Black Label Trading Company La Madonna Negra Rothschild Box Press – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

Earlier this year, in June, Black Label Trading Company announced a brand new cigar celebrating their 10-year Anniversary, La Madonna Negra. The blend uses a Connecticut USA Broadleaf wrapper, Ecuadorian Habano binder, and fillers from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania. The cigar launched in three vitolas: Rothschild Box Press – 4.5 x 48 (20 count) MSRP $11.00, Corona Gorda Box Press – 5.5 x 50 (20 count) MSRP $12.50, and Robusto Box Press – 5×54 (20 count) MSRP $13.00. The company also released a Collection Box which includes a 32 count collection of all three sizes. The Collection Boxes were allocated to retailers based on a lottery.

La Madonna Negra is rolled at James Brown's Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua. The name La Madonna Negra translates to The Black Madonna from Spanish, is a reference to statues or paintings in Western Christianity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus, where both figures are depicted with dark skin. Examples of the Black Madonna can be found both in Catholic and Orthodox countries.

La Madonna Negra is a culmination of things I've learned over the last decade of cigar making. It's a cigar that not only represents Black Label but also represents who I am today as a cigar maker. It's bold, as a BLTC cigar should be but, it's also very refined and elegant. It has layers of complexity and a very unique profile. A mixture of different spice elements combines with aromatic floral notes to create something unexpected. I'm very proud of the result.

James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Co. and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Robusto
Length: 4 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 48
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Nicaragua, USA Pennsylvania
Factory: Fábrica Oveja Negra
Blender: James Brown
Number of reviewers: 5 – Kevin J. (maninblack77) Noah S. (Noah) Diana (ArmyRN) Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi) Angel M. (Angel)
Price: $11.00
Age: 3 Months
Release Date: June 2023
Contributed by: Black Label Trading Company

Initial Impressions – Black Label Trading Company La Madonna Negra Rothschild Box Press

Appearance: 95

“This is a petite cigar with a nice box press. Very light in the hand with a medium brown, velvet-looking wrapper. The filler is an almost black brown and fairly dense for a cigar of this size. The cap is nicely formed and adds to the aesthetically pleasing look of the cigar.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

Aroma: 90

“On the wrapper, has a heavy scent of musty hate, cedar, and baking spice. On the foot I'm picking up mostly a sweet tobacco smell and cedar.” –Angel M. (Angel)

First Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“I did notice a hint of the raw honey that I had experienced in the dry draw, however, a definite, deep-roasted coffee surprised me as it snuck up on the finish of my draw. It lingered in between draws and I had the sensation of sipping on a wonderfully tasty cup of coffee mixed with some almonds. Farther in there seemed to be a hint of burnt leather within the smoke of the cigar. A few more puffs and I was convinced someone was using a woodburning tool on leather. It was a nice combination of flavors but still a lighter-bodied cigar for me.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

“Most notable with the first few puffs is a smoke that is incredibly smooth and a short lineup of flavors that are balanced well enough but not very complex. Woody flavors, specifically hickory dominate early on and are accompanied by hints of baker chocolate, cinnamon, and a nutty black coffee. The chocolate notes really shine through on the retro but with a bit of extra sweetness, a little black pepper, and subtleties of chicory. The finish is fairly long and tannin-rich creating a certain mouthfeel that I haven't decided how I feel about just yet. Thus far this stick is performing well and is burning like a champ.” –Noah S. (Noah)

Second Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“In the second third, everything remains fairly the same with a bitter leather flavor, followed by a small amount of cedar and black pepper. On a positive note, the smoke texture did smooth out a tiny bit, but still remained on the dry side. The temperature remains a little warm.” –Angel M. (Angel)

“The second third arrives quickly. The smoke is silky smooth on the tongue. The flavor notes on the palate have stayed the same, equal parts wood and dirt. I'm the retro, the cinnamon note has taken the lead. This leaves the sinuses tingling long after the smoke is gone. The mouthfeel is still rather coarse and is drying out my palate a little. The finish is getting a little longer with each and every puff.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Final Third

Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“We got to the final third rather quickly due to its small size. But the flavors were on point clear to the nub. Lots of dark chocolate, espresso, leather, and some black pepper and earth notes thrown in for good measure. Medium to strong as we neared the end. Very impressed by this little cigar.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“Entering the final third the draw has tightened up quite a bit which is limiting smoke output and subduing the flavors to some degree. After fighting the draw for a few minutes I was able to gently massage the wrapper which alleviated the issue. The draw has returned to near perfection which has increased the smoke output and brightened the flavors back to their original intensity. I still haven't noticed a single change or shift in any of the flavor profiles as this cigar ends right where it began.” –Noah S. (Noah)

Overall Impressions – Black Label Trading Company La Madonna Negra Rothschild Box Press

Draw: 96

“Very wide, open draw, so much so you have to be a little careful to not take in too much smoke at once.” –Angel M. (Angel)

Burn: 99

“A razor-thin burn line that never wandered, no touch-ups and no relights all add up to a flawless performance with regards to burn.” –Noah S. (Noah)

Construction: 94

“Well-constructed and very symmetrical in its box-pressed presentation. The cap held nicely and the wrapper remained intact without any issues. The filler was packed densely enough that without causing the cigar to burn hot or have a tight draw.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 93

“For such a small cigar, I was very impressed by how it performed and the flavors that were presented. And also for a smaller ring gauge cigar, the strength was definitely there although not overpowering. I loved the flavors that this cigar delivered, from the dark chocolate, espresso, leather, and earthy notes. This is definitely a cigar I'd try again, especially in the upcoming winter months due to its smaller stature.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“If I had to describe this cigar with one word, that one word would undeniably be consistent. With a perfect burn and a near-perfect draw, this stick performed exceptionally well from the first puff to the very last and made for a truly enjoyable smoking experience. Similarly, not a single transition took place which made for flavor profiles that stayed consistent as well. All in all, this smoke featured flavors that were fairly pleasant, balanced just enough and by no means was it overly complex. A cigar that tastes the same throughout certainly has its place and I tend to grab for these in situations when I know my attention will be divided. With a smoking time south of an hour, this stick was more than appropriate for the conditions today as it was rather blustery and I didn't want to be outside for too long. I can't say that this cigar made enough of an impression on me that I would absolutely have to smoke it again but should the price point be low enough I would certainly pick up a few to stash away for certain situations.” –Noah S. (Noah)

“I quite enjoyed this little gem. It is a nice-looking cigar and one I would probably keep on hand for when I wanted something to give me some nice flavor but be easy and not too long to smoke. This is the perfect cigar for a lunchtime unwind. The combination of flavors is tasty, yet you don't need to overthink things either. It's going to be consistent, easy to smoke, and light enough to smoke a little faster should you be short on time.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

“A cigar is more than the sum of its parts. Each third, by itself, was not exceptional but when they are examined as a whole I had a fabulous smoking experience. I may not be a fan of an earthy profile but this cigar kept my attention for the whole time. Eventually transitioning into a flavorful profile that I found rather interesting. This would make for a phenomenal choice for someone short on time. I will be interested in knowing what it is cause if I didn't know any better I would think that this is a well-known Nicaraguan brand. That is saying a lot. I highly recommend it for all levels of enthusiasts.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

“Overall, this was a pretty one-dimensional cigar. The flavors stayed consistent throughout each third with a bitter leather taste, followed by cedar and a small amount of black pepper. The smoke texture remained fairly dry throughout the whole cigar only smoothing out a tiny bit in the second third for a moment. The temperature of the smoke was a bit warm for my taste. All in all a decent cigar although not necessarily to my liking.” –Angel M. (Angel)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 49

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Black Label Trading Company La Madonna Negra Rothschild Box Press – Blind Cigar Review