Wrapper: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Vitola: Robusto (5 x 54)
Strength: Medium
Purchase Link: Freud Agape
FREUD AGAPE REVIEW – DOM
Summary: After last week's review, the slight tightness in this cold draw is concerning. Once lit, salted pretzel and milk chocolate settle my anxiety. Maybe it's the saltiness, but with each puff I'm convinced that this is a perfect "snack" cigar. Complex black tea notes up this cigar's crave-ability. As the burn line moves in a linear fashion, I find myself wanting a little more in the flavor department.
Halfway through, whole wheat bread with a smidge of honey has turned this cigar into a healthy snack that I'm less enthusiastic about. Potpourri and vegetal notes bring this cigar back to earth. Closing out, medicinal cherry brings to mind a certain Bon Jovi song about love.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Braking hard at a yellow light
Pairing Suggestion: Hot cocoa
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
FREUD AGAPE REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar reminded me of Christmas cookies - I've been eating plenty of them, so the flavor profile was quite familiar. It brought notes of brown sugar, coffee, gingerbread, cinnamon, black pepper, almond, dark chocolate, and cherry. This was a winner and a half in my opinion.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Christmas cookies
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box
FREUD AGAPE REVIEW – BEN
Summary: What a pleasant, sweet hickory and earl grey tea combination. The retro is so smooth. Warm. Like a cinnamon roll right out the oven (without the icing of course).
I had a slow burn with a tight pull. It was nice to slow the morning down a bit, but a draw tool isn’t a bad idea either. I’d really like to smoke this in a smaller vitola! A cool cherry note and some spiced peppercorn to finish.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Cracking open that book you haven’t been able to finish
Pairing Suggestion: Vietnamese Coffee
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
FREUD AGAPE REVIEW – TED
Summary: This dark robusto has some tooth on the wrapper! Here we go! Beginning is a slightly mineral laden mix of tobacco, wood, cereal grains, dark fruit and coffee… or tea, can’t decide. The retro hale has what I can only call grape Jolly Rancher.
Working towards the halfway spot and this cigar is stacking dimes! The profile still carries a mild mineral flavor along with bright notes of fruit. Those finish quickly and give way to dark fruit notes, wood, rich tobacco, a bit of citrus sharpness and just a dash of spice.
Ok, wrapping it up! Lots of dark notes to finish up with. Grilled meat, black coffee, wood, black pepper, and a bit of sweetness in the retro hale. A+ construction!
If You Like That, You Might Like This: First round knockouts
Pairing Suggestion: 100 proof whiskey
Perceived Strength: Medium+
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.
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