Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo is light brown with dark freckles and some thick, lightly raised present. The seams are smooth and the tapered head is very well finished. The band is the traditional design for the line and carries a gold and black color combination. There is also a black ribbon at the foot. The aroma from the wrapper is earth and cedar while the foot brings bread, earth, cedar and spice. The pre-light draw brings cedar and light stone fruit sweetness.
Seth: The HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo is an average looking belicoso. Dark maduro wrapper with medium sized veins throughout. Firm in hand. Nice coarse texture. Aromas of rich earth, cocoa, coffee and warm spices.
John: The HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo comes in cellophane and has a UPC sticker with the cigar information and an integrated tear space so it remains intact when opened. There is a primary Hot Cake band in white on black and gold, with a secondary black ribbon foot band. I weighed the cigar at 14.5 grams and measured the humidity at 57.2% with the HumidiMeter Pro. Aromas from the wrapper included sweet barnyard, tobacco and hay. From the foot, I was getting a chewy raisin and sweet tobacco combination.
Jiunn: The HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo has a dirty looking Colorado maduro wrapper shade. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and the torpedo head is well wrapped and pointed. Pre-light aromas consist of wet socks and barnyard (in the best way possible) and sweet roasted nuttiness.

HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with a slightly stale toasted oak, black pepper and light earth. At a half inch in, the black pepper mellows a bit. The retrohale is slightly stale toasted oak, earth and lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, the black pepper becomes fairly robust. As the third comes to a close, the slightly stale toasted oak is just ahead of the robust black pepper and the earth is just past the middle of the profile. The strength was slightly above medium.
Seth: The first third begins with nice tobacco, pepper and spice notes. Rich earth present as well with some wood and cocoa. Full body and strength. Surprisingly full. Nice start to the cigar.
John: My initial flavor impressions are a creamy and chewy tobacco with a delayed pepper and leather combination in the post draw. Wood defines the center of the profile as the first third settles in. There’s a sort of toasted savory meat finish to the cigar as it progresses. As the first third continues, leather leads the post draw as the pepper fades to a largely lingering barnyard note.
Jiunn: The first third shows good depth and composure, providing cocoa, layered dried red pepper spice and earthy dirt grittiness. Retrohaling gives deeper dried red pepper spice but is nicely balanced by mixed nuts. The finish gives a nice medium-full body with lingering cedar. Strength is medium.

HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the earth picks up a bit. At a half inch in, the black pepper has switched places with the earth. The retrohale is now slightly stale toasted oak, earth and mild black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the slightly stale toasted oak is just ahead of the earth with the black pepper just past the middle of the profile. The strength dropped down to medium.
Seth: The second third is more balanced. Complex as well. Coconut shavings present with some dark chocolate, coffee, earth and sweet pepper spices. Full in strength and body.
John: The second third begins with leather and a creamy tobacco as wood, earth and leather combine into the finish. Pepper returns to the finish and post draw at medium to medium-full intensity as it continues. There are no other flavor changes to remark on for the remainder of the third.
Jiunn: The second third brings more spice, especially into the mouth draws. Aside from that, I’m still getting the cocoa and earthy dirt grittiness. The finish is starting to get a bit harsh but I find it to give character more so than being unpleasant. Strength and body remains medium-full and medium, respectively.

HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the black pepper is now very mild. The retrohale is now just toasted oak and light earth. At three quarters of an inch in, the toasted oak has lost the staleness and the earth is now even with it up front. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted oak and earth are even up front, with some light black pepper in the background. The strength remained at medium.
Seth: The final third is similar to that of the second, but without the coconut. More complex than the first third, but not as good as the second. Less strength as well. Nice finish. Mocha, chocolate, earth and sweet pepper spices.
John: A more subdued creamy leather kicks off the last third with a medium strength earth finishing. Delayed pepper is again present, this time on the post draw. Wood joins the post draw by the halfway point. There were no more flavor evolutions to remark on through the remainder of the third.
Jiunn: The final third creates too much harshness such that it’s seeping into the other good flavors that I enjoy. The finish is prolonged but not in a good way due to the harshness. Strength and body finishes the same medium-full and medium, respectively.

HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo

Burn

Aaron: The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any attention. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.
Seth: Nice burn throughout. Not perfect, but good.
John: The burn started straight in the first third, becoming wavy as it continued and eventually stalling out. After the re-light, the burn continued uneven in the second third and then in the last third went out again, requiring a re-light.
Jiunn: Perfect burn performance. Even burn, tight ashes and cool burning temperature.

HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo

Draw

Aaron: The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.
Seth: Solid draw throughout. Well constructed.
John: The draw was at most one notch towards the resistant spectrum which puts it in the ideal range between open and resistant for a perfect draw.
Jiunn: Perfect draw as well, striking the ideal balance between resistance and air flow.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with a slightly stale toasted oak, black pepper and light earth. The black pepper mellowed and then became quite robust. The second third saw the earth and black pepper switch places. The final third saw the staleness depart and the earth become even with the toasted oak up front. The HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the slightly stale toasted oak, earth and black pepper. I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Hot Cake line, but this is my least favorite offering of the trio. I was hoping for something more on par with how good the First Selection Broadleaf was, but it wasn’t to be. I don’t see myself really coming back to this one.
Seth: I enjoyed the new HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo. Fun Broadleaf release. I thought it was a good blend that delivered an enjoyable profile throughout. Solid blend. It had a surprisingly strong body and strength level, but it was good with the blend. Old school Broadleaf in some ways. Nice price on the cigar as well. I would definitely buy again, and would definitely put some away to age.
John: The HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo had some promising moments in the first third, and while still pleasant in the second and last thirds, did not maintain the same level of complexity and engagement as it started with. The draw was perfect while the burn required two re-lights through the review process. With the price point on this release being average for 2024, there isn’t a compelling reason for me to return to this release when HVC has a long list of top performing options to choose from. Total smoking time was 2 hours and 11 minutes.
Jiunn: This HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo is a pretty good representation of broadleaf. I wouldn’t put it tier one though, because at times the profile is harsh and edgy. But perhaps some more humidor time will be helpful, and in turn will turn it into a solid good cigar all the way through the smoking time.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.50

Cost/Point

$2.73

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

6.67

Cost/Point

$2.25

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

5.80

Cost/Point

$2.59

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.82

Cost/Point

$2.20

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: HVC Hot Cake Fresh Out of the Oven Broadleaf Torpedo