Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Vitola: Torpedo (6 x 52)
Purchase Link: La Gianna
LA GIANNA REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: The first few puffs surprise me on this one. The cigar looks like a high-end Connie so I expected a breakfast-type stick, but instead I get put in my place with pepper, mahogany, and honey. Orange citrus brings some freshness to the mix and brightens up the flavor profile. An inch down, the pepper has all but disappeared and, in its place, arises cream of wheat.
I'm not sure why I failed to mention this before the second third, but the smoke output is insane. This cigar is a paragon of construction: flawless ash and burn-line. I'm still getting cream of wheat with some cinnamon, but the complexity has receded otherwise.
Sweet bread in the final third. Some faint baking spices show up as I approach the end.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Sunny-side up eggs.
Pairing Suggestion: Wheat Beer.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
View our Cohiba Macassar Review
LA GIANNA REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: I went back and forth on how much I liked this cigar several times as it went along. It started out creamy, with flavors of natural tobacco, salt, hay, pepper, tea, lemon, and honey. When it tasted like that, it was good. About half the time, though, there was this sour note that just didn't do it for me. It would show up, stick around a while, and then disappear. I'd think it was gone, but no - it was just waiting to show up again and mess up my good time.
Construction-wise, the burn was good and the draw was a little loose. No real construction issues.
That sour note really soured the experience.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Yo-yos.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
View our Sir Winston Churchill The Traveler Review
LA GIANNA REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: This cigar is torpedo shaped and features a Connecticut wrapper. The wrapper is smooth, and the cigar is just slightly spongy. There’s a lot of barnyard scent from this stick; not much else.
The first half of the cigar is a nice combination of salted mixed nuts, hay, mild coffee, mild tobacco, buttery toast and sweet orange zest. The flavors transition back and forth but primarily the mixed nuts and mild coffee stay in the forefront. There’s just a little heat in retro hale, but it is smooth and has a creaminess to it. The ash clings at the halfway point and the cigar continues to belch smoke... completely solid mechanically.
In the second portion, the cigar isn’t really offering much change, but that’s ok because it’s still a completely enjoyable profile and a worthy Connie for sure. From a performance standpoint, this cigar is perfect; the burn is straight, the smoke is plentiful and the ash is solid into the last third.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Calm mornings in the sun.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee in the morning, Kahlua mudslide in the evening.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: If Connies are your jam, Box Purchase.
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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