Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is light brown and has a network of small, slightly raised veins that carry a lighter shade to them. The seams are smooth but easily visible due to the vein placement and color. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. The band is primarily black with some gold artwork and a red strip at the bottom that denotes the year of release. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of wood and barnyard notes while the foot brings more wood and a bit of citrus. The pre-light draw consists of a light, dry cedar.

Pre-light Experience

The Ventura Father, Friends and Fire 2018 Limited Edition (FFaF) has a black, red and gold embossed band with ‘2018 Limited Edition’ at the bottom of the band in red and white. The wrapper is milk chocolate color, and silky smooth with firmly pressed veins. The aroma on the wrapper is a very pleasant combination of leather, spices and cedar on the wrapper, with sweet hay in the foot.

Pre-light Experience

The Ventura Father, Friends and Fire 2018 Limited Edition has a darker shade of caramel showing good oil content on the wrapper. Construction looks well done as veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and head finished off with a deep cap. Aromas from the wrapper tell dry barnyard, a high level of chestnuts and leather. Aromas from the foot give white pepper, cedar and nuts. Cold draw gives named a dry nuttiness with a hint of lingering white pepper.

First Third

The cigar begins with a smooth delivery of light cedar and mild baking spice. At three quarters of an inch in, a slight cream joins the profile of cedar and baking spice to enhance the smoothness. At an inch and a quarter, the cream fades back and the profile becomes slightly drying. As the third comes to a close, the cedar has become a bit fuller and the baking spice is slightly behind. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

First Third

The FFaF starts with sweetness, cocoa, light spices and a delayed leather that hits right at the end of the puff. The retrohale has light plus spices and light woody notes. As the first third progresses, some black pepper joins in on the retrohale, and then eventually carries into the post draw. The pepper picks up rapidly to medium-full and brings the cocoa strength along with it, eventually settling at full strength. Once the first third has firmly settled in, the pepper begins to fall in intensity, with all of the flavor notes decreasing to light plus at the halfway point. The overall profile for the first third is creamy wood, with cocoa, hints of baking spices, pepper and post draw leather with pepper.

First Third

The first third is pretty well balanced with plenty of creamy bread, nuts, cedar, minerals and just the right amount of white pepper to not throw off the balance. Retrohaling has an under-ripe stone fruit characteristic as well as a spicier raw cedar. The finish is long and lingering with cedar and bread. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the profile is still slightly drying. At a quarter inch in, some cream returns to the profile while the baking spice becomes very faint. The cedar also gains a slight bite to it. The retrohale is a full and dry cedar. At three quarters of an inch in, the cedar gains some char as the cream and baking spice have both left the profile. As the third comes to a close, the charred cedar is becoming slightly harsh and bitter. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly below medium.

Second Third

The profile in the second third is sweet cedar with cocoa and baking spices that finish each draw. Some mild toasted earth joins the list a few minutes in. The post draw consists largely of sweet cedar. At the halfway point of the cigar, there’s a noticeable amount of nicotine strength hitting me.

Second Third

No changes to note within the second third. The profile is still balanced with cedar, creamy bread, nuts, minerals and white pepper. Strength and body continues to be medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, some cream rejoins the profile which cuts down on some of the char and bitterness. The retrohale has transitioned to a profile of smoky oak. At a half inch in, the cedar has transitioned to a general wood note and still has some char with it while a bit of creaminess continues in the background. As the cigar came to a close, some baking spice joined in with the charred wood and slight cream. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Final Third

There is some vegetal flavors during the transition to the final third, and a general toasted earth that mixes in for the remainder of the smoking experience.

Final Third

The last third shows the spice levels increasing with elevated levels of white pepper and cedar. Other than that, all the other notes still stay intact (creamy bread, nuts and minerals). Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy at various times but never needed any attention. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

The burn is wavy with ash holding on in 1+ inch increments. Minor touch-ups are necessary in the middle third.

Burn

Burn performance was overall very good. The only let down was an uneven burn, but that only resulted in one minor touch-up. Other than that, 2 inch ash retention, solid ashes, cool burn.

Draw

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

Overall

The first third started with a nice mellow mixture of cedar, baking spice and cream, but after that, some char made it’s way into the profile reducing the enjoyment for me. Construction was very good and required no attention. I could see the first third being something the cigar was targeted as for something to share with a father and child, where one of them may not be a regular cigar smoker and could enjoy the mellow flavors and strength levels. Unfortunately, after that, it became a bit heavier and out of balance. These are an event only cigar, so if attending an event where they’re present, it’s worth grabbing one to try and see what you think.

Draw

The draw has a slight resistance to it making it an ideal draw.

Overall

The Ventura Father, Friends and Fire 2018 Limited Edition is an enjoyable cigar with complex flavors that never push past the medium strength level.

Draw

The draw was perfect. No issues here.

Overall

All those times I complained about Ventura needing to come out with a very good cigar finally came to fruition. The Ventura Father, Friends and Fire 2018 Limited Edition showed a great mix of milder strength but full flavored profile. Very balanced with the notes of creamy bread, nuts, cedar, minerals and just the right amount of white pepper. It’s a shame the cigar can’t be bought. But I’ll also say, it will be worth attending Ventura events to score this cigar.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.85

Cost/Point

$2.56

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$2.23

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.07

Cost/Point

$2.12

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Ventura Father, Friends and Fire 2018 Limited Edition