Tarazona Caraballo828 Benjamins Edición Limitada – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

Back in 2020, Tarazona Cigars came out a new limited edition line with two sizes both named after Mario Caraballo, business partner of Eddie Tarazona. The line was the Tarazona Caraballo828, and the two sizes were Benjamins and Silverback. The Tarazona Caraballo828 Benjamins Edición Limitada measure 6 x 52 in a torpedo vitola, while the Benjamins is a 5 x 50 perfecto. Both come in boxes of 10. The Silverback sells for $100 per box while the Benjamins sells for $125.

The blend for Tarazona Caraballo828 Benjamins Edición Limitada uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Jalapa Nicaragua binder, and fillers Condega and Jalapa Nicaragua. Only 500 boxes of the Banjamins were made and only 200 of the Silveback. The cigars are rolled at Southern Classic Cigars under the supervision of Juan “Papito” Alberto Gomez-Pacheco.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Torpedo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Southern Classic Cigars
Blender: Eddie Tarazona
Number of reviewers: 4 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) Sean F. (fullermaine) Alan (Eulogy) Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
Price: $10.00
Age: 1 Year
Release Date: October 2019
Contributed by: Tarazona Cigars

Initial Impressions – Tarazona Caraballo828 Benjamins Edición Limitada

Appearance: 89

“The torpedo cap is well applied with a large, well applied, double cap. I like the slightly toothy wrapper that has a fudge brownie hue.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Aroma: 90

“Dried fruit and manure are emitted both from the wrapper and the foot.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

First Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium

“A bit light on flavor in the first third. The most dominant note is leather and cedar. Neither are particularly bold. There is a bit of baking spice and very mild pepper on the finish. The draw is pretty good with a nice creamy smoke.” –Alan (Eulogy)

“A touch of white pepper, not an overly sweet profile but some sweet notes can’t be identified as of yet. The room note is very pleasant. Dried cherries pepper and leather notes are so easily picked out of the profile now. Medium in strength. The profile is so balanced and smooth. I really thought the draw was going to be tight, but it is exceptional. this cigar is really very good the best I have had in some time.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Second Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“There is a bit more pepper this third but most of the other flavors are still a bit muted. Notes of leather, cedar, baking spice, and a bit of a green juice taste.” –Alan (Eulogy)

“Woody, leather, and a saltiness.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

Final Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The sweetness starts to dissipate. Leather dulls to earth. Most spice dissipates as well. The only drawback was the burn it was a little stubborn but not bad hardly enough to even mention. very boxable stick for beginners as well as seasoned smokers.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“A lot of notes on the back end of this stick. Notes of cinnamon, grass, and more bitter walnut notes.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

Overall Impressions – Tarazona Caraballo828 Benjamins Edición Limitada

Draw: 91

“Excellent draw from beginning to end.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

Burn: 87

“Needed a few touch-ups but nothing major.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

Construction: 92

“It looked great with almost perfect seams and well-applied torpedo cap. I couldn’t find any soft spots prelight and the wrapper was blemish-free.” –Alan (Eulogy)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 89

“Best cigar I have smoked in months. Buy boxes, yes plural.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“The bitter notes of walnut combined with the notes of chocolate, hickory, cinnamon, and grass make this an interesting smoke. Cracking and peeling make this a frustrating smoke. Touch-up is needed in spots due to uneven burning. Multicolored ash in spots as well. The good thing was the draw. I’d give this cigar a second chance.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

“I was very excited to smoke this prelight since it looked great with the torpedo cap and perfect construction. The flavors fell a bit flat for me, though. It just doesn’t oomph to match the uptick in nicotine around the halfway point and I’m more of a flavor over strength person. It isn’t bad but it just doesn’t do anything for me personally.” –Alan (Eulogy)

“It was an ok smoke, the flavors were pretty consistent throughout. Decent, but no wow factor or punch to make any one third stand out.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 125

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Tarazona Caraballo828 Benjamins Edición Limitada – Blind Cigar Review