Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro

Vital Stats:

Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro

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.

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Factory: TabaDom
Blender: Undisclosed
Number of reviewers: 5—–Gregg (McGreggor57) Jack (Jack_H) Dave (mdwest) Robert (NavyPiper) Emmett (rhetorik)
Price: $11.25
Age: 1 Month
Release Date: July 2013
Contributed by: Hammer + Sickle

Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro

 

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 89

“This is a very nice looking Connecticut shade cigar. The wrapper color is even and feels less dry to the touch than most Connecticuts. There is a decent triple cap and the veins and seams are somewhat visible.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Aroma: 88

“Straight tobacco along the length with some hay and bit of barnyard at the foot. Cedar on the cold draw.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

First Third

Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro

 

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“A picture perfect draw is allowing fresh cracked pepper to dominate initially. Slowly, a little clove and burnt caramel begin to creep in. With the pepper fading, leather and tobacco come to the front leaving the clove in the background.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

“I taste hints of walnut, with a sweet but not over powering flavor on the inhale. Overall, I get an earthy retrohale, a bit faint but not displeasing at all. This is definitely a mild cigar. After about twenty minutes, notes of toasted marshmallow appear. Throughout the first third there were moments where the flavor was a bit harsh. The burn is razor sharp and it produces a milky white ash.” –Jack (Jack_H)

Second Third

Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro

 

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“In the second third, the toast, earth, spice and pepper are still present, but there’s a mild nuttiness now, and as before all are working very well together. Still very good and enjoyable.” –Robert (NavyPiper)

“This third has been mostly the same cedar and coffee notes, but that’s not a bad thing. There is a lot more spice here than I would have thought. Further in, a nice nutty flavor becomes present, somewhat replacing the cedar.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Final Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Thankfully, the harshness that showed up around the mid point goes away quickly and the final third is very smooth. The finish now has a very light, almost minty taste to it that is refreshing and enjoyable.” –Dave (mdwest)

Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro

“The spice has definitely died down in this third, making room for more subtle wood and nut notes. Even down to the nub, this cigar doesn’t get hot, just flavorful. This third was definitely the best.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 98

“All I can say is that the draw was absolutely perfect from start to finish.” –Robert (NavyPiper)

Burn: 95

“Good burn, the ash held for a long time and was a pleasant white. No touch ups whatsoever.” –Jack (Jack_H)

Construction: 93

“While notably “ugly” in appearance, from a performance standpoint, there is really nothing to complain about with this stick. It performed exceptionally well.” –Dave (mdwest)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Overall Experience: 91

Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro

“This cigar appeared to have an intentional development of flavors. I appreciated the transitions, even if some of the flavors weren’t in my wheel house. The back and forth of intensity during the final third made me chuckle at times. If judged on flavors alone, I would have scored the cigar a little lower. But all of the other components of the smoke added to my experience.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

“This would be a good cigar to have with some coffee or start your day. At a lower price point this is a solid cigar, not amazing, but something easy to reach for in the morning or afternoon.” –Jack (Jack_H)

“Overall, a nice cigar that I think would pair well with a coffee and be great in the mornings. I’d be willing to buy a few and revisit again soon.” –Dave (mdwest)

“Why is it when I buy a Connecticut stogie, which is pretty rare for me, that they never quite come close to this sample? Which is why I’m not real fond of Connecticut stogies. But this guy was a paradigm shifter for me. Loved every inch of it, except when I scorched my finger taking it to the nub. This is one I’ll be looking out for to add it to the rotation in the future!” –Robert (NavyPiper)

“This was a truly great Connecticut cigar, one of the best I’ve had. This was strong enough that it is never boring, but not too strong that it still wouldn’t make a good morning cigar. This could be smoked anytime by anyone, highly recommend.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 88

Edit
Reviewer Appearance Aroma 1/3 2/3 3/3 Draw Burn Constr. Overall
Gregg 88 90 90 88 88 98 95 93 92
Jack 90 88 88 90 85 90 95 90 88
Dave 85 88 88 88 90 95 95 95 90
Robert 92 88 90 90 90 100 88 93 90
Emmett 90 92 92 95 95 100 100 97 95

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Hammer + Sickle | Icon Toro
Appearance
89
Aroma
88
First Third
89
Second Third
89
Final Third
89
Draw
98
Burn
95
Construction
93
Overall Experience
91
91
Total Score - Very Good