Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is light brown with a couple of raised veins present. The seams are easily visible due to the light color of the wrapper while the Torpedo head is finished off with a well applied set of caps. The band is the traditional Case Study design and this one is primarily black with white lettering. The aroma from the wrapper is an inviting mix of leather, hay and wood. The foot brings creamy leather and sweet hay. The pre-light draw brings the same creamy leather and sweet hay present on the foot aroma.

Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Ventura Case Study 04 is a light chocolate color, with firmly pressed veins. The band is similar in style to the other Case Study releases, but with a color reversal of white lettering on a black band. The nose on the wrapper is light leather, with bright fresh hay from the foot.

First Third

The cigar begins with an abundance of a general wood note along with some creaminess and a very mild black pepper note. At a half inch in, the cream and pepper are now both very faint while the wood remains the star of the show. At an inch in, some mustiness joins the profile. The cream is still very faint and the black pepper has dropped out. The retrohale just carries the general wood note. As the third comes to a close, the profile remains primarily wood with a slight mustiness. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

First Third

The Case Study CS/04 starts with mild black pepper and leather. From the retrohale, I get rich spices with some sweetness mingled in. At the 10 minute mark some mild chocolate is detectable, and there is mild leather on the post draw. As the cigar progresses to the middle third, there is some mild citrus detectable at the end of each puff.

Second Third

As the second third begins, a slightly spicy vegetal note joins the profile of wood and mustiness. At a half inch in, the spicy vegetal note tones down and is a mellow addition in the background with the wood up front. As the third comes to a close, the generic wood remains up front with some mustiness close behind and a slightly spicy vegetal note is still in the background. The retrohale carries a mirroring profile. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly below medium.

Second Third

The hay aroma I was picking up off the foot is now coming through as a flavor in the second third. The light chocolate from the first third starts to build in intensity and is more defined, bringing some cedar with it. As the second third establishes itself, the chocolate becomes the defining flavor note.

Final Third

As the final third begins, some char joins in and creates some bitterness from the vegetal note along with the wood up front. At a half inch in, the bitterness subsides as the cigar warms up. The wood gains a toast note as the mustiness remains in the background and the vegetal note drops out. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third bumped up to be right at medium.

Final Third

No major flavor transitions moving into the last third. Chocolate is still the defining flavor character, and as the last third establishes itself there are hints of spice. The cedar from the previous third starts to pick up in intensity. At times it matches and occasionally passes the chocolate. The post draw leather is still present at similar light levels from the first third.

Burn

The burn was razor sharp the entire way. The ash dropped right at the midpoint of the cigar and then held on the rest of the way.

Burn

The ash holds on firmly to 2 inches before I have to aggressively tap it off. There is some flakiness to the ash.

Draw

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

Overall

This cigar was a representation of a pretty typical Connecticut wrapped cigar. Low strength with dominant wood notes and some vegetal notes in the background. The construction was very good. This would be a great cigar for a new smoker or those that like lighter strength with a medium level flavor delivery. It is also a cigar that I see doing well as a morning cigar with coffee. Since there are many cigars on the market that match up with this one, I’m not sure I’d be in a hurry to revisit this one in particular.

Draw

What, you v-cut a torpedo? Yes Virginia, I v-cut everything including torpedoes. The draw is in the ideal zone for the entire smoking experience.

Overall

The Ventura Case Study 04 is a tasty example of a complex Connecticut Shade cigar. Although the last third is not at the same level of complexity, the overall cigar experience is good. The Case Study CS/04 is medium strength and medium to medium-full in flavor.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$2.29

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.82

Cost/Point

$1.88

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Ventura Case Study 04