Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Vitola: Robusto (5 x 54)
Purchase Link: Black Label Salvation
BLTC SALVATION REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: I'm reviewing this as California burns around me, so hopefully I can taste more than scorched earth. Red pepper and peanuts to start things off. The wrapper and possibly binder don't seem to have the same combustion rate as the filler, so a touchup is required. Berry jam sweetness. After that one touchup, things have been burning smoothly.
More berry jam notes in the second third. That red pepper from before has transitioned to a smoky, warm pepper (adobo chili?). Floral notes.
Final third. I'm really digging the nutty sweetness this cigar has offered.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: PB&J sandwiches.
Pairing Suggestion: Alcoholic Milkshake.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
BLTC SALVATION REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: The draw on this cigar is really, really loose. There’s no resistance to speak of. Feeling the cigar, it’s very clearly underfilled. Not ‘oh, I’m an armchair expert who thinks this is underfilled’, but ‘when I squeeze into the cigar a bit to see what’s up with the draw, my finger pushes waaaaay too far into it’. Very odd.
The flavors I get are earth, chocolate, hay, cream, black pepper, and cinnamon. The smoke is harsh, probably because the draw is so loose that it burns hot no matter what I do.
At least the smoke is voluminous. This sample was rolled poorly and almost unsmokeable.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Having nobody show up to your birthday party.
Pairing Suggestion: Another cigar to have on hand in case you have to toss this one early.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
BLTC SALVATION REVIEW – OREGON
Summary This firmly packed, milk chocolate colored cigar has a lot of barnyard off the wrapper. The foot offers more strong tobacco notes than anything.
Starting with chalky wood notes, powdered cocoa flavor, mild tobacco and just a hint of pepper on the palate. Let’s see what the retro is like...some fresh oak, leather, hints of mesquite smoke and a healthy dose of black pepper that has some staying power. Also, during this first portion, feeling like I’m having to coax smoke out of the stick. The draw isn’t tight but doesn’t really want to produce decent smoke.
Ash falls...issue apparent. Tunnel. Ok, let’s see if we can get this stick on life support. After considerable TLC, seem to be past the tunnel as I cruise through the middle. More fresh oak and leather mixed with hints at nutmeg and white pepper.
Final section full of black tea flavors mixed with earth, baking spice, mild tobacco and some vegetal notes. Still battling that tunnel though. Hopefully the construction issue is an anomaly. The flavors were enjoyable though so there’s some goodness here. Also, the middle and final sections produced decent smoke output.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Catching fish, but in the rain.
Pairing Suggestion: Bring along a mellow porter.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack.
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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