Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Peruvian
Vitola: 6 ¾ x 48
Strength: Mild-Medium
Purchase Link: Crowned Heads Sfumato in C Major
SFUMATO IN C MAJOR REVIEW – DOM
Summary: Not enough credit is given to a wrapping job’s ability to sell a cigar; this thing is beautiful and is giving me high hopes. Buttery pastry, nuttiness, and cream cause this cigar to rise to the top of my mental list of favorite Connecticuts.
Halfway through, caramel corn, umami, and malt have me in a baby-making mood. This cigar has Christmas morning written all over it. Big win.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Tailgating with the Ghost of Christmas Present
Pairing Suggestion: Latte with raw sugar
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box
SFUMATO IN C MAJOR REVIEW – RICH
Summary: We've entered winter in Wisconsin, which means cigars can get rated with the judgement of 'is this cigar worth being out in the cold to smoke?' That scale really separates the good from the great - it's hardly worth freezing for something good, but I'd spend hours with frozen bits to experience greatness. So how did this cigar do? It brought notes of hay, graham cracker, barnyard, salt, and pepper. It wasn't bad, but I was much more interested in heading inside than in continuing to smoke it. That tells you everything you need to know.
Construction didn't give me any problems; it smoked well.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Table spices
Pairing Suggestion: Hot chocolate
Perceived Strength: Medium-
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
SFUMATO IN C MAJOR REVIEW – BEN
Summary: Wow, what a seamless retro complimented by a green pepper note; pepper vibes on the nostrils with a little heat on the palate. Light cedar, bread, and cashews give this cigar an uptick in flavor but not without a wonky burn line. This baby is bursting at the seams! The wrapper is completely separating from the binder. No doubt it's an easy smoke but I was so distracted by the many ways to hold it to keep it from falling apart that I didn't clock the second half. Dang - I need a do over.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Throwing confetti
Pairing Suggestion: Cappuccino with cinnamon sprinkled on top
Perceived Strength: Mild
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
SFUMATO IN C MAJOR REVIEW – TED
Summary: Connecticut. Churchill. There are three very good cigars coming to mind when I say those two words.
This is starting out like a spoonful of creamy peanut butter on top of a graham cracker with a dash of salt. I also taste wood notes and mild tobacco; topped with a dash of salt. The retro hale is pretty dang good. It’s a creamy mix of leather, mild lemongrass, hay and coffee. That, combined with perfect draw, smoke, and ash? Hang on tight, this could be a stunner.
Middle section rollin' and so is the flavor train. The profile, sprinkled with a bit of white pepper spice, is a creamy and smooth mixture of hay, graham, mild citrus, and wood with just a hint of fresh hay. Like the #1 team in NCAA football, this cigar controls it’s own destiny. Smoke output? Perfect. Burn? Perfect.
Headed to the finish. Listen, the profile hasn’t changed much from the middle section, but I am not complaining. It’s very, very good and perfect for my palate. I do sense the tobacco notes and nicotine kicking up a notch but it remains smooth and folks, the retro hale is pure gold. There is an early and fast-finishing flavor of mixed nuts with a solid pepper finish.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Connecticut wrapped blends with an uppercut
Pairing Suggestion: Pendleton whiskey
Perceived Strength: Low end of medium
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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