Cigar Geeks - Blackbird Cigar Co. The Rio (Privada Cigar Club Exclusive) Gran Toro

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Blackbird Cigar Co. The Rio (Privada Cigar Club Exclusive) Gran Toro
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: druid

73
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member tuck0411 (Todd). The cigar provided for this round is the http://www.cigargeeks.com/cigardb/default.asp?action=showcig&cigar_id=193208">Blackbird Cigar Co. The Rio Gran Toro.

This cigar is an exclusive to Privada Cigar Club. The folks at Black Bird Cigar Co. had an aged cigar at their factory that they had been smoking for personal consumption because they couldn't sell the blend with their branding on it due to FDA regulations. They reached out to Privada, who fell in love with the blend. It has a rare combination of Brazilian wrapper and Brazilian binder. Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Aged 2.5 years in the Dominican republic. They named it The Rio. The color, the Christ the Redeemer statue, and the font. DOPE. Collectible. Rare. Exclusive. Aged. Sounds perfect for Privada!

Blackbird Cigar Co. The Rio (Privada Cigar Club Exclusive) Gran Toro

Brand:: Blackbird Cigar Co.
Name:: The Rio (Privada Cigar Club Exclusive) Gran Toro
Length:: 6
Ring Gauge:: 54
Country of Origin:: Dominican Republic
Filler:: Dominican Republic
Nicaragua
Binder:: Brazil
Wrapper:: Brazil
Color:: Colorado Maduro
Strength:: Medium
Shape:: Toro
Average Member Purchase Price:: $10.35
Average Member Rating:: (2 Review(s))
Notes:: https://privadacigarclub.com/shop/black-bird-cigar-co-the-rio-restock/

This cigar was enjoyed with Water

Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible

Fairly firm stick, smooth, medium dark brown wrapper with some darker highlights, no flaws, a couple veins below the surface, fairly but unevenly oily, double cap. Faint hay/grass aroma (slightly sour at the foot). Slightly sour earth & hay taste. Crown cut. Easy, almost airy draw.

Lighting and Burn: 9 Points of 15 Possible

An easy light and draw. Plenty of smoke. Ash is very white and held about an inch and a half. An early and severe wave developed in the burn (and stayed despite my best efforts) which ultimately led to four (4) corrections (which may be a record for me). Burn time was 1:20.

Construction: 25 Points of 30 Possible

The wrapper and the cap held up splendidly for the duration of the cigar. There was no cracking, unraveling or other issues, and no re-lights were required. However, looking closely at the stick, it appeared that either the wrapper or the binder was thicker on one side than the other, contributing to the uneven burn.

Flavor and Aroma: 30 Points of 45 Possible

The starting flavors were leather, some earth, hay/wheat and a little black pepper. The retro is a bit creamy and peppery.

1/3: The flavor strength and body are medium. There is a faint bit of cereal sweetness in the finish which passes. Late in the 1/3 the pepper wanes some and an unpleasant astringent taste appears, eventually requiring purging.

2/3: The strength is medium and the body upper medium. The profile remains about the same, maybe a touch more earth. The astringent keeps trying to return and has to be dealt with. The finish is mostly leather, earth and hay with a bit of pepper.

3/3: The strength is medium and the body is upper medium. The hay/wheat note increases slightly in the profile and finish and the spice is low.

Summary

The burn issues of this cigar were a big detractor and required too much attention. The profile had no real transitions, the flavors were nothing exciting, and the astringent note (which finally disappeared in the last 1/3) was also a take-away. There was no sweetening of the cigar as often happens near the end. Overall, I would only give this 2 stars.