Cigar Review: Cabal

• Vitola: Corona Gorda
• Size 
• Price $7.00
• Purchased through Stogies World Class Cigars

Background

I was first introduced to Cabal Cigars about a year and a half ago when one of the brand owners, Chris Arolfo, came to the 2013 Chattanooga Tweet-Up. I got to talk to him a bit and he handed me a cigar which I smoked later. I only got the one, I did enjoy it, but I didn’t get to review it…and I never saw them for sale again anywhere that I frequent. Then a couple months ago Stogies in Houston reached out to us to be an advertiser. When we made the deal, it was for product (trade) instead of cash; along with some cigars I already enjoy and wanted to get a few of, I saw these on the website and decided to pick one up…this time for reviewing.

Cabal’s website has this to say about the company:

Cabal {kuh • bäl} n.  a group of like-minded individuals who gather for a common purpose or ideal.

Nothing good comes quickly or easily…  Over a grueling two year period, the quest for a perfect blend and a worthy manufacturer for his Cabal line of cigars, Chris Arolfo and Hendrik Kelner, Jr. joined forces to create the flagship brand for the newly formed Kelner Boutique Factory (KBF).

Based in the Dominican Republic, KBF relies upon Hendrik’s vast experience and exclusive tobaccos to produce cigars with unrivaled tastes and consistency.  Over the course of a year, Chris and Hendrik developed flavor profiles and sizes that Chris envisioned when he set out to launch Cabal Cigars.

The Cabal blend is made up of fillers from Nicaraguan, Pennsylvania, and the Dominican Republic, dual binder leaves from Peru and the DR, and a Dominican Bonao wrapper leaf. They describe the Corona Gorda size as “an homage to days long past when flavor, complexity and depth were the measure of a quality cigar.” Oh, and that name…Hendrik Kelner…yes, you may have heard it before…his father has been with Davidoff for a very long time and Kelner, Jr. also produced the Smoking Jacket line of cigars (after Cabal).

Prelight

The banding and other associated artwork for the brand are rough, with the urban decay type of feel to them…but then also rendered in high glossy black and white, with a QR code on the back of the band. A mix of current (modern) and dystopian future and grunge elements, you might say. It’s interesting and unique…and not overdone, which is nice. The wrapper leaf is a dark tan color with a hint of orange or red under certain lighting. It felt semi-oily under my fingers and had a ripe earthiness mixed with a bit of citrus as an aroma. The foot had a complex aroma with some earth, some wood, some hay, some citrus, some pepper.

After clipping the end, the draw was perfect. The cold flavor definitely had a little of that “Davidoff Funk”…the mildly mushroomy foresty, earthy note…but also some orange peel and a little red pepper.

Flavor

The Cabal was easy to light up with a single flame torch and immediately sprung to life as a complex and tasty stogie. I got plenty of cedar right up front, but just underneath was the orange peel I mentioned in prelight (and likely an influence of the Peruvian leaf in the blend), some dried fruit sweetness, touches of hay and earth, and a slight pepper burn on the tongue. The pepper was more pronounced on the nose where it joined a muted peanut butter note. Really, this was one of those times that having a 4 country blend in the cigar was more than just a selling point…it really did add to the complexity of the flavor.

As I got into the second third, I did notice that this seemed to be one of those blends that makes your mouth dry out a bit. I was still getting some cedar and an increased amount of orange oil. The pepper had mellowed out a bit but there was still a good nuttiness and earthiness to the overall blend.

Heading into the final third I was getting even more citrus flavor and the cedar notes receded a bit. The pepper spice came back on the palate, but not so much on the nose.

Construction

I got spot-on construction with this cigar…perfect draw, solid ash, very even burn line.

Value

Small production cigar, very good smoking experience, and price in the middle of the sweet spot? If I could give more than 1 point for value, this is one of those ones that would get it.

Conclusions

The Cabal is definitely a fine cigar with an interesting and unique flavor. It has a very nice amount of complexity and a medium-bodied smoke making it a good choice for anyone but the newest of leaf enthusiasts. The price makes it even more nice. The closest thing I can think of to this is the Guillermo Leon Signature in the Corona Gorda size, although it is different enough from that to justify its own place in the humidor. Put it on your list and get it if you can.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10