Initial Smoke 

Black tea drinkers will immediately recognize the bitter, tannin-heavy taste of their preferred cup of caffeine once the foot of this blend is lit. Aromatic as hell, and brought to you by balanced notes of raw walnuts, hints of honey and chamomile, and a light, leathery layer infused with cedar and oak, light-up is an experience in and of itself. Retrohales are smooth, herbal, and subtly sweet, with an increase in smoke flow forming a medium amount of body.

1st Half

Floral and mildly fruity in a dried pineapple and a papaya profile, the blend attempts to resurrect some of those unlit notes detected a few minutes prior. Sweet, moderately spiced, and spicy, the first third is a crispy, clean concoction of new and old flavors and aromas. Walnuts remain a front-runner in the flavor race, while suede and sun-grown tobacco tastes jostle for second place. 

Repurposed booze barrels come back to haunt the tongue with a second round of sticky-sweet, oak tannin tastes, as a crack or two of black pepper entices a tickle fight with the taste buds on the tongue. However, this is short-lived, as roasted tea leaves soon take over, and an overlying dryness descends upon the palate. Tantalizingly sweet afternotes turn the finish into something much lengthier, though, and with the walnuts and cedar still on hand, a candied praline note emerges. 

By now, everything is medium, with flavor being a few notches ahead at medium full, with body closing in thanks to an increase in smoke flow.

2nd Half

By the time you get to the center of the barrel, the spicy tingles on the tongue have become impossible to ignore, and it's a fantastic tickling sensation. Spicier, stronger, and roastier than the first half, it's obvious that this blend is gunning for something big, and there's nothing you can do about it. Walnut notes have become toasted instead of remaining raw, and while the smoke has grown drier in texture, dribbles of sweetness can still be detected upon the finish to keep things round and interesting. 

Then, somewhere near the start of the final third, black and green tea step out into the limelight. Carpet-bombing the tongue with tannins and matching aromatics, this is where the tea drinkers are going to grin the most. Floral, herbal, spiced, bittersweet, and impressively well-balanced, the last third of this blend unfolds with one of the most impressive medium-strength compositions in the Klaro Collection. 

Parting Puffs

Although it may not be very different from the final third, parting puffs offer a shift back to those earlier chamomile notes, and this rounds out the whole experience with a return to where the whole session started: In the tea shop. Sweet, spiced, tannin-strong, herbal, and roasty, the last few puffs of this blend are just as delicious as it gets, as you burn your way through that blinging gold diamond. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

The majority of the points lost were caused by burn issues, with two touch-ups and a stall midway through the final third, which caused some overheating and a bit of concern over off-flavors. Even then, the cigar stayed cool for much of the time, and while the draw was a touch tight at first, the smoke flow was fluid and rewarding from the first third onward. Furthermore, every other stick I smoked required zero correction, with one cigar in particular building an ash that was nearly two-thirds of the barrel. And that was while walking on a windy evening! 

Final Thoughts

Since these are handmade products, and the occasional dud does occur, I am of the firm mind that my review cigar was the bad apple in the box, as every other stick was nothing short of astounding when it came to burn quality. Furthermore, each stick tasted nearly the exact same at each section, with equal amounts of herbal, sweet, tannin-strong, wood-oriented, and moderately spicy being the primary components throughout. 

The cigar also looks outstanding, smells superlative, and never goes too heavy on you with flavor, body, or strength. So whether you are into oolong, enjoy a spot of Earl Grey, relish a cup of rooibos, or merely want an ice-cold mug of sweet tea with a sprig of mint, the BII Viso Jalapa is here to complement and contrast with your afternoon sipping session.