Cigar Info
Sindicato Artista was originally shown off at the 2021 PCA Convention & Trade Show, but didn’t hit shelves until March of 2022. This project is a collaboration between Sindicato Cigars, and Artista Cigars, hence the name. Ram Rodriguez and Jim Colucci had worked together on projects previously and decided this collaboration was the next evolution of that relationship.
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 blend uses an Ecuadorian corojo wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and Dominican olor, criollo, and broadleaf of undisclosed origins for the filler. It comes in two vitolas: Robusto 5 x 52 $8.25, and Toro 6 x 54 $8.75. Both come in boxes of 20 cigars. The Sindicato Artista and other Sindicato Cigars are distributed by Gurkha Cigar Co. Jim Colucci is the President and CEO of both companies.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera El Artista
Blender: Ram Rodriguez
Number of reviewers: 5 – Kevin J. (maninblack77) Chad M. (Chad Tchad) Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi) Bill C.(Bill) Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
Price: $8.75
Age: 10 Months
Release Date: March 2022
Contributed by: Gurkha Cigars
Initial Impressions – Sindicato Artista Toro
Appearance: 93
“This cigar looks like it has been dipped in a mocha. The color is even from the cap to foot. The wrapper is cover with a fine tooth that has the fell of extra fine sandpaper when you run your finger over it. The seams are tight and it is finished with a triple cap.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
Aroma: 90
“Strong cedar notes at the cap but in the middle there is a transition of cedar to a sweet cabinet spice note. At foot there is a sweet cabinet spice mixture.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
First Third
Flavor: 86
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The cigar opens with a nutty character with blasts of chili powder then slowly transitions into a more woody profile. The retrohale of this cigar has a bunch of green tones with a hint of grape skins after the smoke is gone. This finish is medium in length with notes of underripe fruit while the mouthfeel is medium in body.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
“The start of this cigar was difficult to get fully lit and going drew to a far too open draw. Once I was able to get it going a strong bitter and acidic taste is in my face and lingering on my palate. It reminds me a bit of an Arnold Palmer.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
Second Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“And here is where things pick up quite a bit. Notes of dry cocoa, salted nuts, and some baking spices. Just enough to keep my interest piqued. The strength picks up a bit as well but it’s still fairly mild to medium. The finish is short but there is good smoke output and the burn is fairly impressive. A much better second third.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
“Vegetal bitterness is still the overwhelming flavor here. Cashews and pepper show up in the background, but are second fiddle to the vegetal bitter flavors.” –Bill C. (Bill)
Final Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The cocoa and spice notes carry forward into the final third until the end. Medium in strength and body. Not packed full of flavors as I’d hoped but fairly linear. It had difficulty at times keeping my interest due to the lack of flavors and transitions.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
“More bitterness, more acidity, and a lingering burnt smoky pepper taste on my tongue. The blend becomes a bit strong but more due to the harshness of the blend.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
Overall Impressions – Sindicato Artista Toro
Draw: 91
“The first third was far too open causing issues getting it fully lit and going. After that point, the draw greatly improved and produced some good smoke.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
Burn: 93
“Nice even burn no touch-ups needed. Ash was a bright white layered ash that stays on 1 cm at a time.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
Construction: 91
“This is where this cigar shined. It appears to be rolled entubado which is done to perfection. This allowed for an even combustion rate and a strong ash that held on for more than an inch before I roll it into the ashtray.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 88
“While far from a bad smoking experience, this cigar just didn’t pique my interest that much. Perhaps due to the lack of flavors or transitions or how mild it was in strength. I think fans of habano wrappers will enjoy this, but for my palate, it just didn’t do much.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
“This smoke was rough. The start was cardboard flavor with ammonia flavor that almost made me not want to push through. I did push through the middle of the cigar was the best part but still not anything special. Into the last third the cigar flavors fell flat. The retrohale was rough and not pleasant for most of the smoke.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
“On one hand this cigar is a master class on how to roll a cigar but it falls short in providing a good smoking experience in my book. I feel like it would benefit from some rest time. I would love to revisit it after 30, 60, or 90 days to see if it could push out some of the sharper flavor profile. Only time will tell.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
“This is the hardest time I’ve had rating a cigar thus far. Partly because it’s the tale of two experiences – an extremely well constructed cigar with a flavor profile that wasn’t up to the same standard. Additionally, I normally try to put myself in another smokers shoes – recognizing that not all flavor packages are for everyone. However, this one really has me at a loss. I can’t conceive a scenario where a smoker desires or a blender intends the profile that I smoked. Typically, I favor the performance side of the ratings when considering my final grade, but in this instance the flavor is so off that I can’t help but rate favoring those scores.” –Bill C. (Bill)
“This blend was not for me, too bitter and acidic and while I was able to smoke it fully I wouldn’t likely smoke it again. Not though I can fully see this being a flavor someone would love, I kept thinking while smoking it that the strong tea and acid flavor would likely hit someone else’s palate perfectly. It reminded me a lot of an Arnold Palmer drink, which I hate, but if you enjoy it this might be just the cigar for you to try.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 79
| Reviewer | Appear. | Aroma | 1/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | Draw | Burn | Constr. | Overall Experience |
| Kevin J. | 92 | 85 | 87 | 90 | 90 | 100 | 95 | 90 | 90 |
| Chad M. | 88 | 88 | 83 | 85 | 85 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 85 |
| Estevan Z. | 92 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 88 | 92 | 92 | 95 | 90 |
| Bill C. | 92 | 92 | 78 | 80 | 83 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 83 |
| Lauren S. | 92 | 95 | 85 | 85 | 90 | 88 | 85 | 88 | 88 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.