Vitola: Toro- 6” x 50 ring gauge
- MSRP $12.50
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
When the Shellback was released in 2015, Camacho signaled the beginning of the Brotherhood Series, an annual limited edition release that would celebrate the bonds that military service creates. Shellback is an old naval term that refers to crossing the equator. For 2016, the Brotherhood Series release is Check Six, a reference to watching the 6 o’clock (back) of your brothers.
Backed by integrity and bound by virtue, this is one cigar that yields to no other. Celebrating those who prove themselves through actions, not words. A rare breed of individuals who stop at nothing to lay everything on the line for what matters most. Always doing what’s right, never what’s easy. Confirming that there are no limits when it comes to solidarity.
Camacho starts with a three-country blend of filler tobaccos, Nicaraguan Criollo 98 and Esteli, Dominican San Vicente, and Honduran Original Corojo. They add a Criollo 98 binder from Nicaraguan and a Habana 2000 wrapper from Ecuador. They come in a single Toro size, 20 to a box, with a total of 4,000 boxes being produced. It is “limited” but at 80,000 total sticks, it’s not that limited. For the sake of comparison, many Room101 releases were “limited” to 100,000 sticks and still available to order 4 or 5 years after initial release; since Camacho is more widely distributed than the Room101 sub-brand, I would think these will be readily available for at least a couple years.
We got the Check Six in at Burns a couple weeks back and I decided that since I had already reviewed the Shellback, I would jump on this one and get a follow-up review done as soon as possible. I purchased this cigar and it is my first from the blend.
Prelight
The Shellback used the tagline “Crossing the Line Since 1962.” Check Six uses “Watching Your Back Since 1962.” The font for the blend name is quasi-militaristic and the overall design of the cigar is patriotic, using bright red for the trim, along with heavy use of stars alongside the Camacho scorpion.
The wrapper leaf of the Check Six was a dark peanut butter brown with a bit of darker striations in the leaf and an easily visible vein structure that was flat to the touch. The leaf felt a bit papery, with just a bit of oil to it. When I raised it to my nose, I got notes of barnyard and hay. The foot had a richer mix of earth and cocoa powder and coffee bean.
The cold draw showed no signs of obstruction and it tasted of cedar, natural tobacco and dried berries.
Flavor
The Camacho Check Six started off bold and complex, displaying notes of earth and cedar, red pepper and dark fruit, along with lesser touches of dark roast coffee bean, grass, and natural tobacco. The retrohale was nutty and leathery with a sharp, but short, blast of pepper. As I got deep into the first third, the flavor solidified into more of a wood and hay-heavy profile, with earth and a mild sweetness slipping into the background and pepper becoming just an accent.
In the second third, I was surprised to get an increase in sweetness in the form of almost a molasses note. Cedar notes slipped in prominence, while earthiness stayed pretty steady. The coffee notes had left the building by the time the second third started. It was still nutty and peppery on the nose.
The cedar and pepper diminished in the last third, while the molasses sweetness was joined by a slight bread note.
Construction
I had to touch up the burn line several times, which was mildly irritating, even though it wasn’t anything major. The draw was nearly perfect and the ash held on for up to an inch at a time.
Value
The price tag on these hasn’t gone up due to the FDA (not yet, anyway). As a Camacho Limited Edition release, I think $12 or so isn’t too high.
Conclusions
The Camacho Check Six was a medium-to-full bodied cigar with plenty of signature “Camacho boldness,” especially in the flavor department. It was complex and inviting all the way, never staying on one flavor component too long to become dull. I would buy this again and would love to try it in a smaller ring gauge size, though I suspect that will never happen. Very good cigar and a worthy addition to the Brotherhood Series.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
