Cigar Review: American Barrel Aged by Camacho

• Vitola: Robusto
• Size 
• Price $10.99
• Purchased from Burns Tobacconist

Background

It’s been a couple years since the reinvention and rebranding of Camacho, one of many arms of the Davidoff of Geneva corporate body. They reblended some cigars, repackaged all of them, established the “Board of the Bold” and a brash new attitude to go along with it all and from all indications, it’s all been a big hit. The modern cigar marketplace does not reward those who just sit around talking about what they did last year, though, so Camacho has something new.

The overall “new thing” is the Master Built Series. There is a short statement on the company website that the new series is defined by “passionate artistry.” Dylan Austin also told the big lifestyle rag, “It centers on the fusing of our master [blenders] with those in other categories, in this case, Bourbon makers. Working collaboratively to build experiences that break the chains of convention. This series will also be the top of the pyramid for Camacho.” This debut release in the series is the American Barrel Aged…or ABA.

The ABA uses fillers from Honduras (Corojo) and United States (Connecticut Broadleaf and Pennsylvania Maduro), and Connecticut Broadleaf binder and wrapper leaves. The secret ingredient in the mix is the Honduran leaf. After again the Corojo for 6 years, they seal the leaves into used Bourbon barrels for another 5 months, allowing them to soak up “the devil’s cut” (Bourbon aromas and fumes that are locked inside the charred oak). This has the distinction of being the first Camacho rolled outside Honduras since 2003…and the first outside Honduras since Davidoff bought the company. They are made in the Dominican Republic and available in 3 sizes. Apparently this series will continue with different themes and product lines, but the American Barrel Aged is destined to be a one-time-only affair.

I had my first stick a couple weeks ago, provided by the Davidoff rep on his rounds. It was a Toro. I bought the Robusto I smoked for this review.

Prelight

The box and bands of the Camacho American Barrel Aged generally follow the design aesthetic laid out in the rebranding, although these take it a step further. The boxes are still glossy, but have more detail and imagery on them, looking even nicer than the standard boxes. The bands are large, but use a more subdued color scheme so as to look a little more high-end. The use of the black, gray and Bourbon-brown colors is excellent.

I smoked my first of these without knowing the country of origin of the leaves, so when I researched and discovered the wrapper (and other parts) was Connecticut Broadleaf, I was surprised. Honestly, this is probably the lightest color Broadleaf I’ve ever seen utilized as a wrapper. It was a dark caramel shade with a very good amount of oiliness. It had a light and subdued aroma that had touches of barnyard and molasses in it. The foot had a little more earthiness and some grassy notes. The cold draw featured a very good draw and a flavor that mixed natural tobacco with a slightly sweet fruit note and a hint of Bourbon.

Flavor

Once lit, the Camacho ABA had a rich sweet flavor out front, with chocolate and molasses leading the way. Right behind that I got plenty of earth, pepper spice and oak char. And behind that was just a touch of vanilla. The flavors that were influenced by the 5 months in Bourbon barrels would be the oak char (which I picked up on quite nicely in the Toro I smoked) and the vanilla (which I didn’t get at all in the previous cigar). The cigar starts off in the low end of the full-bodied range and with lots of flavor.

Smoky wood and earthy flavors took over in the second third. The Corojo still provided some spice, but it was subdued. The sweetness was still present although more in the background.

At the end it all came together with the sweetness coming back to the front to mingle well with the charred wood notes. I can’t say I got much “Bourbon flavor” in a cigar that contains leaf aged in Bourbon barrels, but I also can’t say I missed it.

Construction

I had zero construction problems with either sample I smoked.

Value

This cigar is a little higher price point than most of the other Camachos, more in line with the Triple Maduro and Diploma. That being said, it does contain a high percentage of American leaf and is produced in smaller volume than the lower lines, AND it is being positioned as a higher-end smoke. Taking all that into consideration, the price isn’t too bad.

Conclusions

Aging Corojo leaf in Bourbon barrels perhaps isn’t the most original idea in the world, but in this case it does work. The end result is that the Camacho American Barrel Aged cigar is sweet, spicy, and woody with a full-bodied smokiness that lasted from beginning to end. It is unlike anything else I’ve ever had from Camacho, probably owing to the fact that there is little Honduran leaf contained in the blend. A very good addition to the catalog, but one that won’t last forever, so get these while you can.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10