This year marked the 12th Annual Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. Unfortunately last years event was not held in person so we were not able to do our Blind Tasting Event. In 2019 we did the first ever Blind Cigar Tasting Event for every attendee of the festival and it was a huge success. You can read about it here. This year, we went bigger and the event did not disappoint.
The idea of this event was to give the everyday smoker the experience of what it’s like to review a cigar when you don’t know what you’re smoking. We partnered with 14 different cigar manufacturers and by hand, unbanded over 1,150 cigars one at a time and replaced them with our own bands with just our logo and a number on it. Every attendee of the festival was given a coupon book in their swag bags to come redeem for their blind cigar, along with instructions on how to review it and find out what it was. The first 60 people to fill out the form during the festival got to spin our prize wheel where we gave away some awesome stuff including a Cigar in a Bottle, Custom JR Cigar 50th Anniversary Humidor, Custom BMP aluminum ashtray, and much more! We also gave attendees a week after the festival to submit their review to be entered to win a box of Foundation cigars.
At the previous event (2019), we had 117 reviews submitted total for the event including the weeks afterword. This year, we had 207 people submit their reviews during the festival, and another 68 so far after for a total of 276. Needless to say, that is a huge jump in the number of people submitting the reviews, and we really do appreciate it.
Below you will find the results summary for each cigar entry did, sorted by average score. In the raw data we are able to sort by 100ths of a decimal place, but we are only displaying whole numbers. There were no ties. If you would like to see the raw and more detailed data of how each cigar did, you can go here. At the bottom of this page, you can find more details about each cigar that was entered in the tasting.
| Final Placement | Cigar Number | Cigar Name | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | Espinosa Murcielago | 92 |
| 2 | 7 | Drew Estate Undercrown 10 | 91 |
| 3 | 8 | J.C. Newman Perla Del Mar Corojo | 91 |
| 4 | 9 | Aganorsa Leaf Guardian of the Farm Nightwatch | 91 |
| 5 | 13 | Hiram & Solomon Grand Architect | 90 |
| 6 | 4 | Alec & Bradley Kintsugi | 90 |
| 7 | 6 | Kristoff Corojo Limitada | 90 |
| 8 | 12 | Foundation Charter Oak Habano | 89 |
| 9 | 5 | Diesel Estelí Puro | 89 |
| 10 | 11 | Miami Cigar & Co. Don Lino Africa | 88 |
| 11 | 1 | El Artista Buffalo TEN Connecticut | 88 |
| 12 | 10 | Asylum 13 Medulla Oblongata Natural | 88 |
| 13 | 3 | Davidoff AVO Classic Belicoso | 87 |
| 14 | 2 | Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT Toro | 86 |
Cigar #1 – El Artista Buffalo TEN Connecticut
In June of this year, El Artista has announced the third blend in the Buffalo TEN series, Buffalo TEN Connecticut. The original Buffalo TEN was released in 2019 and saw a lot of success given the high scores by site like ours (93) and the price point, $5.00. Last year, the company added a natural version of the cigar, which also scored very well (91).
Like the other blends, Buffalo TEN Connecticut comes in one size, a soft box pressed 6×50 Toro. The come in 5-Packs that sell for $22.50 MSRP. Buffalo TEN Connecticut uses five different tobaccos from across Central & South America and The Caribbean. The blend starts with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper from El Artista‘s own farms, a rich Cameroon binder, and filler from Nicaragua, and the company’s own farms in the Dominican Republic. The cigar had a soft launch in Norway distributed by Nordic Cigars at the beginning of June and will be available for sale to retailers in North America at the PCA Trade Show. The cigars will ship in August.
Cigar #2 – Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT Toro
In June of 2019, Joya de Nicaragua unveiled a Connecticut shade-wrapped line extension Antaño line called the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT. The word Antaño translates in Spanish to “Yesteryear”. The Antaño CT is the fourth in the Antaño line with original Antaño, Antaño Reserva, and Antaño Dark Corojo.
The blend for Antaño CT, uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, and Nicaraguan filler and binder. Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT comes in 20-count and in 4 sizes: 6×54 Belicoso (MSRP $ 9.90), 6×50 Toro (MSRP $9.70), 5×52 Robusto (MSRP $8.45), and 5¼x46 Corona Gorda (MSRP $8.00).
Cigar #3 – AVO Classic Belicoso
In January of this year, AVO Cigars announced that the Belicoso size in their AVO Classic line was returning. The Belicoso was last made in 2005 and comes back as a limited production of 2,000 boxes of 25 cigars being sold only in the United States.
The blend uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut Sun Grown wrapper, and Dominican binder and fillers. It is described as mild-to-medium strength. The Classic Belicoso measures 6 x 48. Each cigar sells for $12.00.
Cigar #4 – Alec & Bradley Kintsugi
The name comes from a Japanese legend says that a 15th century Japanese Shogun dropped his favorite vase, shattering it to pieces. He then ordered artisans to reconstruct it with gold or silver lacquer- making it even more beautiful. This name they say draws a parallel with the current state of the Premium Cigar Industry. The blend for Kintsugi uses a Habano wrapper from the Trojes region of Honduras, two binders (Nicaraguan and Honduran), and fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua. Kintsugi comes in 24 count a golden filled-in crack pattern. The bands and interior box got their inspiration from traditional Japanese themes and artwork. It is manufactured at the Raices Cubanas Factory in Danli, Honduras and comes in four sizes: Robusto 5” x 50 ($7.95) , Toro 6” x 52 ($8.80), Gordo 6” x 60 ($9.85) and Corona Gorda 5 5/8″ x 46 ($7.25).
