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Initial Smoke

Soil, sun-soaked tobacco, citrus, leather, sweet tea, and a spicy retrohale that is followed by a cedar-strong finish confirm the fact that this is indeed a corojo smoke. The draw is fair, aromatics are pleasant and effervescent, and as the cigar slowly heats up, a sweet, sticky medicinal taste forms that is somewhere between an herbal cough syrup and candied dates.

1st Half

Burn a bit further down the barrel, and the whole citrus-spiked sweet tea top note really starts to take over. Retrohales are spicier and favor leather more than before, with that silty, dried clay soil note adding balance. The body of the cigar builds a good bit here in the first third, primarily thanks to the smoke growing a touch oilier. I also found that there were certain puffs that produced more of a British milk tea taste, which not only made the body feel fuller, but also smoothed over any sharpness or spiciness that may have been building.

Still slightly medicinal, the shift into the second third packs a slightly bitter finish, which, thanks to all of the upfront flavors, works fairly well. Hickory and walnut, oilier leather top notes, and a much more balanced, chewy mixture of flavors and textures turn the middle of the cigar into a pleasant, if somewhat rich, intermission.

2nd Half

As the blend trundles along through the second third, sitting somewhere between medium in body and light and sunny in flavor, the cedar scents within the cigar suddenly ignite. If you have ever taken the time to learn how to use a strip of cedar to light a cigar, then this scent should be instantly recognizable. Resinous in a way, but also dry and inviting, this well-timed outburst paves a path for a final third that is worth recording.

Bolder corojo is the first to show itself in the last major section of the cigar, and it is still citrusy, spicy, and tea-like on all accounts. Herbal and pleasantly bitter, the tannins within each puff slowly unfold and shift the palate toward a roastier, spicier smoke that somehow remains medium-powered and medium-bodied.

Parting Puffs

Tolerable would be the best way to describe the final dozen minutes of this blend. It isn't offensive, but neither is it impressive or all that tasty. Spicier and stronger in regard to tobacco tastes and tannins, the bitterness detected is heavy-handed, as too is the oily medicinal note hidden deep within. And while retrohales remain alright, they also show signs of self-destruction during the last few, fuller-bodied puffs.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Over the years, I have had both good and bad burns with this blend. Nothing abominable, of course, just the typical need for a quick touch of the torch to keep a canoe from sinking the show. But even when the cigar is combusting just right, there is a need to puff patiently, for failing to do so will cause some seriously acrid tastes and a tone of heat to form. Ash drops are also something to keep in mind, for they tend to happen frequently with this one. 

Final Thoughts

Swinging back around to this smoke after all these years was a great move, and I honestly feel that it retains its relevancy today, in a world rife with new cigar blends and collaborative spin-off projects.

Would it be safe to say that this is a modern classic, at least when it comes to corojo cigars? I would say so. Does it have its flaws and forgettable moments? Sure, it does. But so too do a lot of other blends out there that have consistently ranked well with critics and consumers.

My suggestion with this one is to take it at face value. And that is a fairly straightforward corojo smoking session that features a lot of the notes you will recognize, along with a few potent portions that push the boundaries a little bit. It also makes for a mighty fine midday smoke break, and will pair up nicely with something like an ice pick or a dark and stormy. 

Overall Balance & Repeatability