Aaron Loomis

 John McTavish

Pre-light Experience

Aaron: First off, the Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto doesn’t match the size that is on the label on the cello, as it states 5×48, but the cigar length is 5 and 3/8 inches. The wrapper on the cigar is between medium and dark brown and has a matte finish with some thick but well pressed veins. The seams are smooth, the tapered head is well finished and the foot is covered by excess wrapper that is folded over. There are two bands, both in a black and metallic red color combination. The primary has the artwork for the line while the foot band denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper and covered foot are both dark earth with light cardboard. The pre-light draw brings a floral spiciness that is quite unique, along with some cedar. There is a bit of spiciness on my lips as well.
John: The Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto came in cellophane and had a UPC sticker with the cigar information and was attached to the main cellophane body so it wouldn’t tear when opened. There is a primary band with a logo of a Bishop and Hand Made Est 2013 along with a foot band indicating Bishops Blend. For artisanal complications, the cigar has a closed foot and a pointed cap. I weighed the cigar at 11.7 grams and measured the humidity to 64.3% with the HumidiMeter Pro. Aromas from the wrapper included sweet wood, earth and vegetal notes. As mentioned above, the foot is closed so I was not able to detect anything beyond tobacco.

Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with toasted oak, earth and crushed red pepper. At a half inch in, the crushed red pepper mellows a bit, but has a long finish. The retrohale is an even mix of the toasted oak, earth and crushed red pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the crushed red pepper mellows a bit more. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak is a bit ahead of the earth, with the crushed red pepper in the back half of the profile. The strength was right at medium.
John: The first third gets going with some muted, musty wood, earth and tobacco in the middle, which then carry into the finish. Some intensified tobacco sweetness joins with spices in the retrohale as the first third settles in. As the first third continues to evolve, a dark espresso coffee note is present through the retrohale. A restrained peppercorn joins the profile approaching the halfway point. During the bottom half, cream and sweet tobacco are leading off with pepper at medium-minus strength in the center.

Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the earth mellows a bit. At a half inch in, the crushed red pepper transitions to black pepper and increases a bit. The retrohale is toasted oak and earth with mild black pepper. At an inch in, a mellow creaminess joins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak is up front, with earth in the middle, black pepper just behind it and some creaminess in the background. The strength remained at medium.
John: My second third experience starts with creamy, musty tobacco with the same components bringing spices to finish as the post draw becomes medium-plus strength pepper. The creaminess intensifiers as the second third continues, with a very full mouthfeel and some earthiness on the finish at medium strength.

Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the earth picks up a bit. The retrohale remains toasted oak and earth with mild black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted oak is up front, with earth just ahead of the middle of the profile, black pepper just behind the middle of the profile and some creaminess in the background. The strength remained at medium.
John: In the last third, creamy tobacco begins with the finish combining sweet tobacco at light-plus with delayed wood. As the last third settles in, a malty tobacco groups with earth and wood in the center of the profile. Through the bottom half, earth is defining the finish and the post draw.

Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto

Burn

Aaron: The burn was straight throughout and the ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.
John: The burn was straight through the first third, becoming wavy in the second third. The burn straightened out in the last third.

Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto

Draw

Aaron: The draw was fairly snug at times, so I had to do some slight additional cuts on the tapered head to open it up a bit.
John: The draw was at most one notch towards the resistant spectrum, putting it in the ideal range between open and resistant for an amazing draw.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with toasted oak, earth and crushed red pepper. The crushed red pepper mellowed as the third went along. The second third saw the crushed red pepper transition to black pepper and then picked up a bit. Some light creaminess joined in a bit later. The final third saw the earth increase a bit. The Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto had a pretty nice start as the crushed red pepper provided a nice combination with the toasted oak and earth. As it mellowed and transitioned to black pepper in the second third, the profile took a step down and remained that way the rest of the way. I really wish the crushed red pepper had remained, and at a higher intensity. Overall, I’m not sure I’d come back to this cigar.
John: The Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto started out with interesting and complex flavor combinations in the first third. The rest of the cigar was pleasant, but lacked the same number of flavor components and engagement as the first third. Both the draw and burn were amazing. I enjoy projects like the Bishops Blend as it’s fun and interesting to see how an annual cigar release changes over time. While I have enjoyed many of the releases over the years, this one fell a bit short of the mark for me. I think the price point is quite reasonable for the 2024/2025 market and I’ll be back to see how the 2025 release stacks up. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 43 minutes.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.80

Cost/Point

$2.07

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$1.97

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2024 Robusto