Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown and has some darker marbling. The seams are easily visible as there is a darker color on the edge of the leaf. The head has a deep single cap that is finished off with a tight pigtail while the foot is covered over with excess wrapper. The band is black and carries the company and line name in silver. The aroma from the wrapper and covered foot is that of an Andes Chocolate Mint with a slightly fainter mint note. The pre-light draw through the covered foot brings a light mixture of hay and mintiness along with a mild spice on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Kristoff Vengeance Toro is a near Colorado Maduro wrapper shade. The wrapper contains good oil content and has a nice leathery feel to it. The construction overall looks good as major veins are fairly well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll firm and even and pigtail cap has a thick layer of wrap on it. Aromas from the wrapper give strong cedar and black pepper. Aromas from the enclosed foot tell stronger black pepper presence and a hint of dried prunes. Cold draw tells namely shaved cedar and hay.

First Third

The cigar begins with wood, earthiness and baking spice. At an inch in, the wood has become more defined as cedar as it is paired up nicely with the baking spice while the earthiness is a bit behind the duo. The retrohale has the cedar up front with the baking spice slightly behind. At an inch and a half, the cedar gains some char and is up front while the baking spice and earthiness are in the background. As the third comes to a close, the baking spice has picked up to become even with the charred cedar while the earthiness remains in the background. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

The first third’s flavor profile is pretty linear with some fresh black pepper spice, cedar and somewhat gritty earth/dirt. Retrohaling brings out the black pepper, spice and cedar. The finish is namely a lingering cedar note. Body although medium feels a bit thin for Connecticut Broadleaf. Strength is a solid medium.

Second Third

The second third begins with the charred cedar up front and the baking spice and earthiness back to being supporting notes. At a half inch in, the char is very prevalent on the cedar while the earthiness is right behind and the baking spice has left the profile. The retrohale is just charred cedar. At an inch and a half, the charred cedar dominates the profile with a faint earthiness in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third has a little bit more than the first third, mainly giving some natural creaminess to the profile. But overall it is still a medium body and strength delivery of cedar, fresh black pepper and gritty earth/dirt formula.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the char has eased up a bit with the cedar, but is the only flavor combination for the profile. At a half inch in, some mustiness joins the profile. At an inch in, the char has lessened some more and the cedar is a better representation of itself while the mustiness is at an even level. The retrohale carries the same profile. At an inch and a quarter, some bitterness joins the profile. This is how the cigar finishes. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

There isn’t anything new to say within the last third since it mimics the second third. A hint of creaminess, cedar, fresh black pepper and gritty earth/dirt.

Burn

The burn was spot on with a razor sharp burn the whole way. The ash held on in near two inch increments.

Burn

Flawless burn performance. Cool and even burn, lengthy and solid ash retention, ample smoke production.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with a nice combination of cedar, earth and baking spice. In the second third, the profile moved to charred cedar and earth as the baking spice went away. Things finished up with some intense charred cedar, mustiness and some bitterness. The strength was slightly above medium and the construction was perfect. The Kristoff Vengeance Toro had a good start but became pedestrian from the second third on. I’d like to try this in a smaller ring gauge to see what that would do to the profile. The good first third isn’t enough to keep me coming back to this cigar and it probably isn’t something I’d be in a hurry to revisit.

Draw

Although a bit tight, the draw still was very good.

Overall

The Kristoff Vengeance Toro is a decent Connecticut Broadleaf entry into the market. The flavors were linear (creaminess, cedar, fresh black pepper, gritty earth/dirt). The body could have used some boldness as in my opinion, a good Connecticut Broadleaf wrapped cigar should provide a more viscous feel. In a way, it feels like most Connecticut Broadleaf wrapped cigars are a bit like this and in turn, providing an average experience.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$1.62

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$1.66

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Kristoff Vengeance Toro