Vitola: Corona Gorda
Size: 4.5″ x 48 ring gauge
Price $7.99
Purchased from Small Batch Cigar
Background
Today I get a chance to review the latest exclusive from Small Batch Cigar. This time it is a collaboration between Max at Casa Fernandez and Andrew from Small Batch. You can read the press release including info on the blend here. I did a review of the one of the regular GOTF cigars here, and you can see Dave’s review here. This shop exclusive is a slight tweak of the original blend with the regular corojo wrapper being swapped out for a corojo rosado wrapper. The smaller size was Andrew’s idea as most of their exclusives are smaller sizes. They come packed in a 25 count box. This was either the fifth or sixth one of these I smoked.
Prelight
The top band is the familiar GOTF band with the second one denoting it being a special release. The French blue and gold band is very attractive and well done. The wrapper is a medium brown in color with some darker mottling to it. There are some oils to it and very little tooth. The box press while well done isn’t super severe, think something like a Padron. When I gave it a squeeze there was a slight amount of give and no soft spots. Putting my nose to the wrapper I got some leather aroma with barnyard coming from the closed foot. After clipping it and taking a cold draw I noted some wood and sweetness.
Flavor
It start off with a good amount of spice on the tongue and retrohale, with flavors of leather, wood and cinnamon with a slightly sweet finish. In regards to strength it starts off at the upper end of medium. As I moved into the second third the spice surprisingly grew in intensity. The flavors were similar to the first third. The strength built to medium-full by the end of this third. Once I got to the final third the spice had mellowed out a lot but it wasn’t gone completely. The cinnamon did start to be the dominant flavor during the final third. The cigar stayed medium-full strength through the end.
Construction
The draw was great throughout. I did have some burn issues, which might have been due to the wind. However if I remember correctly I did have minor burn issues on the other ones of these I smoked.
Value
A limited edition cigar for $8 is a great deal in my book.
Conclusions
Even though this cigar isn’t the most complex or have a lot of flavor changes I really like this cigar. So much so I bought a box and the one I reviewed was from that box. It is a great cigar to have when you don’t have a lot of time but want something with a lot of flavor and a little strength. It might be a little much for some but it wasn’t that strong. If you want to pick up some for yourself before they sell out you can get them here.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
