Wrapper: USA Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: African Cameroon
Filler: Nicaraguan (Esteli, Condega, Pueblo Nuevo)
Size: 4.5 x 60 “Petite Gordo”
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $6.53
According to Doc James, this is supposed to be the newest size. And while I have reviewed the Knuckle Dragger (3-19-13), The Aquitaine Mode 5 (5-19-14), The Aquitaine EMH (5-7-14), CroMagnon Fomorian EMH(5-16-14), CroMagnon Intemperance BA XXI(3-14-14), Intemperance BA XXI Breach of the Peace(5-1-14), Intemperance EC XVIII Brotherly Kindness(4-29-14), and Intemperance BA XXI IV A.W.S.(1-14-14), I decided to review a big change of size in the CroMagnon line: Mandible. A cigar this big should bring some interesting flavors to the stick. And I still have the Anthropology to review.
I have to be honest. I dig these cigars and I enjoy reviewing them and fawning over them.
From Doc James web site:
“The filler leaf for this blend was acquired from three separate growing regions in Nicaragua: Esteli, Condega and a small farm north of Esteli on the Honduran border. This third leaf, a ligero, brings a strong, smoky, savory flavor to the blend. When combined with the mildly-sweet characteristics of the broadleaf maduro wrapper, the exotic bite of the Cameroon binder and the clean finish of its viso and seco companions, the blend delivers the precise deep rich tobacco flavor we wanted to present in the CroMagnon.”
The cigar comes in six sizes:
The Knuckle Dragger: 4 x 52 Petit Robusto
The Mandible: 4.5 x 60 Petite Gordo
The Mode 5x 5 x 50 Short Perfecto
The EMH: 5 x 56 Robusto Extra
The Anthropology: 5.75 x 46 Grand Corona
The Cranium: 6 x 54 Gran Toro
Prices range from just $6-$8
So, as you can see…one more example of spectacular boutique blends at an affordable price.
This is a sturdy little fire plug. Gorgeous mottled oily coffee bean wrapper. Perfectly implemented triple cap. Perfect seams. Veins under control. Like the day Carlos contacted me. And extremely toothy…..But the double cigar band drives my shitty camera nuts. Especially, in the sun where the stick’s oiliness is best suited. The white obliterates the lens and the imprinted lettering that says: CROMAGNON is almost impossible to see.
I clip the cap and find aromas of wood, coffee, barnyard, cocoa, a luxurious sweetness, and the shaft smells of apricot preserves. It also sends out a nutty aroma reminiscent of marzipan with hazelnut. There is another fruity aroma and it is a very subtle kiwi.
Ever notice how rare it is to get a cigar that is perfectly round? I found one with the CroMagnon Mandible. Ain’t it purty, ma?
Time to light up.
Toasting the foot on a 60 ring gauge makes me nervous. That’s a lot of turf to cover and so easy to fuck it up. And then end up with a canoe which you then blame the manufacturer…well, at least that’s what I do.
The draw is good but a slight tight. I do my method of gently rolling the cigar between my palms and that opens up some passageways. We are good to go.
Immediately, the cigar is flooded with flavor. Sweetness holding court with a rather large dose of black licorice and cocoa. Flavors fall into line separated by 10 second intervals of wood, oak, leather dark espresso and finally: The Red Pepper Has Arrived!
Thank you baby, Jesus!!!
Waiting the 6 weeks was the charm as the first one I smoked of any consequence was two weeks in and it tasted nothing like this baby.
I am stumbling with the ring gauge. I have a small, delicate and fragile mouth. No good for prison. Unless I turn my head sideways and you paste hair on my lip and beneath my lower lip. They may go for it under those circumstances.
The strength went from medium bodied in the first quarter inch to medium/full in 5 minutes at the ½” mark. This baby is jammed up and jelly tight with tobacco and is a very slow smoking tree trunk. My mouth is most comfortable with 54 ring gauges. Above that feels like I’m dating a guy named Swifty.
The char line is razor sharp.
Before the cigar hits the 1” burned line, it is a flavor bomb.
They are the same flavors as described earlier but much more intense. Earthiness takes a big responsibility now.
Atlantic Cigars has the entire line in stock except for the Mode 5 which is back ordered because it is the newest blend of the line. And if you saw what I see when I logged in to see my pricing as a VIP Club member, you’d shit.
I read several reviews from the big guys of this cigar before reviewing it myself. Just so I can be snarky and feel better about myself as a turd.
