"This is one of the better experiences I have had since being a panelist with Blind Man's Puff. While the prelight aromas were a little "odd" and had what I would describe as hints of dryness to it, the overall profile of the cigar was great! It developed nicely and changed all along the way, offering something different and enjoyable with each part of the cigar. This is a key point for me in rating a cigar, as I personally feel a cigar that develops a more favorable profile as it goes, is paramount to a rewarding smoking experience that keeps the smoker coming back for more" -Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
"This is an extremely full-bodied cigar with core flavors of earth and wood. When the initial pepper spice was joined by some mineral early on things calmed down a bit, I only wish that the addition of coffee and orange zest that appeared in the final third had arrived earlier in the smoking experience as they added some complexity and balance to the cigar that I felt was needed. As far as pairings are concerned, I highly recommend a bourbon that has a natural touch of sweetness to it." -Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
Black Works Studio (BLK WKS) has announced a new line: INTERGALACTIC. It is of course rolled at their factory Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua. INTERGALACTIC is a Limited Edition and will ship to select BLK WKS retailers next week. It will also be available in Belgium and Germany later this month.
"Overall I was a huge fan of this blend. The strong pepper in the retro along with great leather, chocolate, mocha, and baking spices lead this blend right onto my preferred palate. The only downside was the starting and ending inches had a hot and harsh flavor.I will absolutely revisit this blend in the future." -Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
"This cigar is all about the delicate transitions! There were quite a few of them in this small cigar. If you are looking for a kick in the teeth, this cigar is not for you. But, if you like light, delicate, and sweet flavor notes this is for you. Would pair perfectly with your morning coffee or any rum-based cocktail. I'm sure a few of these cigars will find it into my personal humidor and hopefully yours too. Enjoy" -Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
La Gloria Cubana is adding a 7 x 70 size to their Serie R line. The collection is known for its fat ring gauges and this marks the brand’s largest size to date. The La Gloria Cubana Serie R No 8 uses an Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican blend.
The original CAO Amazon Basin was inspired by a rare tobacco in a remote region of the Amazonian Rainforest. The initial release happened in 2014 and was re-released in 2016 and inspired several spinoff cigars in the years since. Now in 2022, the original blend is coming back again.
"I enjoyed the transition from a light sweet cedar start to more medium earth and leather to the slightly fuller smokey pepper ending. To me, this would be a great mid-morning cigar to get your taste buds kicked into gear. I couldn't ask for much more from the burn or the construction and will absolutely revisit this blend in the future." -Lauren S. (Lauren S.)"
"I had low expectations for this one based on the appearance, aroma, and first third. The final two portions brought total redemption, however, and left me wanting to light another, and wanting to buy some for the future. This could easily be my morning cigar. I recommend it to everyone." -Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
"This enjoyable cigar featured great construction from start to finish. While there was not a great deal of complexity present, the transitions in both strength and dominant flavors (especially in the second third) were quite enjoyable. While I wish the creaminess had stuck around longer, the bold cedar and mostly consistent spice danced very well together throughout the smoking experience." -Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)