Cigar Review: Crossfire Platinum

• Vitola: Gordo
• 5.5″ x 56 ring gauge 
• Sample provided by Scott Menefree (was told about $8 retail)

In the days leading up to Nashville’s annual Steeplechase horse race, there are events peppered throughout the city.  One such event was a cigar event held at a local coffee shop with a handful of boutique cigar makers.  Of those present, the only company I was not familiar with was Crossfire Cigars.  The president, Scott Menefree, was there and talked briefly about his brand.  

Crossfire is based in Louisville, and has a small operation.  They were not in any local shops, but no doubt will probably be working on that.  The spark behind the brand’s creation came from a 2004 trip to the Dominican Republic, in which Menefree fell in love with the people, land, and cigars.  Eventually, he was introduced to William Ventura, who worked for AVO for 20 years under Hendrik Kelner before starting his own company and farms.  The fruits from that meeting come to us as Crossfire Cigars. 

This Platinum line comes with an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper, but Dominican binder and filler.  The cigar feels solid, but I did notice some spotting on the wrapper.  At the foot, you can notice some ligero in the center hoping to give it more of that spice.  

 
  
Prior to lighting, the cigar had a sweet smell with a hint of hay and oats.  Toasting went well and I got a blend of sweet tobacco and forest fauna (not evergreen mind you).  As I progressed into the cigar, the smoke remained billowy and plentiful, but about half an inch in, half the ash fell off.  I had never seen anything of the sort before and my expectations kind of dropped for the remainder of the review.  But on I plowed.  

  
The cigar must have had a fluke because the cigar never acted up again.  The burn remained even, and the ash was good for an inch or more throughout with smoke all along the way.   

Entering into the middle portion, the forest notes subsided and gave way to a pronounced, but not overbearing leather characteristics.  It at first seemed as the only note, but as it progressed, it also picked up a vanilla and graham cracker sensibility as well.  

Finishing up the stick, the notes became more like a cedar presence with a bit of leather at the finish.  It continued to have a good burn up til the end and never needed to be lit a second time.  

  
After the first hiccup, I was hesitant about this cigar.  But I’m glad I continued on without immediately writing it off. It was a good stick, with enough variety to keep me entertained.  I will say that did expect it to be stronger than it was.  I would say this was a medium stick, despite what it is being marketed as.  Maybe I just got a bum one after all?  Who knows, but it’s still a solid offering and at a cost of around $8, it’s worth checking out if you can find it.  

Now for the numbers:

Pre-light: 1.5/2

Construction: 1.5/2

Flavor: 3/5

Value: 1/1

Total: 7/10