Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Dominican Sumatra
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Vitola: Corona Gorda (5 ¾ x 46)
Strength: Medium
Purchase Link: Ferio Tego Summa
FERIO TEGO SUMMA REVIEW – DOM
Summary: Blanketed by a lightly toothy wrapper, this cigar begins with a perfect draw and delicate retro hale. Floral notes and sugared coffee check all my boxes. While I do pick up chewy tootsie roll (a bottom-5 candy), it is cast aside by the depth and complexity of Walnut pie.
The burn careens, so I immolate the leaf that’s left behind. The wrapper sacrifice must have angered the powers that be because the cigar goes out on me. Regaining its footing, this flavor stick hits me with dates and a cocoa powdered vanilla ice cream that arrest my attention. This cigar wants to fight; once more into the fray, I set flame to the smokeless foot and puff away. While I flirted with the idea of a box recommendation, this cigar played hard-to-get one too many times.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Viking funerals
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
FERIO TEGO SUMMA REVIEW – RICH
Summary: A pre-light draw on this cigar alerts me that it will probably have some spice kick to it. And that bears out when it's lit. It also gives notes of coffee, chocolate, pepper, vegetal, and cinnamon. The flavors were quite strong, and the vegetal note threw things off for me; I would have liked it quite a bit more without that.
The cigar had trouble staying lit and didn't want to burn correctly.
I'm not saying this is what happened with this cigar, but overall it reminded me of cigars I've tried that have come right from the factory without getting much rest. I get the sense that I'd enjoy this cigar more with some extra time in the humidor.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Using your lighter, and also spice
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon
Perceived Strength: Low end of full
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
FERIO TEGO SUMMA REVIEW – BEN
Summary: Thank goodness that initial taste of dirty water disappeared; it tasted like broadleaf mixed with well-done steak. But at last, the end of the first third mellowed out into a warm dark chocolate; slightly bitter rounded off with sweetness. A grassy note on the retro that finished with a "cigar taste" on my palate.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Obsessing over brushing your teeth five times a day
Pairing Suggestion: Pellegrino
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
FERIO TEGO SUMMA REVIEW – TED
Summary: The cold draw is a bit tight on this one. The wrapper has a nice, slightly oily sheen.
The first part of the stick offers flavors of oak and some citrusy bitterness; imagine chewing on a little piece of orange rind. A slightly salty mix of leather and earth is also in the profile. I’m enjoying a bit of warm Wasabi style heat in the sinuses during the retro hale! I also taste some very mild coffee notes and a bit more of the mineral note as I close in on the center portion of this cigar.
The middle of this cigar finds the profile built from very muted wood, earth, coffee, and minerals notes. Seems to parallel what I said about the first part. I can’t help but think the flavors I am experiencing are being dramatically affected by the draw on this cigar, which is still very tight. There just isn’t anything very spectacular happening so far.
As I start working through the end portion of this cigar, things remain very predictable although the draw has opened up a bit and even the smoke production has picked up. However, the flavors haven’t changed a whole lot. I would really like to experience a second sample of the cigar to see if I can find one with a little more open draw, hoping that that would enhance the flavors quite a bit.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Working a 12-hour shift through the Fourth of July
Pairing Suggestion: Gentleman Jack, nothing stronger
Perceived Strength: Low end of medium
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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