Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99
Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo ‘98
Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99, Criollo ‘98
Vitola: 5 ½ x 52
Strength: Medium+
Purchase Link: Warped Nicotina
WARPED NICOTINA REVIEW – DOM
Summary: Is this an oval-pressed cigar? It looks like a soft box-press that got softer. The first puff tastes oddly similar to pipe tobacco. Even stranger, the second tasting note is Cubanesque. Unsalted nuts and dry wood create a thirst trap and impel me to hydrate. After a relight, corn nuts and orange citrus help spice up my review life.
Halfway through, a stubborn peninsula of wrapper leaf experiences scorched earth policy. Cinnamon and apples almost make for applesauce, but the sweetness just isn't there. A lemon soapiness makes me think of washing dishes, and I don't like thinking about washing dishes. While I'm not too hot on this cigar, my palate heats up at the close.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Chips in the glove compartment.
Pairing Suggestion: Lemon Drop.
Perceived Strength: Medium.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
WARPED NICOTINA REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar brought dominant notes of black pepper, peanut shell, and oak with lighter notes of leather and baking spice. Charred meat brought itself into focus on the finish. There was a distinct dryness to the smoke.
The draw was on point, and smoke was voluminous. The burn got a bit more on the wavy side than I'd like but corrected itself.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Covering in-the-shell peanuts in pepper, then licking them.
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon.
Perceived Strength: Medium+
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
WARPED NICOTINA REVIEW – BEN
Summary: Very good construction; firm but flexible. Pull is perfection, like the ease of when you first learn to whistle. I enjoy the faint heat from the white paper swirling my nostrils. Cedar, hay, and peanuts are the first to come to taste - slightly salty.
I'm really digging the sourdough dough flavor intertwined with the lingering spice; what's interesting is that no matter the note, it's staying with me for a while; the smoke is light on the palate, yet the flavor is prominent as the heat picks up in the last third. Ooooooooh white pepper appears again with a hint of sweet aroma in the last third. Almost like cinnamon or milk chocolate.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: A long walk w/a playlist and no distractions.
Pairing Suggestion: Water.
Perceived Strength: Medium.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack.
WARPED NICOTINA REVIEW – TED
Summary: It’s not a 100% giveaway which is obvious by the fact I’m not positive what cigar this is, but I feel like the shape of the cap I’ve only seen on maybe two or three cigars. Take that for what it’s worth. Firmly rolled. Relatively smooth wrapper. Perfect resistance in the cold draw. Let’s get to burnin’.
First section offering salted peanuts, dried apricot, oak, leather, pepper spice. Also, a creamy mix of warm baking spice notes and grains in the retro hale. Let’s talk ash… solid, perfect, stacked dimes. Impressive.
Just entering the middle portion and the ash dropped. I’m tasting a warm mix of salted nuts, wood notes, coffee, and a long finish of leather. The retro hale remains very enjoyable. It’s heavy with salted peanuts and mild wood flavors. Very little if any pepper spice now.
Final portion is interesting for sure. Still tasting a little saltiness in the mixture but it’s more wood, floral, leather, and vegetal notes. I’m still enjoying it. The construction and performance has been spot on. If others smoked a cigar and got the same salty profile that I experienced it may be polarizing for them. However because of the flavors in the profile for me, it worked.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Cigars that are “game ready” when the pitcher takes the mound.
Pairing Suggestion: Hazy IPA.
Perceived Strength: 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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