Pre-light Experience

A dark brown wrapper that has some well hidden veins. The seams are nearly invisible. There are three well applied caps on what I would call a “top of a Hershey’s Kiss” looking head. The foot is covered with folded over wrapper. There are two bands, the typical BLTC primary band and a foot band with the name of the line. The bands are primarily black with red lettering, artwork and borders. The wrapper smells of pungent barnyard. The foot is much the same aroma due to the folded over wrapper, but carries a bit of added sweet grass. The pre-light draw is creamy leather with a bit of a spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend Corona Larga has a thick and hearty maduro shade wrapper. Veins are well pressed and seams tight. Rolling the cigar around my fingers, the bunching and roll is spot on, providing a firm give with no soft spots. The “nipple” head is finished off with a well adhered, thick triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives cedar, dark chocolate and barnyard. Nosing the enclosed foot gives a mixture of barnyard, cedar and spicy chocolate. Cold draw tells namely a touch of white pepper, cedar and dry cardboard.

First Third

The cigar starts off with a very interesting note of the crust of a soft pretzel and a mild cinnamon in the background. After a few draws, that all goes away and it is now primarily wood with a bit of coffee. At a half inch in, some cream joins in which mixes really well with the wood and coffee notes. The retrohale is woody with a nice pepper zing. At three quarters of an inch in, some baking spice joins in with the wood and coffee and pushes the cream out. At an inch and a half in, the baking spice morphs to black pepper along with the wood and coffee notes. The strength in this third is slightly above medium.

First Third

The initial handful of draws creates a mixture of cocoa, dry earthy minerality and black pepper spice. Quarter inch in, my focus zones in on the cocoa delivery. The cocoa morphs into a decadent chocolate. Mixing with the heat of the black pepper spice, it almost tastes like spicy chocolate. Also at this point, the black pepper intensifies, moving towards the back palate, at times slightly irritating my throat. Through the nose, increased black pepper and sharp cedar. The finish has black pepper on the rear palate and a lengthy semi-sweet creamed nuttiness. In terms of body and strength, medium to medium-full and medium-full, respectively.

Second Third

As this third begins, some earthiness joins in with the wood and coffee with a nice black pepper finish. Half an inch in, wood becomes the primary note with a little bitterness in the background and the other flavors have gone away. At an inch in, some cream joins back in along with the wood and the slight bitterness. As the third comes to a close, the creaminess increases to become even with the wood while the slight bitterness remains. Strength in this third is at medium-full.

Second Third

I’m still focused on the chocolate note within the second third. The chocolate now has a milky creaminess. Further, a gamy mustiness forms, giving the cigar a nice fuller body. The retrohale remains unchanged still providing increased black pepper and sharp cedar. The finish has the black pepper smoothed out and still the same lengthy semi-sweet creamed nuttiness. Body and strength remains unchanged at medium to medium-full and medium-full, respectively.

Final Third

As this third begins, the bitterness really increases with the creamy wood moving to the background. A quarter inch in, the bitterness really settles down and moves to the background while the creamy wood comes back up front. At an inch in, the wood becomes more defined as oak and gains a toasty note. This also translates to the retrohale. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third was medium-full.

Final Third

The last thirds complexities die down a bit leaving me with generic cocoa, dry earthy minerality and tapered black pepper. The retrohale continues to provide increased black pepper and sharp cedar. The finish results in tapered black pepper, sharp cedar and faint creamed nuts. Body and strength remains unchanged at medium to medium-full and medium-full.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy in the first third and then was straight the rest of the way. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

The burn performance was very good. Total smoking time came in at a little over two hours. Burn line was razor sharp throughout the entire cigar. Ashes were slightly flaky with decent structure, averaging 1 inch increments.

Draw

The draw was pretty firm the entire way. Even using a draw tool didn’t open things up. I believe the tight draw effected the flavor getting into the second third and beyond.

Overall

The cigar started out with some great flavors and complexities and then became pretty average after that. I think the tight draw caused some issues with getting the intended flavors. I have heard that others have really enjoyed this cigar, so I’m hoping to revisit this if I can get my hands on another one. As it stands, this is a good cigar and another enjoyable offering from Black Label. If you come across one, I suggest that you grab it so you can give it a try.

Draw

The draw although slightly on the snug end of the spectrum, was still very good. So good I rarely paid attention to it.

Overall

Based on the chocolate note alone, the cigar is good and is worth anyone’s time. But I wouldn’t call this a fantastic cigar because there wasn’t a stand out surrounding cast aside from the chocolate note. The earthiness and spice levels did nicely round out the profile but didn’t fully capture the moment. Even with all that said, I’d smoke the cigar again just to taste the wonderful chocolate notes.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.27

Cost/Point

$1.60

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.00

Cost/Point

$1.43

Scoring System