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The year 2023 AA grade Dominican Criollo cigar leaf provides a wealth of peat, cedar, floralness, smoke, bread, leather, herbs, earth, vegetative grass, sourness, some sugar, mild fermented tart citrus, spice, tea, coffee, and light creamy butter notes as the lead component. The unsweetened Dominican black cavendish offers very mild tart and tangy citrus, vegetative grass, earth, wood, peat, bread, sugar, leather, cream, and light smoky cigar. Due to it having several similar characteristics of the Criollo, I can’t accurately determine its effect on the proceedings. The 2023 Canadian bright Virginia produces some tart citrus, sour lemon, grass, floralness, spice, vegetation, mild sugar, and light acidity as a noticeable supporting player. It’s a step ahead of the red Virginias due to its high floral and citrus qualities. The 2013, 2019, and 2023 stoved and unstoved red Virginias supply an abundance of tart and tangy citrus, sugar, bread, grass, some stewed fruit, wood, earth, floralness, mild vegetation, spice, and a vinegar note in a secondary support role. The strength and taste levels are filling. The nic-hit is just shy of the center of medium to strong. No chance of bite or harshness. Has a few small rough notes since there’s no toppings. This easily broken apart crumble cake is mildly moist, and I saw no need to dry it. Well balanced with subtle complexity, it burns cool, clean, and a tad slow with a mostly consistent smoky cigar, sour, floral, spicy, herbal, mildly sweet, lightly bitter, savory flavor that extends to the pleasantly long lasting after taste. The sour, cigar-like, floral, spicy, sweet room notes are pungent. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. It requires a couple more than an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. It’s the strongest version by a small margin. I recommend a wide bowl, and no more than a medium one for this blend. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2025.
The year 2023 AA grade Dominican Criollo cigar leaf provides a wealth of peat, cedar, floralness, smoke, bread, leather, herbs, earth, vegetative grass, sourness, some sugar, mild fermented tart citrus, spice, tea, coffee, and light creamy butter notes as the lead component. The unsweetened Dominican black cavendish offers very mild tart and tangy citrus, vegetative grass, earth, wood, peat, bread, sugar, leather, cream, and light smoky cigar. Due to it having several similar characteristics of the Criollo, I can’t accurately determine its effect on the proceedings. The 2023 Canadian bright Virginia produces some tart citrus, sour lemon, grass, floralness, spice, vegetation, mild sugar, and light acidity as a noticeable supporting player. It’s a step ahead of the red Virginias due to its high floral and citrus qualities. The 2013, 2019, and 2023 stoved and unstoved red Virginias supply an abundance of tart and tangy citrus, sugar, bread, grass, some stewed fruit, wood, earth, floralness, mild vegetation, spice, and a vinegar note in a secondary support role. The strength and taste levels are filling. The nic-hit is just shy of the center of medium to strong. No chance of bite or harshness. Has a few small rough notes since there’s no toppings. This easily broken apart crumble cake is mildly moist, and I saw no need to dry it. Well balanced with subtle complexity, it burns cool, clean, and a tad slow with a mostly consistent smoky cigar, sour, floral, spicy, herbal, mildly sweet, lightly bitter, savory flavor that extends to the pleasantly long lasting after taste. The sour, cigar-like, floral, spicy, sweet room notes are pungent. Barely leaves any dampness in the bowl. It requires a couple more than an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. It’s the strongest version by a small margin. I recommend a wide bowl, and no more than a medium one for this blend. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2025.
