Wrapper: HVA 2013
Binder: Criollo '98
Filler: Habano 2020 viso, Criollo '98 viso, Habano 2020 medio tiempo, Criollo '98 ligero
Vitola: Limited Edition 5 1/2 x 54
Factory: Manufactura Rivas
Purchase Link: Campesion Reserva del Padre
Reserva del Padre Review - California
Summary: Beautifully wrapped. Perfect draw. Starting out with wood and floral notes. Unfortunately, everything just mellowed way out flavor-wise at the one inch mark. Boom! Cloves incoming! It's half a year until Christmas but this stick is bringing on some roasted chestnuts (I totally thought they were spelled "chesnuts," but "chestnuts" is way funnier so I'm glad to have learned that). I was just getting excited to write that I tasted cinnamon french toast when it went out on me. This is one slow-burning cigar.
Second third is still repping cinnamon. Towards the end of this segment, it has once again resorted to wood and faint, dried flowers.
No flavor shifts from the second third to the end. The ash and burn were great all the way through.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: DD-ing for your friends on a Friday night but still having a solid time.
Pairing Suggestion: Cask strength whiskey.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver. The first third had glimmers of greatness so I'd like to see how some aging would affect this smoke.
Reserva del Padre Review - Wisconsin
Summary: I could tell from the cold draw that I'd be having problems with this cigar. It was loose. And not just 'oh, that's a bit on the loose side.' It was more like 'is there any resistance being created at all by this cigar?' That's most of the story of this cigar.
With significant pinching and a lot of corrections with my lighter, I was able to make it through the cigar. I tasted a lot of cedar with a spiciness to it. Also leather, earth, cocoa, plain tobacco, cocoa, and char made appearances. But mostly it was dry and difficult to smoke because of the construction.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If spicy cedar is your thing or you like 'em really loose, this one could be for you.
Pairing Suggestion: Maybe a pretty straightforward ale based on the parts I did taste
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
Reserva del Padre Review - Oregon
Summary: The outward appearance of my cigar was a touch rough looking with a mottled brown wrapper and semi-sloppy seams. Once I clipped the cap the cold draw was a perfect resistance. Dry straw and a hint of sweet nutmeg seemed like a decent place to start.
Flavors at the beginning featured mild tobacco and tea leaves. Rarely do I find a profile void of all spice on the palate but this one was. The early retrohale experience carried red and white pepper spice, cinnamon and hints of cedar. The burn was sharp and the ash solid. Tough to be disappointed unless you were looking for a super complex profile.
Pepper appeared in the profile during the middle of the cigar and the entire profile peaked with complexity here. Creamy cedar flavors mixed with mild, citrusy floral notes (think orange blossoms) and a mild coffee finish. All of these were buttery smooth too. Very nice. The retrohale picked p another boost with red and black pepper spice creating an alliance. Following a little heat blast, things returned right back to smooth.
The end of the cigar allowed a touch of bitterness to enter the profile and while it wasn’t terribly off putting, it was noticeable. There was some stronger natural tobacco notes, black pepper spice and a dark grainy flavor reminding me of rye bread. Right in the last inch of the smoke that orange blossom flavor transitioned fully into a hint of straight up orange peel. The burn on the cigar stayed sharp and consistent and the ash fell in chunks the entire way.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: If you like this then you probably like sleeper muscle cars. This one looked benign, but held some charm inside.
Pairing Suggestion: I would pair this one with a sweet bourbon to accentuate the spice notes.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5 pack 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.
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