Wrapper: Habano

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Vitola: 4 5/8 x 40

Strength: Medium

Purchase Link: Illusione La Grande Classe

LA GRANDE CLASSE REVIEW – DOM

Summary: While the wrapper appears to be B grade tobacco, the size for me is a plus.  Salted caramel and coffee with cream make writing a review with alliteration a piece of cake.  An inch down, this cigar delivers berries, hay, and a baking spice that I'm failing to descry (just learned this word today).

Progressing through the second half, sweet and salty pretzel (does this exist?) on the palate and a minty coolness on the retro hale score more positive marks.  With straight As and no Ds, nuts conclude this review with a double entendre.  Don't judge a book by its cover or a cigar by its wrapper.

If You Like That, You Might Like This: Tee time over teatime.

Pairing Suggestion: Fancy wine.

Perceived Strength: Medium

Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.

LA GRANDE CLASSE REVIEW – RICH

Summary: In this seemingly made-for-winter-sized smoke, we've got flavors of cream, bread, black pepper, peanut, oak, smoked meat, and a spiciness that dances across the tongue. The retro hale is packed with peanuts and earth.

The burn and draw were both right on point. I'd be very interested in having more of these on hand, especially for enjoying in cold weather.

If You Like That, You Might Like This: Pleasant surprises while you're out in the cold. Yeah, that's specific.

Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon.

Perceived Strength: Medium.

Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.

LA GRANDE CLASSE REVIEW – BENECIA

Summary: Cold draw tastes like honey and dried fruit. First third gave me woody goodness with baking spices and a smooth Dominican retro hale. Smoked like an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with Honduran flavor but I may have that backwards. Haha!

Second third gave me major smoke production and a perfect burn line with flavors of hay, tobacco and leather.

Unfortunately, in the last third I got a burn hole just below the label that caused the wrapper to split but that didn’t stop me from smoking it until the nub. Spice, leather, and an upwards tick in strength in the end.

If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you liked this, you may like Mil Dias by Crowned Heads.

Pairing Suggestion: Dominican coffee.

Perceived Strength: Medium

Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.

LA GRANDE CLASSE REVIEW – TED

Summary:  The cigar this week is chiquito. Outwardly the cigar looks well-made, and the wrapper leaf is reddish brown in color.

Oak, leather, banana, walnut, and red pepper flake starting things off.  The banana note presents as a very slight sweet note in the profile. I dig this small size for winter smoking say… in Wisconsin?  

Things shifting a bit.  Wood note becoming bolder and it’s more earthy with black pepper spice.  Also finding some nice dark toast flavors and fresh roasted coffee.  

Halfway mark.  Things aren’t changing a lot.  Honestly, I’m ok with that.  Recently on a podcast I heard them ask one of the guests to name a cigar that was relatively linear but solid in its profile.  This cigar would definitely fit that bill. Also, the construction and performance from the cigar is very, very good. It has a razor-sharp burn line and has been producing smoke effortlessly from the beginning. 

Into the last section we go.  Toast, dark coffee, walnuts galore and some pepper spice make up the main flavors.  In the peripheral, baking spices and a touch of salt.  The room smoke from this stick to really nice too… smooth and warm.  This is a relatively full-bodied smoke.

If You Like That, You Might Like This: The underdog in the flyweight division.

Pairing Suggestion: Cuban-style coffee.

Perceived Strength: Medium

Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack.

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, their perceived strength, 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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