Cigar Info
The SBC 16 was released in 2016, the company’s first limited edition cigar. The original blend was a barber pole with Pennsylvania broadleaf and Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers. In 2018 the SBC 18 was released, this time using Mexican San Andrés and Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers.
The cigars come in boxes of 20 and sell for $16. There were only 250 boxes made this time. The name SBC means Surrounded By Champions and an explanation on the sidde of the lid:
“This truly limited cigar has a production of only 250 boxes. It’s important to recognize that great accomplishments require the team to be successful. Too often we see success only as a face of a single man. Surrounded by Champions 18 is a cigar that pays homage to the people that made Powstanie possible. The main ingredient of greatness is the rest of the team.”
The Powstanie SBC 18, like the company’s other cigars, is rolled Fabrica de Tabacos NicaSueño S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua.
Powstanie SBC 18:
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Nica Sueño
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut & Mexican San Andres
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Size: 5 1/2 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 46
- Vitola: Corona Gorda
- MSRP: $16.00
Pre-light
The wrapper gives off a ton of rich leather and is very attractive with a well rolled barber pole running the length of it. The foot is a bit more interesting with barnyard, stone fruit, and mild pepper. There’s a well applied double cap with the lighter wrapper forming the button of the cap. The wrapper is smooth to the touch, with no soft spots, and perfectly round.
First Third
The first few puffs are a lot of heavy cream, with a mild amount of pepper, rich cedar, and dry leather. Smoke output is phenomenal from the start. Rich, thick clouds of smoke on every puff. About an inch in there’s a slight earthy note that is starting to develop. This third is really all heavy cream and rich cedar, though.
Second Third
Mostly a continuation from the first third. Lots of heavy cream, a mild amount of pepper, leather, a little bit of black coffee has entered the fray now, but rich leather is the dominating flavor. The quality of the smoke is still very impressive and I’m at the halfway point and the ash has still yet to drop off. Just after the halfway point a little baking spice is thrown in and adds a little lift to the profile. .
Final Third
Took a little bit but allspice is now front and center leading the charge with a pretty strong level of pepper now. Varying levels of leather, heavy cream, cedar and strong black coffee add a nice mix of flavors. It’s really the first profile change since the start but it’s almost like smoking a totally different cigar. While the ash held tight and firm the first half it seems to be dropping off about every quarter inch now. The smoke has become a little drier on the palate but the smoke output is still excellent.
Overall Impressions
It feels like most barber pole cigars are more of a conversation starter in public places. They’re nice to look at but they’re usually just for looks. This one was both attractive and a great cigar. The draw was perfect. The construction was top notch in terms of roll and ascetics. The flavors were crisp and the transitions kept it interesting through the almost two hours it took to smoke. I’m also more heavily swayed by the quality of smoke as well as the flavors that I get from it. This one delivered on both fronts. Usually, it’s pepper that gives most of the bite but this one was much more baking spice which gave it a bit more uniqueness.
– Alan (Eulogy)
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