Pre-light Experience

A very dark brown wrapper with consistent color adorns this cigar. The lower third of the wrapper is a bit glossy while the rest has a matte finish. There are some small raised veins that can be felt, but other than the glossy difference, the seams are pretty much invisible. The cap is very well blended in with the wrapper and appears to be a triple. The band has a very similar design to the original 5 lines, but has a two color design in aqua and white rather than the multi-color design of the former. The pre-light aromas are very faint with the wrapper giving a slight earthiness and the foot providing a light mix of hay and barnyard. The pre-light draw is a light, fresh hay.

Pre-light Experience

The Sacra Folium Radix shows a hearty dark chocolate brown wrapper. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, tight uniformed give throughout and sports a thick triple cap. Nosing the wrapper tells pungent dry barnyard, sharp cedar and white pepper. Nosing the foot gives hickory wood, dried nuts and white pepper. Cold draw gives hay, cedar and dry earthy dirt.

First Third

Things start out with a mix of earthiness, wood and baking spice. After a few draws, some creaminess joins in and smooths out the profile where the earthiness and wood are up front and the baking spice is now a supporting note. At a half inch in, the wood note has left and it is primarily creamy earthiness with the baking spice still in the background. At an inch in, the generic wood note returns as the earthiness fades to the background. The retrohale carries a heavier dose of the baking spice along with the creamy wood. As the third comes to a close, the wood gains a darkness while the cream is still present and the baking spice is a nice supporting note. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third has a tasty array of flavors providing dark chocolate, sweetened cream, bread, baking spices and light cedar. On the retrohale, pepper is realized in the form of white pepper and a richness in dried nuts. The finish is medium in length with baking spices, cedar and light white pepper. Strength is nearing medium-full and body medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, some dry earthiness joins in with the creamy dark wood. The baking spice is now very faint on the finish. At a half inch in, the cream fades back quite a bit and the dry earthiness and wood profile is a bit drying on my palate. At an inch in, the wood gains a toasty profile while the dry earthiness is now in the background with a bit of cream. The toasty note is at a bit of a higher level on the retrohale. As the third comes to a close, the toast note has left and the profile has returned to the mix of wood and dry earthiness. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third’s core flavor profile is very similar to the first third minus some loss in complexity. The profile is now slightly earth driven such that baking spices and cedar are more noticeable than the sweet cream and bread. The finish also alters in this fashion now being baking spices and cedar focused. Strength moves to medium-full while body maintains medium.

Final Third

Getting into the final third, a little bit of cream returns to the profile of dry earth and wood. At a quarter inch in, the cream departs and the dryness of the earthiness and wood is what remains. There’s really not much change through the rest of the smoking experience as the dry earth and wood note continued through the end. The strength in this final third remained at the slightly above medium level.

Final Third

No changes to note from second third to last third. The profile is still baking spices, cedar, sweet cream and bread. Strength and body is still medium-full and medium, respectively.

Burn

The burn line was a bit wavy the entire way and I did have to do two touch-ups. Once in the first third to correct an uneven burn and once in the second third to keep the cigar from going out. The ash held on in about three quarter inch increments.

Burn

Burn performance was very good. Only negative was a flowery ash within the last two thirds. Other than that, sharp burn line, no touch-ups or re-lights and a cool burn.

Draw

The draw was just slightly tighter than I prefer but didn’t seem to cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The Sacra Folium Radix had some nice flavors in the first third but settled into an earthy wood note the rest of the way. Construction was pretty good aside from a couple of touch-ups that were required. This is supposed to be a limited edition cigar, but I find it a bit odd that the price point is significantly lower than the regular lines the company offers. Typically, I expect a limited edition to have a better experience than the regular lines, but I found this to be right in line with those offerings. If you’re a fan of Sacra Folium, then this is definitely a cigar to pickup since it comes in at a lower price point. For me, it’s not something I’d be looking to chase down.

Draw

The perfect draw performance giving just the right amount of air flow.

Overall

I distinctly remember seeing this cigar at Sacra Folium’s booth at IPCPR 2017. I also distinctly remember one of the reps at the booth saying how strong this cigar was (“our strongest cigar”). Not going to lie… when I heard that, I lost interest, assuming the cigar will give deep spice, grit and overwhelming strength. Now smoking it, nothing can be further from that assumption. The cigar was creamy, sweet, earthy and just flat out good. The strength never remotely approached full. This is one to grab a few to try.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$1.22

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.07

Cost/Point

$0.99

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Sacra Folium Radix