Pre-light Experience

A medium brown colored wrapper with a few veins present. The seams are visible due to some color variations on the wrapper but they are smooth. There are three caps that are applied very nicely. There are two bands, the primary which is the largest and has the company logo is gold, white, black and gray. The secondary band is red with gold lettering and accents which lists the cigars name. The aroma from the wrapper is a faint leather and hay. The foot aroma is a sweet hay. The pre-light draw brings that same sweetness from the foot aroma, but more fruity like cherry.

Pre-light Experience

The Venganza has a beautiful silky smooth wrapper with good oil content and a slight red hue. The veins are well pressed and seams tight. Feeling the cigar with my finger tips, bunching and rolling is fantastic, with a firm and even give. The head is finished off with a well adhered triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives pungent barnyard and cedar. Nosing the foot provides white pepper spice, hay and cedar. Cold draw tells white pepper spice and cedar.

First Third

Initial draws bring some spicy cinnamon and wood. The retrohale brings a slightly dialed back version of the spicy cinnamon. An eighth of an inch in, the cinnamon settles down some and lets the woodiness show itself some more. The retrohale is even fuller with what is now more of a black pepper spice than cinnamon. A quarter inch in, the profile is now a slightly spicy cedar with a bit of creaminess. The retrohale has also settled down some. It is still spicier than the mouth flavor though. At an inch in, the cedar transitions to oak while the creaminess remains. The retrohale is still spicy, but now a spicy cedar and the spice level has toned down quite a bit. At an inch and a quarter, a bit of black pepper comes in to mix with the oak and cream. The strength in this third was just below medium-full.

First Third

The first thirds dominant notes start with a mixture of hay and creamy bread. Surrounding these flavors, slight barnyard, toasted wood, roasted nuts and a very unique bitter herbal spice that I can’t quite pinpoint. About an inch in, the creamy bread, unique bitter and herbal spice, toasted wood and wood bitterness creates a very balanced and tasty symphony of flavors. Through the nose, white pepper spice, wood bitterness, cedar and slight creamy bread. The finish consists of salt, lingering creamy bread and tongue sticking, tapered, oily black pepper spice. In terms of strength and body, both are at a solid medium the entire first third.

Second Third

As this third begins, the profile is similar to how the last ended with a creamy oak and just a hint of black pepper. The retrohale has smoothed out a bit with a slightly spicy cedar and some addition of cream. A half inch in and the pepper has gone away and it now just a really smooth creamy oak. The only spice is now in the retrohale which keeps a bit of zing in the profile. An inch in, some bitterness comes into the profile which pushes the cream out. The spice has also gone away from the retrohale which is now just oak. At an inch and a quarter, the bitterness remains, but is very mellow and doesn’t detract from the oaky profile. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

The second third stays inline with the first third (for the most part). Still tasting the creamy bread but it is now compounded by a creamy sweetness. In conjunction to this, toasted wood, roasted nuts and still that unique bitter and herbal spice note. On the retrohale, intensified (in a welcoming manner) white pepper spice, wood bitterness, cedar and slight creamy bread. The finish is a creamy bread, toasted wood and wood bitterness. Strength and body continues to be at a solid medium.

Final Third

As this third begins, the profile is oak with a little bit of cream and bitterness. The retrohale is a warm oak. A quarter inch in, the bitterness goes away and just a mellow creamy oak remains. A half inch in and a nice char joins the oak while some cream remains in the background. At an inch in, the flavors become fuller. The retrohale also gains a bit of minerality to go with the oak. An inch and a quarter in, some pepper joins in with the oak and cream. The cigar finishes with this profile and the retrohale remains just oak. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third is almost mimicking the second third. Still sweet and creamy bread, toasted wood, roasted nuts and the herbal and bitter spice note. Through the nose, intensified white pepper spice, wood bitterness, cedar and slight creamy bread. The finish consists of creamy bread, toasted wood and wood bitterness. At intermittent times, a freshly ground black coffee is noted, pairing quite well with the aforementioned flavors. Strength and body is still at a medium but at times strength edging slightly to the fuller side.

Burn

The burn was a little wavy throughout, but always stayed inline. I only ashed once at the midway point of the cigar and then the ash remained until the nub.

Burn

The burn wasn’t the most attractive of the bunch but it did not alter the flavor profile one bit. Total smoking time clocked in at a respectable 120 minutes. The burn line was wavy the entire time and needed one minor touch up on the last third. Ashes, although a bit flowery, averaged one inch solid ash marks.

Draw

The draw was exactly how I like it. Just a little resistance to know that you are drawing on the cigar.

Overall

This is a really nice cigar. The flavors were really good through the midway point of the cigar right at the time that the ash fell. After that, the profile became very linear with primarily oak through the remainder of the cigar. The flavors were still good the rest of the way and became fuller in the final third. The performance was fantastic which is a nice addition. The strength level is a bit up there, so take note, but for smokers that like a little strength this is definitely one to seek out.

Draw

The draw was a bit loose for my liking. It was almost like breathing air. Although loose, the draws were cool until the last two inches of the cigar.

Overall

This was an absolutely delectable cigar that builds throughout the entire smoking experience. For me, this hits the spectrum of the flavor wheel; spice, earth, sweetness and body that worked in great unison. Cornelius & Anthony in conjunction with Hector Alfonso Sr. created another winner.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

7.53

Cost/Point

$1.19

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.80

Cost/Point

$1.15

Scoring System