Last year, Tony Bellatto‘s La Barba came out with two new cigars the second in the One&Only Series, and first in the Ricochet series. The name was originally Primitivo but was later changed due to trademark issues. The samples we got for review were acquired before the change. The branding looks very much the same except the name.
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.
The Ricochet series draws its inspiration from Tony Bellatto‘s wine sommelier roots. The first in the series uses a Mexican San Andrésmaduro wrapper, Indonesian binder, and Dominican, Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania fillers. This blend is said to take inspiration with old world style Zinfandel. The cigars are rolled at Tabacalera William Ventura in the Dominican Republic. La BarbaRicochet comes in four vitolas and boxes of 25: 5 3/4 x 46 — $8.60, 5 x 50 — $9.60, 6 x 54 — $10.60, 6 x 60 — $11.60.
“Very attractive cigar. Perfectly round, solid to the touch, with an almost seamless wrap. Slightly velvety and oily to the touch with a well applied triple cap.” –Alan (Eulogy)
Aroma: 90
“Aroma is faint to say the least. Smells like dry autumn leaves on the length of the stick and a touch of raisin from the foot.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
Flavor: 93 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“Starts off with a nice clean blast of leather and cedar. There’s a bit of cereal grain sweetness that develops about an inch in with a heavy cream finish. There’s the same heavy cream note on the retro-hale but this is the only place that I’m finding any amount of pepper from. The quality of smoke is really nice too and the draw is spot on. The ash is a bit flaky but it is a little windy at the moment too.” –Alan (Eulogy)
“This cigar started off with a black pepper blast. This spicy start was followed by a graham cracker aftertaste with almost a touch of cinnamon. The draw is slightly constricted and is possibly due to the fact I chose to use a punch on this cigar. I couldn’t quite make out where the cap started/ended, so I chose not to risk clipping the end. Burn line has been wavering a touch, but no need for correction yet.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
“There’s something super familiar about this cigar. There’s a lot of heavy cream still and just a slight amount of pepper is starting to develop. There’s a rich coffee note that started on the first to second third transition and a hint of baking spice. The grain sweetness from the first third is still present but I wouldn’t say that the profile is sweet.” –Alan (Eulogy)
“The pepper spice has calmed down during the 2nd third but it still there. The cigar is much more creamy with some cedar. Cigar is burning great and holding a great ash.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)
“The strength of this cigar built significantly from the first pull to the final third. Deep woody, earthy flavors as I approached the nub. Still a touch of spice with a licorice finish. Burn line was fantastic and aroma was quite pleasant and tinged the nose a bit.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
“The final 3rd has been much like the 2nd. There is still a nice pepper spice that is not overpowering. The cigar is nice and thick & creamy and coats my entire mouth. The cigar has continued to burn well and hold a good ash.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 97
“About as close to perfect as it get.” –Alan (Eulogy)
Burn: 96
“The burn line never needed a touchup. There were slight variances in the first half of the cigar however self corrected and burned dead even for the second half.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
Construction: 96
“The overall construction was excellent. The burn was great, the draw was great and the cigar held a very nice ash.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)
Overall Strength: Medium Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full Experience Overall: 93
“I’m almost positive that I’ve had this cigar before but I can’t quite remember which one. The smoke output was great, flavors were interesting and varied, and it preformed flawlessly. I would certainly recommend a fiver of these.” –Alan (Eulogy)
“I’m not sure how to describe this cigar now that I am done. It started off very bold and strong. I almost wasn’t ready for this one. The flavors soon mellowed into marshmallow and cinnamon for the first two thirds. They were very mild and and almost hard to notice. There was a nice peppery taste and tingle but that was about it. I thought I had a very mild cigar on my hands. Then, as the final third began, it came on strong. The marshmallow became burnt. The pepper became strong. Then finally it went bitter right at the end. The after taste at the end is bitter and there is a nice tingle on the lips. I’m not sire this is one I would want in the humidor.” –Eric (smalls29)
“Overall the cigar was pretty good. The flavors were pleasant and spicy, and the aroma was fantastic. Construction and burn were very good and I would definitely like to try this cigar again.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
“Overall this was a very nice cigar for me. It started out with a lot of strong pepper spice but then as it went on the spice calmed down but was always there. It became full, thick and creamy and the construction was perfect.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)
Blind Cigar Review: La Barba | Ricochet (Primitivo) 5 3/4 x 46
Summary
"Overall this was a very nice cigar for me. It started out with a lot of strong pepper spice but then as it went on the spice calmed down but was always there. It became full, thick and creamy and the construction was perfect." -Wes (SosaCub4Life)
