Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the oval pressed 601 La Bomba Warhead X is a dull medium brown that has some thick but well pressed veins. The seams are smooth while the caps have some raised edges and look poorly finished. The band is at the foot and is gold, black, white and red and denotes the brand, line, iteration and year. The aroma from the wrapper is a faint mix of dark earth and cocoa powder while the foot brings cedar, cardboard, bread and mild spice. The pre-light draw brings a lightly soapy floral note and cedar along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with a robust mix of black pepper and crushed red pepper along with some toasted cedar. At a quarter inch in, some earth joins the profile. At a half inch in, the red pepper departs the profile while the black pepper remains pretty bold. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth and lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch and a half in, the toasted cedar and black pepper are even up front, with the earth just ahead of the middle of the profile. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and black pepper are even up front, with the earth now right behind them. The strength was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the black pepper mellows a bit and becomes even with the earth. At a half inch in, the black pepper has now receded to the middle of the profile. At an inch in, the earth has now become even with the toasted cedar up front. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and earth with mild black pepper. At an inch and a half in, the earth takes a slight lead in the profile. As the third comes to a close, the earth has a slight lead over the toasted cedar while the black pepper is now slightly behind the middle of the profile. The strength has now bumped up to medium-full.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the earth now exhibits a decent level of bitterness. At a half inch in, the black pepper is now fairly dull. The retrohale remains toasted cedar and earth with mild black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the earth with some bitterness is up front, with toasted cedar a bit behind and then dull black pepper just behind the middle of the profile. The strength remained at medium-full.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on in just under two inch increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with a robust mix of black pepper and crushed red pepper along with some toasted cedar. Some earth joined in fairly quickly and then the red pepper dropped from the profile. The second third saw the black pepper mellow and the earth become even with the toasted cedar up front and then take a slight lead. The final third saw the earth gain some bitterness and the black pepper became dull. The 601 La Bomba Warhead X had an average flavor profile throughout and became a bit mundane about halfway through. A very earth driven profile that didn’t really provide any excitement. Not one of my favorite Warheads and not a cigar I’d see myself coming back to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$2.83

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: 601 La Bomba Warhead X