Black Prince is an exclusive cigar to SmallBatchCigar.com produced at the Graycliff factory. It's a 6 x 46 Small Batch expression of the Graycliff Espresso series, a cigar that was blended by the infamous Avelino Lara formerly of El Laguito before he left Cuba for the Bahamas. Lara was a key player in the creation of Cohiba as well as the production of Cuban Davidoffs and other notorious brands.
Wrapper: Costa Rican (?)
Binder: Cameroon (?)
Filler: Ecuadorian, Nicaraguan (?)
Vitola: 6 x 46
Factory: Graycliff
Production: Limited Production | Small Batch Exclusive
Graycliff Black Prince Reviewer: California
Summary: Just lit up and I'm tasting dark, bitter coffee and pretzel. The mouth feel is weird. Like when you lick an ice cream cone for a solid minute and your mouth is semi numb but also has a creamy texture to it (Phrasing?).
I'm an inch in and was about to start trash talking this cigar when I got blasted (in the taste bloods [pop culture reference]) with berries and cream. The last cigar that gave me this much raspberry was from Honduras but I haven't smoked enough Honduran cigars to know if that's the norm.
The creamy mouth feel is now chalky so hopefully it dissipates. I'm almost to the second third and it went out on me. All I'm getting now is a faint cream and bitterness. Construction is still on point though.
Here's a flavor transition for ya: horse and pineapple. I kid you not. I grew up in an area known for its AG so when I say horse, I'm not bashing it. Reminds me of home in a way.
The bitterness hasn't really gone away and now reminds me of an old coconut. Not that I've ever had one.
Just put out the cigar with probably 2 inches left. There were glimmers of good but all in all it wasn't a favorite. It'd make a solid yard gar if the price point were right.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you like drinking average vodka from an ice luge, you’ll probably like this.
Pairing Suggestion: Pair it with 6 cold ones.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: I'd recommend a single for when you’re grilling and plan on consuming numerous beers.
Graycliff Black Prince Reviewer: Wisconsin
Summary: Early on, this cigar gave me notes of dank earth, roasted meat, coffee, milk chocolate, mesquite hickory, and spice on the finish. There was a skunkiness that pervaded the first inch or so. If you're a Heineken drinker, you'll recognize that skunk taste.
It took a big turn after the first third, with different flavors taking the lead at different times: creamy milk chocolate, toasted nuts, and baking spices took their turns. They were joined by lesser notes of molasses, dark chocolate, mineral, oak, raisin, and brown sugar. The pepper level built throughout the cigar and pushed the skunkiness to the side.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: For the first part, if you like Heineken you'll probably dig it. After that first third, if you like peppery or nutty cigars with reasonable complexity, you might have yourself a winner here.
Pairing Suggestion: Rum or root beer
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single for me, though fiver for some friends. It got pretty good, I just didn't like the start of the cigar very much.
Graycliff Black Prince Reviewer: Oregon
Summary: For starters, this cigar appears to be sizing up in the 6x46-48 range and I personally really enjoy that size of cigar. It has a rustic look with the wrapper displaying some "rough around the edges" characteristics, but the construction appears to be on par. The flavors ranged back and forth between cedar, espresso, charred oak and roasted nuts. The one flavor that didn't change was pepper.
Black pepper, red pepper, cayenne pepper...they were all present. The pepper heat absolutely dominated the first half of the cigar. The second half found the pepper dissipating a little, allowing the other flavors to shine. The burn was wavy at best and I corrected a couple of attempts it made to run.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If habanero salsa barely makes you take notice, you'll like this cigar.
Pairing Suggestion: I'd pair this cigar with a porter to cool some of the peppery heat. However, if spice and heat are your forte, grab a dram of peaty whisky. The medicinal edge of many Islay scotch whiskies would crank the heat up even more.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Throw caution to the wind and buy a 5er of this cigar. Every humidor needs a good spicy stick you can reach for on occasion.
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
View the Small Batch exclusive Black Prince
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