Ciclope was one of seven new releases form Curivari at IPCPR 2017. This blend uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper and Binder and Filler from Nicaragua. It comes in 5 vitolas: 460 — $6.50, 554 — $7.50, 556 — $8, 652 — $8, 754 — $9. They launched just after the show in August. Today we are reviewing the Curivari | Cyclope 554. Curivari produces cigars in small batches at Plasencia cigars. The idea of making everything handmade is important to them. They use only the traditional Cuban cigar methods with authentic Cuban Criollo and Corojo seed grown in Nicaragua. All cigars are finished in a triple cap.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Robusto Length: 5″ Ring Gauge: 54 Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Factory: Plasencia Cigars Blender: Andreas Throuvalas Number of reviewers: 5 – Daniel S. (Daniel S.) Isaac M.(The Nothing) John I. (John I.) Diana(ArmyRN) Wes (SosaCub4Life) Price: $7.50 Age: 6 Months Release Date: August 2017 Contributed by: Curivari Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 95
“The box press on this cigar had it looking like a top notch cigar. The seams were nearly invisible and the veins are nicely flattened. There was a patch applied near the foot that was a different color and showed off plenty of glue.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)
Aroma: 90
“Sweet notes of fermentation and grass. Funkier at the foot than along the body. ” –John I. (John I.)
“At first light, I got a strong chocolate flavor. The chocolate flavor mellowed out almost instantly, and turned into a toasted tobacco flavor. The retrohale has a flavor I cannot put my finger on, but I will call it a zesty tea flavor. There is a lot flavors underneath the toasted Tobacco, that I cannot indentify.” –Daniel S. (Daniel S.) “Initial impressions are really good. Started out with nice big roasted meaty flavor, big full retrohale tingling, and pretty quickly moved into a nice, and really forward sweetness. Tastes nearly as chocolaty as it looks. Medium bodied, really sweet, not a thing wrong with this. Twenty minutes in the burn and draw are great, and it’s thoroughly enjoyable aside from some brief hits of rawness. “” –John I. (John I.)”
“The rich flavors continue and have progressed into a deep leather mixed with a deep roast coffee. The hints of cinnamon and nutmeg are still there but more nuanced at this point. The smoke is plentiful and rich also adding to the pleasant smoking experience. I’m getting into this cigar more as it progresses. I like the easiness of this smoke. Very little work with a ton of payoff in flavor. ” –Diana (ArmyRN) “The 2nd third didn’t change much for me. Still a very nice spice and overall the cigar is producing tons of smoke.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)
“Into the last third the toasted tobacco flavor is still the prominent flavor. I started getting a little sweet creaminess which adds some complexity to this cigar. I am also starting to get some toasted nut flavor which adds to the overall enjoyment.” –Daniel S. (Daniel S.) “Burn is continuing to be significantly off to one side. Flavor wise there isn’t much change from the core sweetness that has been apparent throughout and the strength has remained consistently medium. ” –John I. (John I.)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 96
“There were no problems with the draw on this cigar from start to finish. I’ve enjoyed this cigar immensely in that there is not much work but it is also not sloppy. The consistency is great and the burn, although a bit fast, has been excellent throughout.” –Diana (ArmyRN)
Burn: 91
“Burn was basically perfect. Kept a great circle, never wavered.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)
Construction: 89
“The construction was good. However, once I got close to the end of cigar it started to get hot. I also was getting some bitterness that I would say was caused by the cigar getting hot.” –Daniel S. (Daniel S.)
“Overall I enjoyed this cigar, even though it did not have a lot transitions. The flavors I got made up for the lack of transitions due to full body and robust flavors it has. Maybe, I should not say this, but some of the flavors i got especially in the first two thirds, one could call Padrónish. The last third of the cigar had the most complexity. However at the end of the cigar I got some bitterness.” –Daniel S. (Daniel S.) “The flavors that bursted at the beginning had me excited for this cigar. Unfortunately the constant supervision this cigar required was more annoying than a toddler on red bull and pixie stix. It was hard to sit through the harshness hoping that something might change. The looks and the draw are the only redeeming qualities of this cigar, but that isn’t enough. Hard pass if you see this one on the shelf. ” –Isaac M. (The Nothing) “This was very good. Core sweetness was enjoyable if not nuanced. Not a remarkable cigar, but overall it was a very pleasant, possibly a little too well behaved, cigar. ” –John I. (John I.) “This is a cigar I would definitely have again. It might even be a box worthy cigar for me. Definitely powerful but the flavour is complex and progressive enough that the power sits in the background. The fluffy ash and quick smoking time can lead you to believe it is a light cigar but o’contrair! Great after lunch or dinner stick (make sure you have food in your belly). The next one I have will be with a dark roast coffee ” –Diana (ArmyRN) “Overall this was an excellent cigar that I would gladly smoke again. It had a wonderful spice throughout the entire smoke that never was overpowering, but was always there. Towards the end I picked up some char flavor along with the spice. The construction was perfect and this cigar pumped out tons of smoke. Nothing to complain about and a lot to like.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
Blind Cigar Review: Curivari | Cyclope 554
Overall Score – 92 – Great
Blind Cigar Review: Curivari | Cyclope 554
Summary
"This is a cigar I would definitely have again. It might even be a box worthy cigar for me. Definitely powerful but the flavour is complex and progressive enough that the power sits in the background. The fluffy ash and quick smoking time can lead you to believe it is a light cigar but o’contrair! Great after lunch or dinner stick (make sure you have food in your belly). The next one I have will be with a dark roast coffee " -Diana (ArmyRN)
