Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is light brown and has a few well pressed veins visible. The seams are visible but very smooth. The torpedo head is finished off with a well executed triple cap. The cigar is box pressed, and this sample has one corner that is quite a bit more rounded than the others. The single band is the standard Gaaja band which has some pretty nice artwork on it. The aroma from the wrapper and foot are very similar, just slightly different ratios of sweet hay and barnyard notes. The pre-light draw just carries some faintly sweet hay.

Pre-light Experience

The Bombay Tobak Gaaja Torpedo has a very fine and smooth light caramel shaded wrapper. Veins are perfectly pressed and seams tight and almost invisible. Bunch and roll feels spot on as there is a nice uniformed give and no soft spots present. The torpedo head is finished off with a well adhered quadruple cap. Nosing the wrapper tells namely an aged cedar. Smelling the foot gives roasted dried nuts, balanced white pepper and cedar. Cold draw tells cedar and faint white pepper.

First Third

Initial draws bring very nuanced aged wood notes, some nuttiness and a black pepper note that lingers on my tongue. The retrohale carries the same nuanced aged wood and nuttiness without the pepper. At a half inch in, the pepper dials back slightly and the aged wood and nuttiness become a bit fuller. At an inch in, some coffee joins in with the nuttiness and mixes well with the nuanced aged wood. At an inch and a half, the wood is becoming less nuanced and loses the aged note and gains some darkness while the nuttiness and coffee are still present in the background. As the third comes to a close, the wood gets back to the nuanced and aged note while the coffee gains some cream and the nuttiness has gone away. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

Subtle nuances are two words that come to mind when describing the flavor profile. Soft aged cedar is front and center, with buttery cream and moderate black pepper as a surrounding cast. Retrohaling brings intensified notes of black pepper, buttery cream and sharper cedar. The finish is fairly clean with namely a lingering soft aged cedar. Strength and body is at a consistent medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the nuanced, aged wood and creamy coffee continue. The retrohale is slightly bitter wood and creamy coffee. At a half inch in, the wood transitions back to the darker profile and the coffee loses it’s creamy note. At an inch in, the profile gains some of the aged note back while there is still some darkness present. The retrohale is now a slightly charred wood. As the third comes to a close, the profile is back to the nuanced, aged wood note and coffee. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

Second third continues its nuanced delivery but certain flavors spike in fullness. Specifically, black pepper and buttered cream becomes fuller, but never overbearing. Further, a few puffs of subtle mint comes and goes. The retrohale still provides deeper notes of black pepper, sharper cedar and buttery cream. The finish is still namely a lingering soft aged cedar but with a dash of black pepper mixed in. Strength and body is still at a consistent medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the wood note moves back to a dark profile and carries a good amount of char. At a half in in, the char reduces a bit with the dark wood up front. The retrohale is also carrying the dark wood note. At an inch in, the char leaves the profile with the dark wood being the lone note. This is how the cigar finishes. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Final Third

Last third is an exact replica of the second third minus one difference; the profile picks up a slight earthy bitterness. It’s by no means a bad remark. It actually enhances the profile giving a good earthy backbone. The other notes of aged cedar, black pepper and buttered cream are still in full swing. The retrohale still has more intense notes of black pepper, sharper cedar and buttery cream. The finish also picks up the same earthy bitterness in addition to the soft aged cedar and hint of black pepper. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn line was a bit wavy throughout. The cigar did go out on me once at the transition to the final third which required a re-light. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

The burn was picture perfect aside from the slightly wavy burn line. Solid, self-tapped ash marks averaging 1.5 inches, cool and slow burn, and never the need to re-visit my lighter.

Draw

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

Overall

As expected from Bombay Tobak, the cigar provided lots of nuanced, aged wood for the majority of the cigar. Towards the end, the profile became a bit darker. Some supporting notes of black pepper and coffee were welcome additions. The construction was pretty good as well. This is a cigar that requires your attention, so I wouldn’t recommend smoking it while you are doing other things or pairing it with much more than water. This is a cigar I will gladly smoke more of. For those that are fans of nuanced flavors, this is a must try. A newer smoker would enjoy it because it’s not overpowering, but my not be able to appreciate the complexity of what it provides.

Draw

The draw was perfect. Cutting around the halfway point of the cap yielded the best result.

Overall

The importance of retrohaling cannot be more true than when smoking the Bombay Tobak Gaaja Torpedo. Through mouth draws, the overall profile is subtle and nuanced. Through retrohaling, the flavors awaken and provide a greater depth in fullness. I’m quite pleased with the torpedo renditions of the Gaaja and Gaaja Maduro and would happily smoke more.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.97

Cost/Point

$2.22

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.07

Cost/Point

$2.19

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Bombay Tobak Gaaja Torpedo