Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Ecuadorian Barrel-Aged
Filler: Peruvian, Dominican, Nicaraguan Barrel-Aged
Vitola: Churchill (7 x 47)
Purchase Link: Karl Malone Barrel Aged by La Aurora
KARL MALONE BARREL AGED REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: Toothy, rustic looking wrapper. Cedar, leather, and nuts to start things off. Chocolate and cayenne. Floral notes brighten things up.
Entering the second third and no touch-ups required. Milk chocolatey goodness. While this review has been uncharacteristically laconic for such a long smoke, it's not due to lack of enjoyment. Enjoyable flavors, just not much transition.
Some fresh herbs compliment the milk chocolate in the final third. Great smoke if you have an evening to kill.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Cornhole.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
KARL MALONE BARREL AGED REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This cigar brought flavors of cereal grain, leather, nuts, cream, wood, butterscotch, caramel, and light spice. All of those flavors, as you can imagine, went quite well together. Sometimes it was in Werther's caramel territory, other times it was closer to a big ol' bowl of cereal. In the second half, oak picked up and became more dominant. All in all, a very pleasant flavor experience.
Construction-wise, I had nothing to complain about. The draw and burn were both right on point.
Overall, a well-made and enjoyable cigar. It didn't have me reaching for my wallet to order more right away, but I'd be happy to have more of them on hand.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Stroopwafels.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
KARL MALONE BARREL AGED REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: This Churchill length cigar has a light brown wrapper that I would describe as rustic. The wrapper itself isn’t offering any insight regarding the flavor profile. The cold draw is disappointingly on the tight side and offers notes of dry hay and honey.
Starting notes of leather, nuts, and stale bread. The tight draw is going to kill this cigar, I can already tell. Smoke production is very limited, and the flavors are really muted.
Moving on... I want to say the ash on this cigar is solid and looks impressive. But, that’s where the kudos end because bitter tea notes, leather and hints of dry hay are all I get through the middle. This stick is really struggling to breathe and I’m struggling to find a glimmer of hope in it.
The end features lemon wafer cookies, minus the sweetness, mild tobacco, dry hay, mild notes of mixed nuts.... and it’s all shrouded in bitterness due to the continuing tight draw.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Peeling potatoes...with a soup spoon.
Pairing Suggestion: Anything 43 proof or higher.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
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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