Cigar Geeks - Black Label Trading Company Orthodox Corona Gorda

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Black Label Trading Company Orthodox Corona Gorda
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: McBryde

95
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member ntanner (Neal). The cigar provided for this round is the Black Label Trading Company Orthodox Corona Gorda.

The Black Label Orthodox Corona Gorda is a Limited Edition and only 900 boxes of this size were released to retailers at this years PCA trade show. The Orthodox cigar showcases a dark Mexican San Andrés wrapper, an Ecuadorian Habano binder, and all-Nicaraguan fillers. "Orthodox is really about Black Label getting back to its roots," said James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Co., in a press release. "We've done a lot over the last 10 years but at our core we are about highlighting the strength & intensity of Nicaraguan tobacco. That's what I went for with the Orthodox. It's extremely bold with spice throughout the palate and nose. Its intensity is balanced by its flavors. This cigar is bold but very balanced and extremely complex."

Black Label Trading Company Orthodox Corona Gorda

Brand:: Black Label Trading Company
Name:: Orthodox Corona Gorda
Length:: 5
Ring Gauge:: 46
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Nicaragua
Binder:: Ecuador
Habano
Wrapper:: Mexico
Color:: Maduro
Strength:: Full
Shape:: Corona Extra
Notes:: https://halfwheel.com/black-label-trading-co-s-orthodox-heading-to-pca-2024/436520/

This cigar was enjoyed with Sweet Tea

Pre-Light: 10 Points of 10 Possible

The cigar was a nice looking cigar with a dark toothy wrapper. It only had a few small veins in the wrapper. It cut easily, with a straight cutter. It was not overly hard or soft in the hand, seemed to be packed just right. The pre-light aroma of the cigar has a scent that was almost like a sweet smelling flower mixed with tobacco.

Lighting and Burn: 15 Points of 15 Possible

The cigar lit up nicely, and leveled off to a razor sharp burn line quickly that ran the entirety of the cigar. The ash was a medium grey in color, that held on for almost half the cigar. No re-lights were needed, and the smoke volume was plentiful with a nice white velvety smoke.

Construction: 30 Points of 30 Possible

The construction of the cap was good. The twisted long cap was a nice addition to the cigar for the looks. The wrapper was a nice toothy looking wrapper with only a few small veins. The draw was not too tight, nor too loose. It was a very nicely constructed cigar, proven by the ash holding on for almost half the cigar before it fell off.

Flavor and Aroma: 40 Points of 45 Possible

The strength of the cigar I would definitely call full strength full body!

Pre-light: Smelling of the outside of the cigar pre-light was the aroma of sweet flowers mixed with tobacco. The pre-light draw was a shocking difference that had the taste of leather and a really rich dirt. It was a strange switch!

The first third: It started off somewhat caramelly then a big kick of white pepper that persisted almost throughout the first 1/3 of the cigar. I got leather and cherry in there, but most of all just spice.

The second third: The second third was a different ballgame. the cigar dropped the spice in an instant, and started producing flavors of dark chocolate, a hint of cherry, raisin, leather, and a deep rich tobacco, all while producing a velvety smoke with lots of volume.

The last third: in the last third, the cigar mellowed out on the flavors, and settled into a rich tobacco flavor with some leather mixed in there. Not a lot of sweet hints this third like the previous one.

The complexity of the 2nd third was a nice change from the first third of mostly pepper, and the last third of more of a mellowed out smoke. There was no harsh taste to the cigar, no bad aftertaste, or anything off putting.

The only thing that I could knock the cigar for is that even an hour after smoking the cigar now, I still have a slight burning on the tongue. That could of been from me nubbing it though and it getting a little hot at the end.

Summary

I really enjoyed this cigar. The full strength and full body is definitely in my wheelhouse, but this one had some complexity in flavor profile changes to it as well as a great construction. If you can find them, being limited production, I would recommend picking up a few!