Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: El General (7 x 50)
Purchase Link: Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas
CINCO DECADAS REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: I can’t tell if it’s because of the lunch I had a bit earlier or the cigar, but my tongue is getting a tingling sensation. Dark chocolate and macadamia nut. The smoke is chewy with a red pepper zing at the finish. Things are getting crazy with the addition of ginger ale.
Starting the second third, I feel like a confused ball in a game of monkey in the middle; one second it’s all macadamia nuts (meh) and the next it’s a spicy/sweet combo (real nice). Burn line is on point. Spicy dark chocolate in the final third. Nutmeg and cinnamon close this spice bomb out.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: The Spice Girls.
Pairing Suggestion: Porter.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
CINCO DECADAS REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This cigar brought nuanced and pleasant interplay between its flavors. Lots of cocoa, bread, cream, hay, peanut, slight sourness, slight saltiness, wood, occasional mint, occasional floral, slight spice, and cinnamon flavors danced together in my mouth to make an interesting whole. There was a little pepper on the finish, but not very much.
While the flavor combinations were good throughout, the cigar didn't really change as it went. That didn't bother me in this case, as I didn't need it to change. The flavors already brought enough subtlety to the table to keep it interesting.
Consruction-wise, the cigar performed flawlessly. The draw was on point and the burn was razor-sharp throughout.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Eating a box of chocolates.
Pairing Suggestion: Rum.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
CINCO DECADAS REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: This week’s cigar appeared to be a churchill sized cigar. From the wrapper, natural tobacco was evident with a hint of coffee and cocoa.
The cold draw was rather tight and tasted like sweet tobacco and apricot jam. Seems strange but it was interesting.
The cigar started with bold cocoa notes, citrus, natural tobacco and a nod towards a spice I couldn't nail down. It finished leaving mild pepper spice on the palate. The retro-hale was smooth with cinnamon, charred meat and again, a mild pepper spice.
Smoke output was light and I think it was draw related, but it offered a nice even burn through the first third.
Cedar and cinnamon began building in the profile along with a nice creamy texture transferring to the mouthfeel of the smoke.
The middle section was stronger with natural tobacco and citrus providing the base. The creaminess disappeared, dragging along the pepper spice as well.
Moving into the final third, smooth was the name of the game. Creamy with cedar, cinnamon, warm baked bread and just a hint of pepper spice, the final third began to outshine anything previously experienced. The retro-hale shared the same mix with just a bit more spice at the finish.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Speculating on your weekend plans with a good cigar.
Pairing Suggestion: Jack and coke or spiced chai.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
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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