Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: USA/Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Honduran Jamastran (2011 crop), Honduran La Entrada (2011 crop), Honduran OSA (2002 crop), Nicaraguan Estelí (2011 crop), Nicaraguan Estelí (2014 crop), and Dominican Piloto Cubano (1995 crop)
Vitola: 7 ¼ x 54
Purchase Link: Cohiba Spectre
COHIBA SPECTRE REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: This is the size of cigar you should grab to smoke in front of your girlfriend's parents. Looks to be easily a two-hour smoke. Draw is slightly tighter than perfect, but I expect it to open up once I burn a bit down. Starting out with red and black pepper, cinnamon, cream, and a honeydew sweetness. An inch down and the spice is mostly gone; the flavors have done a 180 to floral notes and milk chocolate.
Cream and cinnamon in the second third. Everything is a bit muted now, but still pleasant. Ash holds on a few inches at a time.
Final third begins with Brazil nut. Cooking spices and a return of chocolate. It just went out with about 3 inches to go, so at least I won't have to worry about scorching my fingers when relighting it. The last inch and a half is getting hot, but with the added heat comes more flavor. Cinnamon again at the end.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: 3-hour long films that drag at times, but are worth it in the end.
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
COHIBA SPECTRE REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: Overall, this cigar ticked just about all the boxes for me.
The flavor profile was dominated by creamy chocolate/cocoa, and also brought in notes of earth, bread, pepper, and nuts. There was quite a bit of sweetness on the lips. The flavors didn’t change much, but I didn’t need them to. What it gave me was quite enjoyable.
If you’re into a nice tight ash, this cigar has got you covered. Its draw was on point, and the burn never gave me any issues.
The only downside I can come up with is that it didn’t bring many flavor transitions. If that’s what you’re looking for, perhaps this isn’t the cigar for you. If that’s not a strict requirement for you, you should try this cigar.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you’re an ash man, or if you like chocolate.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
COHIBA SPECTRE REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: Sit back and get comfortable because this week’s cigar is going to take a little bit of time. I’m going to take a guess and say it is 8 inches long with a 56-inch ring gauge. It has a smooth and moderately oily dark brown wrapper with very little tooth and it looks exquisite. The cold draw is nice and leaves just a little bit of sweetness on the lips.
Creamy coffee, maple syrup and cashew start this show. Smoke production is light right out of the gate, which is a bummer...but somewhat typical of oily wrappers from my experiences. Floral notes now mixing in....sweet floral. One inch in, canoe; no smoke. One gigantic burn correct and I’m smokin again. I really want this cigar to be great but me thinks this is spiraling out of control. Tons of effort is resulting in thin, flimsy nearly flavorless smoke.
Rolling into the halfway mark and leather with floral notes is all I’m getting. Very little smoke...feels like it wants to die out any second.
Finishing this stick off and the profile is just mild tobacco and floral notes. Small tindrels of smoke come off the end...that’s all folks.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Shiny cars with high mileage engines
Pairing Suggestion: Something high octane...so you’ll possibly lose track of how little smoke you’re getting.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single stick.
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.
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