Mission Zero
Giving a cigar a second shot takes a bit of courage. You got burned once and were left with a bad taste in your mouth, so going back to the same stick that did you wrong isn't always easy.
But sometimes it's just a bad burner or doesn't provide the smoke flow you desire. Perhaps there was still some ammonia inside that needed a little bit more time to vacate the premises, or a sharpness that you couldn't get past that might die back with a bit of humidor storage.
Whatever the reason, sometimes it is our determination to give a premium cigar blend a second chance that defines our dedication to the craft. After all, this is a handmade product comprised of leaves from various crops, and no matter how strict the levels of quality control are at a factory, there is always that one stick that doesn't turn out right every few hundred rolls.
This is precisely what came to mind the first time I smoked the Corte Cinco C5 Black from Raices Cubanas. The first time I fired this blend up, I was left with a mouthful of wet leather, damp mulch, and an unpleasant spicy bite on the back of my throat and tongue. So I waited a few weeks and sparked another, only to find the exact same cigar flavor profiles and abrasive finish.
But like every other cigar from Raices Cubanas I have smoked, the burn was fantastic, and the top notes that did strike me right were quite good, even if they were overpowered by the dankness of the blend deeper down. I also dug the fact that the primarily Honduran blend had an additional binder outsourced from Nicaragua, and that the cigar was named after the fifth and final priming of the tobacco plant.
So I sat my last three sample sticks aside and waited a full year to revisit the strongest smoke in the Honduran cigar maker's portfolio. There was the potential of having a really good smoke session here, I just had to be patient, and wait to see how things developed with a little bit of humidor time...
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Unlit Impressions
After a year of resting inside my Japanese-inspired Kobi humidor, the C5 Black developed a healthy amount of tooth. Not just the fine-grit sandpaper stuff, but the big, raised mound kind that lumps up in sections as well. Some may consider this unsightly. But where they see lumpiness, I see smoking potential. On something so dark and leather-like, with raised veins running the length of the cigar, these tough-looking teeth are just part of the package. In fact, the only major aesthetic issue I found in my review stick was the uneven amounts of oil in areas of the cigar and an unevenly shorn foot. Color variations down the barrel can also be seen under the light, so there was some degree of discoloration, but nothing to cry over.
Leathery and spicy, with an oily depth, wrapper aromas are simple and abrupt. There are some scoops of soil and macerated dark berries in there somewhere. But you really have to search for these notes, and even my massive hood ornament struggled at first to find them. The build is great, with a nicely fitted cap, a solid spring rate, and no major construction issues.
However, huff that foot for a sec, and a whole lot of sweet and sour dark berries come out, and these are backed by a bit of prune and fermented funk. Floral perfume notes can also be found, but they are at the end of each inhale and very mild. Instead, you get a hit of rye whiskey, some black pepper, and a lingering forest smell that is dank and dark.
Cap cut, and cigar stuffed in my oral cavity, Honduran rainforest notes become more wood-like, but quickly refocus on the decomposing, leaf-strewn canopy floor. The middle of each pull is punctured with salted pretzel, chocolate-covered raisins, another kick of rye, and a sweet, berry-studded fudge teaser toward the finish. Dank doesn't even come close to describing these tasting notes, so ya'll had best be prepared.
Oh, and while it does mirror the other bands in the Raices Cabanas core line, I find the pumpkin orange and mint green coloring on the semi-matte monochrome band to be an intriguing choice of contrasting colors. It's an odd mixture, especially with that black and white villa on the back of the band, but it somehow works aesthetically.
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Initial Smoke
Oh, how this blend has calmed down when it comes to ignition. What was once a fiery ball of spicy pepper heat is now a medium mixed peppercorn burn, and these are primarily limited to retrohales. This allows those salted rye pretzel flavors to develop almost immediately, and this is joined by a medium amount of leather and loam, as well as mineral and oiled cast iron. There are teases of bittersweet dark chocolate and toffee too, but these are buried so deep it feels foolish to chase them so soon.
Instead, I focus on the draw and the smoke itself, both of which are outstanding and reward you with oily, medium-full levels of smoky satisfaction each time. Raices Cubanas really does roll some seriously well-constructed smokes, and this C5 Black blend is no different.
1st Half
I sure do love a hearty slice of artisanal bread, and this blend sure delivers the doughy goodness in the first third. Being primarily Honduran-based, the blend continues to draw its power from that dank rainforest soil note, and before long, tastes and smells of cedar and cherry wood surface. Retrohales have calmed down a good bit too, permitting enough room for the leathery, sweeter side of the ligero leaf to unload.
The cigar is still very mineral strong, though, and the iron notes can also still be found in places. As the second third expands its range of flavors, a smoother wood-like note moves in, which is likely the mixing of the cherry and cedar finding a common ground. Oily and unapologetic, with just a hint of spiciness on the nose and tongue now, the blend hits full with a resounding wet thud. Not bad, but also a bit ungainly, so here's to hoping for a smoother second half.
2nd Half
Browned butter and light, herbal grilling spices signal the first major transition in the cigar, and it takes place almost dead center in the stick. Wood notes turn into more of a dried mulch taste, and although the smoke is still quite oily in texture, the resinous side of the cedar pushes forward.
Sweeter and funkier in a fermented way, the final third takes those wood-heavy top notes and blends in the sappier cedar tastes and smells for an even bolder expression. Leather and mineral have returned in a big way too, and behind them comes an unusual musk aromatic that is sweet and floral. Unlike last year's sample smokes, there is very little bite or spiciness to this section, just deeply layered complexity and some extremely full smoke textures.
Parting Puffs
Pungent as hell and drenched in rain-soaked soil, the closure to this cigar is even more intense and damp-tasting. Oils and resins are at maximum power, and while there isn't any bite or sharpness, there is some nicotine to be felt, along with the return of pepper on retrohale. Within the final few minutes, a creamy nutty note suddenly pops in, only to turn around and head home because the party is almost over. What a pity he didn't show up sooner...
Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw
A great draw, accompanied by a good burn, zero corrections, and some ultra-oily smoke, makes for a winning combo in this stick. It's also a very slow burner, so that definitely adds some bonus points to the blend's overall score. Again, this company rolls some stellar sticks, and the C5 Black is no exception.
Final Thoughts
Needless to say, that little one-year probationary period played out pretty nicely. Not only did the imbalanced sides of the blend find their footing, but the sharper tasting notes pretty much disappeared entirely. Some sticks just need a little extra downtime before they are ready, and this would be one of them.
That's not to say that this was a clear winner, though, for there were some sections where adding more flavor profiles to the mix could have elevated the entire experience. In fact, this smoke stays pretty true to the whole soil, leather, mineral, and wood cigar flavor profile for much of the time, with minor secondary tasting notes coming and going.
Even then, I didn't find myself losing interest, and I really like how the final third became the smoothest section of the stick. It's still going to be one of the fuller cigars we stock, but at least it has found its place. And that is in your possession, after at least six months to a year of downtime in your humidor of course...
Flavor, Aroma & Transitions
Depth & Complexity
Construction, Burn & Physical Appeal
Backstory & Branding
Overall Balance & Repeatability
Stogie Specs
|
Cigar |
Raices Cubanas "Corte Cinco C5 Black" |
|
Wrapper |
Honduras |
|
Binder |
Honduras & Nicaragua |
|
Filler |
Honduras |
|
Factory |
Honduras |
|
Size |
5″ x 52 (Robusto) |
|
Strength |
Full |
|
Pairing Drink |
Homemade Pineapple & Japanese Key Lime Soda |
|
Rating |
4.2/5 |