Cigar #5 – Diesel Estelí Puro Robusto
The wrapper comes from AJ Fernandez’s La Lilia farm, while the binder is from San José, and the fillers are from several plots including AJ’s San Lotano farm. It is of course blended by AJ Fernandez and rolled at his factory Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua. It was developed with General Cigar Brand Manager Justin Andrews. Diesel Estelí Puro comes in three vitolas in 20 count boxes: Robusto 5.25” x 54 $8.99, Toro 6” x 54 $9.49, Gigante 6” x 60 per cigar $9.99.
Cigar #6 – Kristoff Corojo Limitada
Blend
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan Habano, Dominican Habano
Sizes
Matador – 6.5 x 56 Churchill – 7 x 50
Robusto – 5.5 x 54 Lancero – 7.5 x 40
Torpedo – 6.25 x 52
Cigar #7 – Drew Estate Undercrown 10
The blend for Undercrown 10 starts with a Mexican San Andres wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan fillers. It will come in four regular production sizes: Toro (6 x 52) $12, Robusto (5 x 50) $11.75, Corona Viva (5 x 43) $10.50, and Corona Doble (7 x 50) $13.50. All come in boxes of 20. There will also be a limited-edition “Factory Floor Edition” which is a 6 x 46 $13.60 lonsdale . This also comes with 20 cigars, but in addition will include a “tobacco leaf library,” meaning a sample of each individual leaf comprising the blend. Lastly, there will be an event only size, the Undercrown 10 Tuani Belicoso (6 x 52). This will only be available at event hosted by Pedro Gomez and will comes in boxes of 2 similar to the Liga Privada “A” and Undercrown Manifesto.
Cigar #8 – J.C. Newman Perla Del Mar Corojo
The J.C. Newman Perla Del Mar Corojo Corona Gorda uses an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and fillers. It comes in what they call a Tampa-style press and sell for between $6 and $7. There are four sizes: Robusto (4 3/4 x 52) $6.45, Toro (6 1/4 x 54) $7.10, Double Toro (6 x 60) $7.60, and Corona Gorda (5 1/2 x 46) $6.45. All of them come in boxes of 25. The Perla del Mar brand goes all the way back to Cuba. The name comes from the beautiful Caribbean water that can be found in Cuba. Perla del Mar translates to Sea Pearl.
Cigar #9 – Aganorsa Leaf Guardian of the Farm Nightwatch
Guardian of the Farm Nightwatch comes the same four sizes as the original: Rambo (4.5 x 48), JJ (box pressed 5.25 x 50), Campeon (6 x 52 109 head), and Orpheus (6 x 44). All are in boxes of 25 and MSRP is between $8.50 and $9.95. The only difference in format between the original blend and Nightwatch JJ is box pressed and the Apollo has changed its name to Orpheus. Some of the artwork for Nightwatch was created by Dean Keever, of Tree House made famous for art design of beer can.
Cigar #10 – Asylum 13 Medulla Oblongata Natural
AVAILABLE VITOLAS / COUNT
50 x 5 / 50
52 x 6 / 50
60 x 6 / 50
70 x 7 / 40
80 x 6 / 30
Cigar #11 – Miami Cigar & Co. Don Lino Africa
Don Lino Africa uses an Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper, African Cameroon binder, and Piloto Dominicano, Ometepe, Jalapa, and Esteli fillers. It comes five sizes, all box-pressed, Robusto “Duma” 5×50 ($9.00 MSRP), Belicoso “Kifaru” 6.25×52 ($10.50 MSRP), Toro “Punda Milia” 5.5×54 ($10.00 MSRP), Gran Toro “Tembo” 6×60 ($11.00 MSRP), and Petite Corona “Kudu” 4×44 ($5.98 MSRP).
Cigar #12 – Foundation Charter Oak Habano
The bands and packing look really close to the original using the same historic 600-year-old oak related to Connecticut‘s legacy of independence and industry. The box color is different for the Habano blend having a warm, honey colored box and black corner label. The Habano is available in the same five sizes and 20 count boxes as the original lines, but will also a Torpedo vitola. The original sizes are: Petite Corona – 5 ¼ x 42, Rothschild – 4 ½ x 50, Lonsdale – 6 ¼ x 46, Toro – 6 x 52, and Grande – 6 x 60. The new Torpedo measures 6 x 52. The new torpedo size will come in boxes of 50, not 20. The blend is described as medium-bodied.
Cigar #13 – Hiram & Solomon | Grand Architect
The blend starts with a corojo wrapper, followed by a seco habano wrapper, then fillers from Paraguay and 2 types of Nicaraguan Ligero. The leaf from Paraguay is a rare leaf that is also used in the company’s Entered Apprentice and Veiled Prophet blends. The Grand Architect comes in 20 count boxes and three sizes: Robusto – 5 x 50, Toro – 6 x 52, Gran Toro – 6 x 60. They are rolled at Plasencia Cigars in Esteli, Nicaragua, and cost between $10.00 and $12.00 USD.
Cigar #14 – Espinosa Murcielago
The blend still uses a Mexican San Andres wrapper on Nicaraguan binder and filler. It is being launched in two box-pressed sizes (Robusto and Toro) and one rounded size (Rabito). The cigars are packaged in 20-count boxes.