Cigar: CroMagnon Firecracker
Size: 3 1/2 x 50
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli, Condega, Pueblo Nuevo)
Price: $6.99 per stick; $119.99 per box of 20 from 2 Guys Cigars
I don’t think I have to tell anyone reading at this point about RoMa Craft Tobac, the full-bodied line of theirs called the CroMagnon, or our affinity for their cigars here at Leaf Enthusiast. I heard about the recent addition of a ‘Firecracker’ vitola from Barry Stein of 2 Guys Cigars. While my experience with that particular size was limited to La Flor Dominicana’s Firecracker, I thought it might be worth checking out a CroMagnon in that size just to see how it compares to the other vitolas that I know quite well.
No construction issues, nor imperfections were found in the wrapper. The pre-light aromas were a nice mix of tilled soil and wood. After pulling the tail and ‘nipping the tip’, my cold draws found me faint notes of ripe berry. After the light and making sure the slightly shaggy foot was well-lit, my first flavor notes to appear after a minute or two on the palette were spice (as to be expected from a CroMagnon), wood and slighter notes of mocha. The draw was balanced and had the right amount of resistance to it. The spice diminished from the palette around 24 minutes into the cigar. For those of you well-versed in CroMagnons, I can assure you that the Firecracker is no different other than its size. The CroMagnon Firecracker increased in strength slightly near the end of the cigar, giving me stronger wood and the additon of earthy notes. The total smoking time was a brief 0:49.
No problems were encountered while enjoying the CroMagnon Firecracker, other than smoking one made me want another.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
To recap the CroMagnon Firecracker:
- For those of you who love the CroMagnon line who don’t have the time to enjoy one of their standard vitolas, this is the cigar for you.
- Full-bodied in strength but smooth and enjoyable on the palette is what I would characterize any CroMagnon, the Firecracker included. I would probably avoid sharing these who newer smokers or those who prefer milder smokes but the smaller size in the Firecracker may work as a nice bridge to the standard vitolas.
- I think the price is more than fair but I probably wouldn’t mark these up much higher than that.
- Obviously, I loved the cigar but it left me wanting more. And I’m all out of CroMagnons of any size in my humidor. I could see picking a handful of these up once in awhile for a quicker smoke, but I’d personally rather have a standard vitola CroMagnon. Or for the fun of it, take the best of both worlds (a standard vitola or something close to it plus the makeup of the Firecracker) and call it a CroMagnon ‘Dynamite’ or ‘TNT’. Could be interesting…
Thank you very much for reading. I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.