Fieri make cigars? [if he did, would anyone buy them?])
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Drinking in a walk-in freezer on a blistering summer day.
Pairing Suggestion: Margarita.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
BLIND MAN’S BLUFF MADURO REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: Complementary flavors abounded in this cigar: earth, molasses, pepper, bread, leather, baking spices, cocoa, coffee, cinnamon, gingerbread, nuts, and a spice that built throughout. The flavors were interesting in the individual puffs, though they didn't change much throughout the length of the cigar.
A sharp burn and a slightly-loose draw gave me a pleasant, mostly effortless experience smoking it. I wouldn't personally pick this cigar every day but would be glad to have some in my humidor for when the mood strikes.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Gingerbread cookies.
Pairing Suggestion: Brandy old fashioned.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
BLIND MAN’S BLUFF MADURO REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: This Robusto is draped with a relatively dark wrapper. It appears really toothy as well. I see a small hole in the wrapper about 1” from the foot. Probably nothing to worry about. The cold draw is laden with burnt toffee, dark cherries and just a hint of black pepper.
Dank earth, charred oak and bitter coffee make up the beginning profile of the smoke. In retro hale, things are also dark and heavy but finish with some pepper spice.
Headed into the middle section and things are relatively unchanged. What has changed is the addition of a finish reminding me of lemon zest on burnt toast. Weird. Also, the pepper spice has dropped from sight in the retro hale.
The end of this cigar is heating up. Also, the flavors have turned even darker with a ton of charred wood, bitter coffee and a noticeable nicotine kick.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Reading pulp fiction.
Pairing Suggestion: Porter or stout.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single stick.
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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