Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Vitola: 6 x 50 (Toro)
Strength: Medium+
Purchase Link: El Septimo Sacred Arts Collection
SACRED ARTS RAFAEL REVIEW – DOM
Summary: This dark and oily wrapper is almost beetle black. Toasting the foot, sweet pine smoke gets me suspiciously excited. Pipe tobacco, licorice, and French toast are all the way in my face. A mix of milk chocolate sweetness with dark chocolate richness continues the trend of “dessert cigar” flavors that are cocksure enough to propose on a first date.
In the second half, tootsie roll vibes thicken the body. This pipe smoker’s dream of a cigar finishes with nutty ginger spice and a room note of sweet pea flowers. I’d gladly reach for one of these to defeat palate fatigue from a previous cigar/drink or two.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Tobogganing
Pairing Suggestion: Rum
Perceived Strength: Medium+
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
SACRED ARTS RAFAEL REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar brought notes of earth, pepper, oak, caramel, espresso, and dark chocolate. I found the profile enjoyable for the most part, though there was quite a bit of bitterness that crept in from time to time. That threw it off for me.
Construction-wise, it had a wobbly burn but that didn't impact the experience.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Hooking up with an ex - it might be enjoyable, but you know that bitterness is gonna hit y'all sometime
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon
Perceived Strength: Medium+
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
SACRED ARTS RAFAEL REVIEW – BEN
Summary:
First puff felt like lighting a charcoal grill: Warm, earthy, and the flavor of everything cooked previously. Then that hickory kicks in with almonds on the retro and all is right with this cigar.
Oh my! The cinnamon note is flavorful! Baking spice speaks to the sweetness of the tobacco, however, the black peppercorn note lends itself to a gritty taste and intense last third.
Teeth marks are proof of a slight tight draw, multiple relights and unpredictable ash droppings.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Backyard BBQs
Pairing Suggestion: Martinelli's
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
SACRED ARTS RAFAEL REVIEW – TED
Summary: The wrapper on this cigar is very oily and smooth. The flavors on the front end include spicy, warm wood notes with some toasted nuttiness. I’m also tasting a mild floral note in the finish. The retro hale is smooth but smoke production is light. I’m blaming it on the draw, which is leaning towards the tight side.
Middle section and smoke production picking up! Lots of heavy wood and nut notes; still carrying that floral finish. I’ve already said spicy, but I don’t mean pepper. There’s a spice flavor I just cannot nail down. Good profile nonetheless.
Final section of this stick and the strength is ramping up. Smoke production is still decent and the profile is decidedly floral up front, giving way to darker flavors of bread and wood. There’s also a decent amount of sinus heat in the retro hale in this last part too.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Grilled steaks and porter served slightly cooler than room temp
Pairing Suggestion: Porter… slightly cooler, well you know
Perceived Strength: Top end of medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
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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