Wrapper: Ecuadorian Hybrid Seed
Binder: Dominican Criollo ‘98
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Pennsylvania
Vitola: #42 Robusto (4 ¾ x 54)
Purchase Link: RVGN
RVGN REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: I used a punch on this cigar and after a puff or two, I feel no need to whip out the guillotine. First few puffs offer chocolate chip cookies and white pepper on the retro hale. A mesquite smokiness moves in and complements the semisweet baked goods. About an inch down, the pepper has almost completely disappeared from the retro hale and the flavors have become a bit muted. The burn is slightly wavy, but not problematic.
Chocolate chip cookies return to the forefront in the second third with the addition of macadamia nuts. Unfortunately, this stick moves once again toward insipidity. Touched up the burn. Green tea.
Not getting much entering the final third. The draw is getting hot with a good 3 inches to go. Nothing else to say.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: an OK CD that skips.
Pairing Suggestion: Stout.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
RVGN REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This cigar hit all the right notes for me: bread, cream, spice, cocoa, nuts, gingerbread, and leather. On occasion I got anise and raisins from it. Lots of deliciousness that went together beautifully.
The burn and draw were both good, and the smoke output was voluminous. It won't win a wrapper beauty contest because of some very large veins, but I'm happy to look past that for the beauty within.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Kaleidoscopes of flavor.
Pairing Suggestion: Coca-Cola.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
RVGN REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: The mildly oily wrapper on this stick smells like hay and maple syrup. It’s firmly packed and has a small amount of tooth to the wrapper. The cold draw is interesting...oregano.
The first third is primarily a strong oak profile featuring brief glimpses of maple sweetness and dry leather. There is zero spiciness involved here...not even in the retro hale. Mechanically it’s very strong. There is still a solid ash hanging on and it has the “stack of dimes” look.
The middle of the cigar remains unchanged with the exception of maple turning more towards caramel and the addition of black pepper in very moderate amounts.
The final portion is a carbon copy of the rest of the cigar. Very little change in profile and definitely missing the “wow” factor.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Stacking firewood.
Pairing Suggestion: Something to spice things up... fireball shots!
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single stick.
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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