Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: LC50 (5 x 50)
Purchase Link: Crowned Heads Las Calaveras
Las Calaveras 2018 Review - California
Summary: Smarties on the pre-light. First few puffs offer a rich, rustic oak. Buttered artichoke. Burn is razor sharp and the strength is medium plus.
The flavor profile in the second third hasn’t changed much with the exception of smoked salmon (tasty though, not fishy).
I’m starting the final third and it’s already getting a bit hot. Dark roast coffee on the finish. Nice.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Black beans.
Pairing Suggestion: White mocha.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
Las Calaveras 2018 Review - Wisconsin
Summary: This cigar came out of the gate with strong notes of earth and chocolate, with a pleasant light pepper finish. The chocolate notes stayed throughout and really made up the backbone of the smoke's flavor profile. It added sweetness and a little bit of a sour note that complemented each other nicely. Moving along, oak, hickory, and cocoa added themselves to the profile and cinnamon dominated the finish. Coffee and vanilla flavors joined in, and we had ourselves a mocha latte going. Near the end, a really nice peanut butter note added a unique twist.
This cigar made my mouth taste awesome for a very long time after it had turned to ash.
The draw was on the looser side, the burn took care of itself, and the smoke was thick. If you're someone who loves a pretty ash, this cigar has that for you - it was a pure white against the dark wrapper. Body was just north of medium.
If you're looking for a well-made cigar that will make you say 'oh man, now I understand what people mean when they say a cigar was chocolatey', look no further than this smoke.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you like being the smoothest bold guy around, you'll dig this cigar.
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
Las Calaveras 2018 Review - Oregon
Summary: There was a slightly tight draw on this med to dark brown stick. The surface was bumpy and lumpy but still appeared well constructed. The cold draw offered only natural tobacco notes. Also, lots of tooth on the wrapper lended a very rustic appearance to the cigar.
Dark chocolate, leather and earth mixed with mild tobacco to begin a somewhat dark flavor profile. However, there was a really interesting finish of green apple. That same apple flavor paired with pepper in the retrohale. Smoke output was above par and the ash held solid for the first two inches of the smoke. The burn was simply perfect as well, requiring zero input.
Towards the middle, flavors transitioned a bit featuring oak, leather cocoa and a slight mineral note. The retrohale lost all its pepper qualities, becoming citrusy and mildly sweet.
By the end of the cigar the profile flavors became less obvious. Oak, leather, citrus and natural tobacco were still distinguishable.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you like this then you probably like 16 ounce yoga.
Pairing Suggestion: Pair this with a floral, black coffee in the a.m. or a crisp summer seasonal ale.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
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