Wrapper: Aganorsa Corojo 99
Binder: Esteli Corojo 2012
Filler: Esteli Criollo 98, Jalapa Corojo 99, Condega Corojo 99
Vitola: 5 x 48
Strength: Medium
Purchase Link: Warped Upper Realm
WARPED UPPER REALM REVIEW – DOM
Summary: Leather, redwood, and corn flakes give this smoke an “old world” feel. With solid, gray ash, this cigar burns well as quality hot cocoa (not too sweet) comes into focus. Just before the halfway mark, buttered popcorn shows up for movie time.
Burning into the last bit, baking spices, peanuts, and charred meat make this an all-around good cigar. That being said, this is more of a bourbon cigar, and I’m a rye guy.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: A full stack of pancakes
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
WARPED UPPER REALM REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar brings notes of leather, cream, anise, cereal grain, and raisin. As it moves along, it gets oakier and then adds notes of green tea. After those notes join the fray, it's a mix-and-match of those different flavor notes taking the lead throughout the rest of the cigar.
It was well-constructed; no complaints at all about burn or draw.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Drinking green tea and eating raisin bran in a leather workshop. Maybe that's a little too specific?
Pairing Suggestion: Rum
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
WARPED UPPER REALM REVIEW – BEN
Summary: Starts off like most earthy sticks for me: dirty, pepper in the back of the throat, and slightly salty on the profile. Mostly through the first half I have a burnt toast after taste.
The potency calms down in the second half but that taste seems to linger. While finding positives in a very smooth draw and retro, I'm painfully aware this is NOT my profile but I have friends who'd enjoy it. Adding bread and dried fruit notes to close.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Leaving toast in the broiler a millisecond too long
Pairing Suggestion: A frothy beer
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack (for a friend, not me)
WARPED UPPER REALM REVIEW – TED
Summary: This cold draw has more saltine cracker in it than a toddler’s fist. However, with some heat, this cigar is producing a pronounced soapy note. I can definitely taste wood, mild tobacco and possibly some black tea, but it’s all overpowered by the soapy nature of the whole profile.
Towards the center of the cigar the unfortunate flavor is gone, and I am left with some very mild wood and bread notes, both washed by a mineral flavor. Further into the middle, there is a very positive change. I am tasting some lemon cream cookies continued mild bread notes along with a very fast-finishing wood flavor. Add in a dash of white pepper as well.
The last section it is starting with a very sharp wood note along with a little bit of pepper spice and a finish turning the entire mixture bitter.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Babysitting your bratty nephew
Pairing Suggestion: Stick with water for pairing
Perceived Strength: Low 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.
Leave your comment