Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Vitola: Robusto (5 ½ x 52)
Strength: Medium-Full
Purchase Link: Epic Maduro
EPIC MADURO REVIEW – DOM
Summary: This midnight-black cigar might be the darkest we've reviewed. As should be expected, deep, rich flavors open up this smoke: caramel, oak, and anise. An inch down, the oak persists, but the caramel sweetness is subbed out for pepper. Strawberry catches my attention like a red lightsaber in a dark room.
The strength builds continuously while the body has been full from the start.
Halfway down, a charred meatiness has me craving fajitas. The ash flairs out on the perimeter like a tuba, but I have yet to drop any on myself.
Raisin and black coffee cement this cigar on team Dark Side. If Darth is the honorific you identify with, this cigar may be right up your trench run.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Rock bands with eye makeup (excluding Green Day)
Pairing Suggestion: Rum
Perceived Strength: Full
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
EPIC MADURO REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar gave me nothing but trouble. The draw was incredibly loose, which led to the burn being a mess - it had to either burn too hot or it would go out entirely.
Flavor-wise, I got earth, espresso, and pepper. Just those flavors and lot of bitterness. I wouldn't trust the flavor profile I got, though. The construction certainly impacted the taste.
Sometimes hand-crafted products miss the mark. This was one of those times.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Espresso shots and disappointment
Pairing Suggestion: Rum
Perceived Strength: Medium+, though with the issues I had that could be pretty far off
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
EPIC MADURO REVIEW – BEN
Summary: This cigar is a ring gauge I shy away from; the construction is light on filler and the foot has a whole missing a significant amount of tobacco. Two puffs in and I already feel like I have a long way to go.
This hickory and espresso combination sits thick on my tongue with a cayenne sensation lining the inside of my lips. Uh oh, halfway in, the center of the filler is still missing. Once the potency settles, you get this very nice raisin sweetness with white pepper and a fresh walnut reminiscent of holiday season.
If for nothing else, this cigar has been full of flavor from puff two.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Burnt toast
Pairing Suggestion: Tongue scraper
Perceived Strength: Medium+
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
EPIC MADURO REVIEW – TED
Summary: This wrapper is dark… really dark. Front end of this stick offers a surprising floral note, warm spiciness, a mild tar note, a hint of bbq sauce, black pepper, and charred wood. The draw is perfect, but smoke output is a little disappointing. About half an inch into the smoke… it’s out. Relit and things are picking up again. Retro hale smoke is a smooth but punchy mixture of spicy wood notes, BBQ, and a quick blast of pepper.
Midway point is revealing darker notes. Charred wood, black coffee, a bit of tar, rich tobacco, earth, and grilled meat are all present. There’s a short floral finish on the palate as well. Well, cigar is out again. Second relight.
Nearing the end. Another relight. Continuing with dark notes of wood and coffee with the addition of some dark fruit as well. Retro hale smoke is leaning towards a bitter mix of wood and tar. Not great. The finish is long and sort of generic. Smoke production is dropping again as well.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Planning a weekend event and it rains
Pairing Suggestion: Plain water… or maybe vodka
Perceived Strength: High end of Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
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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