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Unlit Impressions

I struggled to find any flaws with either of the cigars I smoked for this review. Construction is top-notch, with a cap that is nice and deep to prevent an overcut, zero mottling or discoloration to be detected, and the bunch, bind, wrap, and band placement being masterfully applied. 

That claro-colored wrapper is a real treat, with caramel and cream, tart honey, and a crunchy spoonful of cereal grains serving the nostrils a delightful teaser. Cinnamon and clove come at you from the foot rather aggressively though, followed by dried ginger, citrus peel, and a sticky sweetness that borders on being cloying. This is probably due to the usage of an Indonesian-bred binder, and a combination of corojo and criollo leaf in the long-filler.

Spiced gumdrops and a medley of powdered baking spices load up the cold draw with flavorful intent, as darker earthen tones float alongside a floral and fruity finish. I detect very little sweetness in either cigar's unlit tobacco tastes. Meanwhile, the band and the ribbon footband are what they are, and they do not earn nor detract any points from my overall score. 

Initial Smoke

Cinnamon wastes no time in getting its swagger on, with those candied gumdrop mixed spices playing footsies with dried wood tannin undertones beneath the tasting table. A slight peppercorn pop plucks a nose hair or two as I retrohale. Feisty little bugger, ain't ya?

1st Half

With an utterly outstanding burn and draw resulting in one rewarding puff after another, the first half begins to build in flavor. Wood staves of mixed, milder hardwood varieties, perique pipe tobacco, white pepper, and graham cracker are the top tasting notes at first. Mild in strength, slightly heavier in body, and quite robust in flavor, this marks a superb moment in the cigar.

As smoke texture and flavor slowly grow milkier, a bread pudding flavor evolves, and with it arrives that creamy nougat core that candy bar and cigar smokers adore. While it may hit a bit harder via retrohale, the peppery spiciness of the smoke is still quite tame upon the palate, leaving plenty of elbow room for the cinnamon to provide some spiciness.

2nd Half

Funky fermented soil flavors form somewhere in the center of the cigar, with an appealing mixed nut retrohale and a touch of sea salt on the tongue adding depth without building any body. The grade of spiciness within the cigar has started to edge its way upward though, which for now is tempered by the creamy nougat and graham cracker tastes.

With the arrival of the final third, a repeat of what has been detected prior comes out once more, with a nuttier, more peppery retrohale being the only discernable difference between this section's cigar flavor profile and any other. Body has begun to edge closer to medium, but it feels that is more of a side effect of the increasing length of the finish, which does like to hang about for a bit.

Parting Puffs

Out of nowhere, ginger makes a return right when the final third is finishing up, and within the center grows a grand floral flurry of a mixture of freshly cut flowers and dried petals. Without cause or warning, the cigar grows intensely spicy shortly thereafter, making the subtler notes of cedar, vanilla, and cereal grains hard to detect. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Neither cigar gave cause for a single concern when it came to construction or combustion. This thinner corona vitola burned nice and slow too, and was not overly prone to overheating like they tend to do. The ash that the ultra-clean cone crafted was about as crisp as it comes, and I did not have to whip out my Klaro Overland Pro Torch once the entire time. If only more cigars were this well-mannered...

Final Thoughts 

Some of the best moments within this cigar struck me right after light, and during the final third and parting puffs. First, it was perique pipe tobacco and wood tannins, accompanied by a crumble of graham cracker and vanilla. Then, much later, came the tastes of ginger and a flurry of floral effervescence. 

However, I found that the intensity of the cinnamon flavors within this blend tended to drown out some of these subtler tastes much of the time. This signature baking spice (and its heat) also remained prevalent almost the entire time, turning what could have been a very nice little breakfast smoke into a one-sided affair.

I will still happily sit down and smoke this blend again when the mood strikes me right, and I certainly do suggest trying it out if you are a fan of cinnamon spice and a smooth, creamy smoking experience. It's just a tad too hefty of a pinch of the stuff for my personal smoking preferences, and I found myself reaching for my drink more often than I would like. On the upside, my cigar studio now smells like a Cinnabon factory, so keep that in mind if you plan on puffing indoors.

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