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Unlit Impressions

Box-pressed to the point where it can be labeled as firm, with its flathead cap looking and feeling just as tight up top, I find myself admiring this blend every time I peek through the glass on my Kobi humidor. It isn't just all that opaque broadleaf maduro tobacco on the outside either, but the badass rockabilly hot rod chrome grill of a band and the retro font used that catch the eye. This cigar screams "garage cigar" vibes louder than a straight pipe exhaust piped off a set of double-hump heads, and I'm here for it.

Oily, tacky to the touch, and just now starting to show some tooth, the wrapper smells of suede leather, soy sauce, malted barley, and bittersweet dark chocolate. Stronger scents of sun-grown ligero tobacco spice and spiciness hover near the foot, followed by some tart plum pectin fruitiness, dank soil, and a hint of wet wood. 

Cold draws strongarm the tongue into a headlock, allowing all those sun-grown ligero leaves to hit the senses all over again. But this time, there's a potent pepper spiciness to be detected, along with a heavy mineral note, chalky, dried soil, and a good bit more semi-sweet cocoa. It's a cold pull that is not nearly as sticky or sweet as one might expect, and the more you draw, the more you will realize this blend might be sandbagging.

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Initial Smoke

Ignition slaps the palate with leather jackets, and a round, creamy smoke texture touched by a fair deal of that bittersweet cocoa from prelight. Earthy and bold, with a faintly spicy finish, retrohales and exhales alike let you know that this cigar is geared with power in mind. The draw is almost wide open already, and as the full-bodied smoke rolls forth, I prepare my tongue for what is to come.

1st Half

Although an oily leather note is the first taste detected on the forefront of each pull, the earthy, chalky soil note that follows mellows it out. Darker terroir tastes circle in after, along with some espresso bean without the bitter bite, and sweet smack of red licorice. For all intents and purposes, the blend has decided that everything needs to be at full throttle by now, and you are given no other choice but to buckle up and hold on for the rest of the ride.

But just when things are starting to go dark, and you think things are going to spin out of control, flavors suddenly let off the gas, and the blend lightens up a little in the second third. Supported by cedar and some unidentifiable form of hardwood, the body and retrohales are influenced the most by this brief break in the action. 

2nd Half

By the time you reach the center of the cigar, combustion levels have increased exponentially, and that pit stop a few minutes earlier is just a smoky memory. Formation of that fiendish funk that broadleaf tobacco is widely known for featuring starts to show itself, along with that chocolate creaminess that prefers to play second fiddle.

Salty, nutty, milky, and growing funkier by the puff, the final third gears up for one final throw of the shifter. Full-bodied and flavored, but not nearly as strong as predicted, the final third offers the best of everything all at once. Tannins, and the dry woody taste and texture that come with them. Tree nuts of the mixed variety. The faintest whisper of baking spice. It's all lying there, right beneath all that bold, broadleaf bravado.

Parting Puffs

Charred and overheating, both in flavor and temperature, parting puffs sputter and misfire amidst a cloud of smoke. Sharp on the tongue and unpleasantly dry, not even the last gasp of bitter espresso bean can save the smoldering wreckage of this rat rod.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Although touch-ups in the first third and a lopsided burn and ash did lose this blend some points, it was the need to constantly puff on the cigar to keep it from going out that was my biggest qualm with combustion. Although the draw was borderline wide open from ignition onward, the cigar struggled to stay lit, and all that puffing via an open draw didn't help heat levels whatsoever. This also caused the robusto to burn rather rapidly, which is never a good thing. At least the smoke itself was fun to play with and plentiful...

Final Thoughts

This is one solid, oily, full-flavored smoke, ya'll. It's got all of the brawny broadleaf backbone to keep traditional fans of the leaf enamored, and just enough cleanliness and creativity to keep those of us who aren't hardcore into the varietal appeased. It's also not nearly as strong as it is full-bodied and full-flavored. Hence, labeling this cigar as medium-full strength.

Ok, so there were some burn issues, and parting puffs were anything but pleasant, but everything else about the Flathead V554 Camshaft was pretty damn delish. The final third was especially satisfying, with the return of wood tannins and that milky, salted mixed nut note really driving what this blend is all about home.

That's why I can foresee all manner of full-flavor maduro smoker snatching this stick up, and not just broadleaf fanatics. It strikes a lot of the right notes at just the right time, as well as in a few unexpected areas, and remains true to its live fast and go hard attitude. Just be sure to bring some spares for your buddies, because they're definitely going to want to get in on this action.

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