Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: Robusto
Purchase Link: Emilio Grimalkin
GRIMALKIN REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: Draw is slightly tight. Starting off with pepper and a sweet wood? Had to touch up the burn already. This stick is beginning to pick up mineral flavors, which I’m not too fond of.
The second third begins with dried out flowers. The burn has greatly improved (unlike the flavors). Just when I was trying to be nice, it went out on me.
Into the final third and I’m still waiting for this cigar to give me anything memorable. Strike three.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Making lemonade and discovering you have cuts on your hand.
Pairing Suggestion: Mango Margarita.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
GRIMALKIN REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This triple-capped cigar came out of the gate with a whirlwind of excellent flavors and combinations: earth, oak, leather, pepper, raisin, anise, dark chocolate, cedar, espresso, salt, cinnamon, and sourdough bread made up the profile. Each puff was interesting and it held my attention with deliciousness.
Construction-wise, it was a squishy cigar. It seemed underfilled in places, which led to burn issues that needed correction more than I'd have liked. The draw was a touch loose. So while it gained major points for flavors, it loses some points for construction issues.
Overall, certainly a cigar to try. Its flavor profile is interesting and unique, and worth giving a shot.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you like baked goods, there's something in this cigar for you.
Pairing Suggestion: Cocoa!
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
GRIMALKIN REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: This week’s cigar was a medium brown colored, refined looking Robusto with a very nice looking wrapper. It carried just a little tooth on the leaf and smelled of barnyard, cocoa and dry hay.
The cold draw was interesting... spinach and a hint of sweetness. The first flavors included dark leather, natural tobacco and flashes of caramel. Absent on the palate, black and white pepper spices danced in retro haled smoke. One inch into this bad boy and really getting more of the caramel notes mixed in with charred wood and a ton of pepper.
By the middle of the smoke, things started to deteriorate. Smoke production dropped and the flavors collapsed to consist of charred wood and strong tobacco...tunnel.
The last part of the cigar mellowed out and offered some nice notes of oak, leather and coffee with the caramel and pepper in the retro hale.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you like this then you probably like cigars that offer a good experience, but not much complexity.
Pairing Suggestion: Pair this stick with a highland scotch to intensify the sweet caramel notes.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver purchase.
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.
Leave your comment