Cigar Review: Wicked Indie

Cigar: Wicked Indie
Size: 6 × 54 (Toro)
Wrapper: Habano Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $6.45 at my local Tinder Box; Box of 50 for $214.95 or five pack for $23.00 at Cigars International

Coming from my previous review, I was really hoping for something positive to latch onto with the next cigar reviewed. At the time I purchased The Peacemaker back a couple weeks ago, I purchased this next cigar based on the unfamiliarity of the brand and the lower price. The unfamiliarity of the brand, East India Trading Company, is made by Gurkha Cigars. While I have smoked a number of their offerings over the years, it is again a brand that I overlook simply because they have swarmed the market with so many offerings that no single cigar has a chance to stand on its own.

Giving the Wicked Indie my customary prelight examination, I felt like the wrapper was on the dry side, as the veins and edges of the wrapper seemed to protrude more than I am used to. It was almost sharp feeling in places. This could be more of a function of where I bought it than the cigar itself (I’ve gotten dry cigars from my local Tinder Box before). The only wrapper issue I found was a giant chip taken out of it near the foot of the cigar, the cigar band concealing the issue until removal. I got prelight notes of hay, straw and sugar-like sweet scents, all of which made for a pleasant combination.

I started the cigar with a punch and draw and was immediately greeted with spice flavors, hitting the back of mouth and tongue. It wasn’t overpowering but would consider it “strong enough”. I also experienced some acidity to the flavor, akin to what you get with strong, acidic coffee. After 15 minutes, those spice and acidic flavors died down and left me with woody and leather notes. Those flavor profiles dominated the remaining smoking time of the cigar, ending at 1:35. The last inch and a half of the cigar brought about some increased strength but it was modest enough to where it was easy on the palette (it didn’t get bitter) but still be considered medium bodied.

Besides discovering the wrapper problem prior to lighting, the only issues found with the Wicked Indie was the cigar going out a couple of times, prompting a relight.

By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 1.5/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10

To recap the Wicked Indie:

• The complexity of flavors that the Wicked Indie brings would interest all ranges of cigar smoker from newbie to veteran.
• While $6.45 is about $2 more than online thanks to IL taxes, this cigar in my opinion is a great value for what you are getting, especially if you are ordering online.
• We just loaded up on “value” cigars but will look to order a few five-packs of these when the humidor starts running low. I highly recommend giving them a shot.

As always, thank you very much for reading and I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you. And should you be attending the Chattanooga Tweet-Up and Cigar Festival next week, please feel free to find me and say hello.