Wrapper: Dominican Corojo (aged 3 years)
Binder: Sumatra (3 years)
Filler: Dominican (aged 3-4 years)
Vitola: Toro (6 x 52)
Strength: Medium
Purchase Link: Somm Rioja
SOMM RIOJA REVIEW – DOM
Summary: Boy, you could cut an inch off the top and still have some cap left. After a few minutes of puffing and pondering, red pepper and bread is all I can pick out. A macadamia nut and potpourri dryness has me already thinking about a drink pairing. An inch further, the flavors remain subtle and unoffensive, but the mouthfeel steals the spotlight by being strikingly clean and smooth. This is the perfect cigar to recommend to the average lounge patron looking for a good smoke and no gobbledygook tasting notes. Hopefully the price point corroborates that sentiment.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Teaching someone how to play a card game
Pairing Suggestion: Pilsner
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
SOMM RIOJA REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar brought a lot of wood notes, accompanied by earth, black pepper, coffee, and smaller amounts of citrus and cream. At several points it was more bitter than I prefer.
Construction-wise, the burn got a little off a number of times but always corrected itself.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Having a cigar in your mouth while you do other things
Pairing Suggestion: Frappuccino
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
SOMM RIOJA REVIEW – BEN
Summary: I'm met with a nice oaky, warm, and sweet profile with strong peppercorn notes to follow. I'm most surprised by the cherry pie sensation I got; it reminded me of an old lady's sweet tooth. Sadly, I had to chuck this cigar because I was consumed with relighting and making fish faces from a tough pull.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Dating for potential
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
SOMM RIOJA REVIEW – TED
Summary: This cigar started off with vegetable and wood notes, a small amount of bitter chocolate, dark fruit notes, white pepper, and long finish of leather and mixed nuts. The draw was a bit tight but smoke production seemed fine.
Through the middle and into the final part of the cigar the profile was a steady mixture of black coffee, mixed nuts, mild umami and wood notes, walnuts, and leather with a smooth creamy finish.
I didn’t have any real issues with the construction other than the draw started and remained pretty tight all the way through and it seemed to affect the smoke production in the final minutes of the cigar.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Medium body cigars with a classic profile
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee, or a light rum
Perceived Strength: Low end of 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, 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.
Leave your comment