I just know that most of them either don’t give the cigar enough time or they are reviewing 6 cigars a day and their palate went AWOL on the 3rd one. Remember, the A List reviewers have hundreds of manufacturers begging them to review their cigars.
I know of one particular reviewer and I cannot mention her/his name…but in trying to help Paul Stulac in the beginning, we contacted this person and this person had a go-fer who told us that the reviewer could not guarantee a review but to please send a 5 pack anyway; just in case the reviewer decides to review the cigar.
Now that’s the job I want. Send me your cigars and let me mull it over as to whether I will review it. NOT! Lol
Creaminess appears at the 3” mark. I think I will do this in halves, not thirds. The creaminess accentuates everything. Even a little twang of banana cream pie. Yum.
Remember dear readers, that every review is the first cigar of the day for me when my palate is clean and fresh. Four cigars from now, I doubt I’d pick up on the subtlety of banana.
The char line needs a substantial touch up. But is fine now.
Any idea how hard it is to remember the truth? I’ve written so many reviews and I use a crystal ball to remember some of the ex-rock god stories. Without embellishments.
I will have the dog hit me in the head with a ballpeen hammer and that should bring a lost memory to the forefront.
Goddam the pusher man….this cigar is bursting with wonderful flavor and character. The cigar is so complex that I’ve forgotten my wife’s maiden name and first born’s middle name.
The Mandible size is definitely my new fave size of the blend. The balance of flavors is outstanding and the finesse and clarity is just terrific.
I’ve got the classic rock stating cranking in the background. You know, the one that comes on your cable TV…no commercials. I’m hoping it triggers a memory worth writing about.
I’m at the halfway point. The strength is hanging tough at medium/full with no nicotine in sight.
I’ve shmushed the cap so it is flat enough to chomp on. The cocoa is explosive out of nowhere. Between the cocoa, creaminess, and sweetness, the cigar tastes like a fudge brownie.
The big cigar is very cool and without a hint of harshness or heat. No bitterness. Just giant lumps of flavor.
Just past the halfway point, I’ve invested over an hour.
The flavor profile: Earthiness, creaminess, sweetness, cocoa, fruit, oak, leather, and black licorice seems to be where the cigar wants the impact to be. Flavors become subtle now. The complexity drives them into a big disco ball twirling and flashing distinct flavors all over the lighted disco dance floor.
The red pepper returns big time. Stronger than the beginning. It takes over as leader of the pack. Again, I wish I had Taste-O-Vision because the flavors are so intense that one can’t help but smile the big smile.
I cannot believe this stick is only $7.50. If it were a DE or another mystical blender, this cigar would surely go for double digits. RoMa Craft Tobac is a small operation run by Skip Martin and Michael Rosales.
They’ve managed to produce a series of blends that have no flaws. I’ve yet been able to criticize any of them. Six weeks is the longest I’ve allowed any of those blends to humidor rest. And I’ve been rewarded handsomely.
Damn! I dropped the cigar on the floor and the beautiful ash was crushed to smithereens.
The last 1-1/4” becomes a rainbow of flavor intensity. The strength moves to full bodied. The nicotine level is very low.
This was a great cigar experience.
I started 3 hours late this morning due to errands that could not be avoided. So a rock story next time.
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Another discerning review of a compelling stick. On a different note, I would stop mentioning Carlos so often or you might get another sociopath chiming in seeking his 15 minutes. Am I the only one who saw “Taxi Driver”? 😉
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Are you talkin’ to me? Are you TALKING to me?
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Yeah Patrick, they do. I would give them at least 4-6 weeks to get the most out of these sticks.
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I believe we need to have a raffle to see who will be adopted by our uncle Katman, so the lucky dog can have a more readily available source to sample all this yummyness he tempts us with everyday. Honestly dude, you make me want to lick my screen sometimes.
On a side note, I urge everyone not to forget about the looming regulatory action pending from our friends (LOL) at the FDA. The time period open to public comment will end soon enough. Do not forget about your local representatives.(What an oxymoron that has become.) In closing to them, I reminded them that as legal age smokers, we are also legal age VOTERS. Typically, the type of voter that keeps abreast of the actions of the members of congress, and responds accordingly at the voting booth.
Sadly, as a card carrying cynic of all things government, I have no doubt that much public response will end up in the circular file known as the recycle bin. At least when we are no longer able to stroll into the local B&M’s humi to browse the latest offerings and are paying a minimum of $10.00 a stick for something that previously cost $5.00, we can proudly say we at least tried.
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Well said!
And yes, I am up for adoption.
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