Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Corojo ‘99
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: Corona Gorda (6 x 46)
Purchase Link: Taino Cigars
TAINO REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: Starting off with red pepper and cream. Anise, brown sugar, and toasted sweet bread have me tasting Christmas. Milk chocolate! Most of the flavor notes are on the sweet side, yet they are not overbearing due to the bread and spice acting as counterweights. Cherry candy.
Still lots of milk chocolate and red pepper at the beginning of the second third. I can't pinpoint the type of bread I'm tasting, but I'm leaning toward dutch baby which is actually a pancake I guess. Thanks, Google.
I touched up the burn just before entering the final third. Chocolate covered pretzel. This would be a fine post-breakfast smoke.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Multi-course breakfasts.
Pairing Suggestion: Cappuccino.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
TAINO REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: Taking a look at this cigar before lighting, all is well. We've got a closed foot and no apparent construction issues.
Lighting it up, I'm greeted with cereal grain, spice, cream, hay, and grass. That morphs into caramel and cedar, which then morphs into creamy espresso, cocoa, cinnamon, and nutmeg notes. Near the end, black pepper, earth, and coffee dominate. The flavors and flavor transitions were enjoyable.
Construction-wise, the draw and burn were both good. Are you waiting for the letdown that the 'no apparent construction issues' at the beginning foreshadowed? Here it is: the wrapper, for no obvious reason and not quite near where I cut it, just exploded on this cigar. As I was smoking it, two different areas near the cap developed cracks. The majority of the wrapper anywhere near the cap became victim to the cracks and came off while I was smoking the cigar. It was a bit of a mess to get through.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Good flavors with something disappointing involved too, like putting ketchup on your steak.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
TAINO REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: My blind review cigar this week has a medium-brown wrapper carrying a slight reddish hue. The wrapper is quite smooth and while I can see the seams, it appears to be expertly constructed. As a side note, this cigar features a closed foot. The cold draw feels a bit tight, however that could be because of the previously mentioned closed foot. Mild tobacco and dry hay are the only two flavors I gather from the call draw.
Leather, nutmeg, cinnamon and bran flakes come out charging. There is also a little creamy caramel with a mild citrus finish. Way back, some spiciness is there but it isn’t strong and it fades quickly.
As I approach the halfway point of the cigar, things have mellowed out dramatically and while some of the complexity has disappeared, the remaining profile is so enjoyable that it could stay this way the entire cigar and I would be perfectly happy. Leather, mild tobacco, floral sweetness and notes of mixed nuts lend to a relaxing profile.
The final third is offering no transition in flavors at all. Lots of floral notes, citrus highlights, leather, walnut and mild tobacco right to the end.
Bonus: Zero Burn corrects and a ton of smoke production from start to finish!
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Finding a new cigar for your rotation.
Pairing Suggestion: Martini.
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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