Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Vitola: 5 x 48 (Figurado)
Strength: Medium+
Purchase Link: Warped Black Honey
WARPED BLACK HONEY 2023 REVIEW – DOM
Summary: The toothy wrapper smells of hay and potpourri. Lighting up, I get coffee, pepper, and oak. While it could be a product of smoking in the colder weather, I absolutely love this smaller size of cigar. An off-putting chemical note rears its ugly head less than an inch in. Thankfully, the acrid taste shifts to unripe banana (score that change somewhere between a Pyrrhic victory and a zero sum game). A sulfuric note like a freshly snuffed out candle adds another swing and miss. Tootsie roll check-swings at a ball outside of the strike zone.
In a tale of two halves, orange zest and potpourri shoot out of the gate in the third quarter. Popcorn at the finish isn’t quite enough to change the box score unfortunately.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Your social media feed being plagued by ads that hold your interest for a few seconds
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
WARPED BLACK HONEY 2023 REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar brought notes of damp earth, black pepper, red pepper, a bit of a cardboard note, cocoa, a bit of skunkiness. Occasionally I'd get a note that resembled wheat toast. Overall, this was not my favorite flavor profile.
Construction, however, was right on point
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Recycling
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
WARPED BLACK HONEY 2023 REVIEW – BEN
Summary: Hello leather! The mouth feel is heavy for such a little thing. The retro opened up my nasal passages like vicks vapor rub. There was a nice black coffee and dark chocolate combo; sweet but definitely bitter. Last half became a little salty and spicy as my wrapper began to unravel. Became difficult to smoke solely the binder and filler...
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Ordering a dressed burger and fries and only getting the bun.
Pairing Suggestion: Sparkling water
Perceived Strength: Mild+
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
WARPED BLACK HONEY 2023 REVIEW – TED
Summary: Nice orange and graham notes from the cold draw. Starting off with black pepper, burnt toast, grilled meat, earth, black coffee… getting the vibe? Tons of smoke. Add in some charred wood to the mix. A bit further along I’m tasting some semi-sweet chocolate notes in the profile.
The middle section adds in a touch of sweetness with a mild caramel flavor. The profile is warmer, less dark and less forward. Oak, leather, mild pepper, and black coffee join forces in the middle. Pretty nice. Still, the profile packs a punch.
The last part of this stick is bringing back the heat with more pepper forward in the mix. The rest of the profile is still a full, warm combo of wood, earth, coffee, leather and an umami flavor.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Max bench presses at the gym
Pairing Suggestion: Wheated bourbon
Perceived Strength: Full
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.
Leave your comment