Vitola: Corona Gorda
Size: 6″ x 46 ring gauge, flat box press
Price $7.99
Review Sample from SmallBatchCigar.com
Background
With the FDA thing looming I didn’t know that Small Batch would be getting in another blend in their Inktome line from Willie Herrera until I walked in one day and they were furiously packing orders for the new cigar. If you’re interested you can check out my review of the first release here. This new release is made of the same types of tobaccos: a Nicaraguan filler, a Honduran binder, and an Ecuadorian Dark Habano wrapper, but in different proportions than the first one. Even though the physical dimensions are the same as the original release this one is flat box pressed a la Acid Wafe. They come in 10 count boxes and I don’t know the production numbers at the moment. This was the third one of these I was able to smoke.
Prelight
The wrapper was a medium golden brown in color with lots of tooth and some oils. The flat box pressed was very well executed even if the shape feels a little odd in the hand, simply because it isn’t one you find that often. When I gave it a squeeze it was fairly firm with no soft spots. The wrapper gave off leather aroma with an intense barnyard coming from the foot. After clipping it and taking a cold draw I noted flavors of wood, salt and sweetness with a good draw.
Flavor
It starts off with a good amount of spice on the tongue and retohale. After a few puffs I got flavors of wood, leather, green herbs and creaminess with a slightly sweet finish. The cigar starts off at the upper end of medium strength. As I moved into the second third the spice and strength built a bit. Similar flavors were present as well: wood, leather, earth and green herbs. Once I got into the final third the spice mellowed out but the strength definitely moved to medium full. The flavors were pretty similar to the rest of the cigar at the end as well.
Construction
The draw throughout was just perfect. The burn on the other hand tended to canoe and was a little annoying.
Value
A single shop release for $8 is a great price to me.
Conclusions
Even though the flavors were pretty consistent throughout I didn’t get bored. The canoeing annoyed me but just needed a couple touch-ups. I can’t remember if the construction was an issue on the other two. I do think that with the reasonable price and since the cigar wasn’t too strong that it should be approachable by most smokers. If you want to give it a try for yourself head on over to the only place you can get it SmallBatchCigar.com.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10
