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: The Other Brian (ninfiction)

86
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: 8 Points of 10 Possible

My particular example has a couple of decent sized veins running almost the entire length of the cigar. We'll see if that affect the burn at all.

Other than that, the cigar is milk chocolate in color, not too oily and not too dry. The prelight draw and aroma is light chocolate, cedar and the slightest hint of nuts.

Lighting and Burn: 15 Points of 15 Possible

The cigar smoked perfectly. Perfect draw, great smoke volume. The burn line was razor sharp, requiring no touch-ups or relights.

The ash was solid, not once dropping off in my lap. I knocked it off at about the 1 1/2 inch mark, probably could have kept it going.

Construction: 30 Points of 30 Possible

I used a V cut because the cigar is a decent ring gauge, this resulted in a near perfect draw.

No lumps or soft spots, overall solid feel to the cigar.

Overall the construction and performance of the cigar is perfect.

Flavor and Aroma: 33 Points of 45 Possible

The profile for this cigar doesn't really deviate from its main profile which consists of notes of cedar, nuts (maybe cashew) a lighter nut...hints of cocoa and raw tobacco, if that makes sense.

On the tongue there is a definite heat, not pepper specifically but similar. For most of the cigar it complimented the profile very well. The last third of the cigar it became the profile. It almost became overwhelming, drowning out any other flavors. The cigar lost me here, up until this it was a very good cigar.

Summary

I'm not sure if I've had anything else from Blackbird, after smoking this one I'm interested to give more a try if for nothing more than the construction being perfect and the first 2/3 were pretty tasty.

Thanks to Todd for including me in the review.