Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is light brown and has a few raised veins running the length of the cigar. The seams are easily visible due to how light the wrapper is along with the vein layout. The head is finished off with a very well applied triple cap and the foot is a bit unique as the filler is rounded off outside of where the wrapper and binder is, in a similar shape to the head. There are two bands with the top band being a gold strip band and the band just below it being white and gold with a mans portrait on it. The aroma from the cigar is hay and leather with the wrapper being heavier on the hay and the foot being heavier on the leather. The pre-light draw brings a really nice sweet hay note.

Pre-light Experience

The Bespoke Basilica C #1 is a Toro shaped cigar that has a medium brown wrapper shade supplying an oily feel. Major veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll showing some slight soft spots and a well applied triple cap. Aromas from the wrapper gives rich nuts, cedar and wet barnyard. Aromas from the foot tells black pepper, cedar, plums and creamed sweetness. Cold draw gives cedar and nuts.

First Third

The cigar begins with a nice aged cedar that has a bit of spice to it. At a half inch in, a cream joins in to smooth out the spicy aged cedar a bit. The retrohale is all aged cedar. Not much in the way of changes through the remainder of the third other than the cream slightly fading back some with the aged cedar remaining as the prominent note. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

First Third

The first third’s flavor profile really starts when the wrapper portion starts to burn. At that point, flavors of hay, mild black pepper, bitter wood and bread. Retrohaling brings increased intensities in black pepper and introduces minerals. The finish is on the shorter end with dry nuts, bread, and slight wood bitterness. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the aged cedar is what remains up front with a slight creaminess in the background. At a half inch in, some of the spiciness comes back to the cedar, both in the mouth and on the retrohale. At an inch in, there’s been no change to the profile. At an inch and a half, a slight coffee note joins the slightly spicy and aged cedar. There is still a bit of cream in the background. The strength in this third moved up to slightly below medium.

Second Third

The second third adds more minerals into the profile. But the core flavors are still based off a hay, mild black pepper and bitter wood formula. At times, a cherry stone fruit quality comes through, which plays well against the earthy components. I also notice the profile to be slightly dry on the finish with the same bitter wood and dry nuts notes. Strength and body is unchanged at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the flavors become a bit fuller as the cream ramps up a bit and the aged and slightly spicy cedar mix together very well. The coffee note has gone away. At a quarter inch in, the cream drops almost completely out of the profile becoming just a slight supporting note. At an inch in, the cream has completely left and the aged and slightly spicy cedar creates a bit of a dry profile. The retrohale just shows off the aged cedar. As the cigar comes to a close, it brings a slight bit of heat with it, most noticeable as a long warm finish on my lips. The strength in this third bumped up to be right at medium.

Final Third

Last third in terms of flavors becomes more black pepper and bitter wood driven. These notes also lay heavier on my palate, creating a finish that is namely spice and bitterness. At times, the cherry stone fruit comes through but it is rare and random. Strength and body is still medium.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy throughout but never needed any attention. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

Aside from an uneven burn, the burn performance was rock solid. Tight ashes, 1.5 inch self tapped ashes, cool burn and never needing a touch up or re-light.

Draw

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

Overall

While not a complex profile, the flavors the cigar produced were good, centering around aged and slightly spicy cedar and cream. The final third was just the cedar. Construction was very good, never needing any attention and allowing me to just enjoy the flavors the cigar provided. For those that enjoy smooth flavors with a low strength level, this cigar delivers just that. This is also a cigar that those looking for a Cuban type experience in a non-Cuban would find that here. The price point on this cigar is quite high and I would say is something like a traditional Davidoff white label experience in flavor, strength and price. Well worth trying if what I described is in your wheelhouse and I would have no problem smoking more if I was handed one, but the price point is a bit of a deterrent for purchasing more.

Draw

The draw carried the best combination of air flow and resistance.

Overall

I’ve not heard much about this line coming out of the Kelner Boutique Factory. When I reflect back on the flavor profile, the hay flavor is classic Kelner style so it makes sense that it is blended by Kelner (Jr). Although overall a good tasting cigar, the cigar can definitely improve as at times the balance was thrown off and there wasn’t enough consistency in the flavor delivery. The cigar can use more sweetness to balance out the heavier handed spice and earth notes. Something I’d smoke again but will not be on the front rotation.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$2.83

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$2.83

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Bespoke Basilica C #1