Wrapper: Habana 2016
Binder: Dominican HVA Mao 2018
Filler: Piloto Cubano & HVA
Vitola: 6 ½ x 44
Purchase Link: Millesime by Edgar Julian Sued
MILLESIME REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: The tooth is REAL on this puppy. Nuttiness, wood, and leather. My first few puffs are packed with flavor, with minimal spice on the retro hale. Caramel sweetness is less pronounced, but there.
Mesquite, strawberry, and baking spices keep the flavor train chugging as I round second. A relight is required, but the construction remains on point. Wood and leather ride in cruise control to the close.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Chewing on some good ol’ bubble gum.
Pairing Suggestion: Negroni.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
MILLESIME REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This cigar saw the flame from my lighter as a challenge. It scoffed at the torch and said, "You can't possibly keep me lit!" And in the end, the cigar was right.
When it did manage to burn some leaves, I got flavors of espresso, caramel, pepper, cedar, bitterness, and sourness. My assumption is that the bitter and sour flavors resulted at least partly from the need to keep flame on the tobacco to keep it combusting.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Damp logs.
Pairing Suggestion: Single.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Bourbon.
MILLESIME REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: Lots of nutmeg, cinnamon and chocolate scents from the wrapper of this cigar. The cold draw resistance seems perfect even though the pack is very firm. Tart fruit notes and leather from the cold draw. Let’s see what this stick is all about.
A fuel-sipping single torch lighter is perfect for this cigar. Very interesting start. First off, this cigar tastes like I would expect from leaf coming from very yellow cello…it has that distinctive aged flavor immediately. Mild notes of leather, cardamom and toasted almond with a lemon zest finish start things off. Also you don’t really notice it when you look at the wrapper but once you start smoking the cigar you can see the tooth from the wrapper lying on the outside of the ash. The retro hale smoke carries an almost sweet combo of fresh bread and leather but finishes quickly, transforming into the lemon note. The room smoke is heady.
The middle of this cigar continues to shine. The entire profile has a slightly sweet overture. The flavors include cinnamon, nutmeg and mixed nuts along with mild wood notes. In the finish I am still tasting that sharp citrus note as well but it just adds another layer of complexity that is welcome. Great performance in construction and smoke too.
I am finishing this up and while the profile has become a bit “edgy”, it’s still really good. Stronger wood notes with a creamy mix of baking spices and nuttiness. There’s a touch of pepper heat in the end too.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Playin’ horseshoes and draining crispy boys.
Pairing Suggestion: An ice-cold Summer Shandy.
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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