Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan
Vitola: Mareva (5 1/8 x 42)
Purchase Link: Rocky Patel Cigar Smoking World Championship
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2020 REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: Starting off with charred oak, earth, and leather, potpourri comes into play and softens the heavier flavors. I'm a straight up sucker for dark wrappers and white ash. A hint of mint now.
The second third features mainly herbal notes, floral notes, and leather. The strength is ramping up a bit but I haven't eaten lunch yet so that's on me. Strawberry! Man, out of nowhere the sweetness kicked into gear.
The final third leans vegetal (celery?) but doesn't overthrow the base of potpourri and earth. Solid.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Telling someone a joke and seeing their eyes smile because their face is covered with a mask.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2020 REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This cigar brought notes of pepper, chocolate, oak, rye bread, earth, mineral, black tea, and bitterness. It all came across a bit dry. It wasn't quite the flavor profile for me.
The burn and draw were both good. The construction was basically perfect. The flavor profile just wasn't in my wheelhouse at all, and I don't know many people I'd recommend this flavor profile to.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: A little bitterness. Like what some of you have for your ex who you say you're over, but your friends know you're not
Pairing Suggestion: Sweet tea.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2020 REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: Looks like this cigar is about Corona Gorda size... that’s my jam. Don’t let me down! Mix of barnyard and heady floral notes off the wrapper... dry grass and grape jelly on the cold draw.
Grilled meat, heavy tobacco notes, roasted almond and a bit of pepper spice on the palate. The retro hale has a decent pepper punch as well with a ton of dark notes-dark toast, dank earth, black coffee. I’m also tasting a hint of the floral note right at the front of the profile for just a second...then gone.
Midway point and the ash just dropped off this little gem. Tons of smoke production carrying smooth wood notes at the front end, more roasted almond flavor, coffee, leather and the pepper spice disappearing completely. The retro hale is money. It’s a creamy smooth mixture of wood, leather and nuts.
This stick is earning big mark in construction. Simply perfect. End of the show is sticking with charred wood, walnut, leather and touch of pepper spice returning for a final cameo. The retro hale is still just amazing too. Great mouthfeel and smooth flavors. As a side note, eat a snack before this one. Medium to full body and strength!
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Hitting a new max bench press.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee with a splash of bourbon.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
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.
Comments
Man after my own heart!