Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch)

Don Fernando · 11-04-2009, 08:17 AM

Some time ago, Camacho cigars made a viral advertising campaign called ‘the black band project’ that was supposed to take care of all the prejudice there is about Cuban cigars versus Non Cuban cigars. Everybody, well, almost everybody as the demand was bigger than Camacho expected and there were problems with the shipping, that signed up and watched the video’s got 3 cigars for free.

The three cigars are packed in a nice cardboard box and have “specially selected and hand rolled for Mr.X” on the band, to stay in the style of the viral. You can see the difference kinds of wrappers used and the bands mention an A, B or C and on the website you can check which one is which. The A turns out to be a Connecticut, in a 5 x 50 robusto size called the Monarcha.

The Camacho Connecticut is made with a Connecticut wrapper from Ecuador, Honduran binder and filler from Honduras and the Dominican Republic. The wrapper is nice, light brown colored with a silky feel to it. The construction doesn’t feel good, I can feel a lot of soft spots, a sign that this cigar is under filled. Because of that I decided to punch instead of cut, and the predraw confirms my feelings, the draw is way too light and leaves me with a mix of spices and a bit of chocolate. The cigar has a strong hay aroma.

After lighting that hay flavor that I got in the predraw is the dominant flavor with mild chocolate as support. The cigar is mild spicy and slowly some spices become noticeable. Halfway into the cigar the hay is gone and all I can taste is a creamy flavor of spices and at the end that flavor is supported by some nuts.

The cigar started with a crooked burn but after a correction it was just fine. The ash is firm and medium gray, and as you can see from picture 3, the cigar produces a lot of smoke. Unfortunately, due to the bad construction of the cigar, the draw was way too light. The strength of the flavors are medium to full, and the strength of the cigars is medium.

Would I buy this cigar again? No, although I liked the flavors

Appearance: 7 / 10
Construction: 5 / 10
Draw: 5 / 10
Smoke & ash: 7 / 10
Burn: 7 / 10
Aroma (first part) 7 / 10
Aroma (middle part) 7 / 10
Aroma (last part) 7 / 10

11-04-2009, 08:21 AM

Nice review, I had cigar B a few days ago which was pretty good, cigar A might not be my taste due to the wrapper, but we will see, it was free after all.
Good review, thanks!

elderboy02 · 11-04-2009, 08:23 AM

Thanks for the review Ferdinand!

Emjaysmash · 11-04-2009, 08:41 AM

Thanks Ferdie! This was one of the cigars I PIFed along, so I never had the opportunity to try it.

elderboy02 · 05-14-2010, 07:46 AM

I smoked this today on the way to work. I enjoyed the first half inch and then tossed it.

kelmac07 · 05-14-2010, 07:54 AM

Thanks for sharing. By the time I had signed up to receive these...they were all gone.

Curious about stick C!!

OHRD · 05-14-2010, 08:00 AM

I really enjoyed the A, but I haven't had the B or C. Thanks Ferdie...

MedicCook · 05-14-2010, 08:07 AM

Thanks for the review Ferdie.

Don Fernando · 05-14-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelmac07

Thanks for sharing. By the time I had signed up to receive these...they were all gone.

Curious about stick C!!

You can find the review of the B here and the C here or on my blog.

BlackIrish · 05-24-2010, 07:12 AM

Thanks, Ferdie. I got these a year ago or so and smoked the first one, the A, yesterday. Your experience is very similar to mine, except mine had no construction problems whatsoever: clipped perfectly, burned *very* straight, and drew fine, if slightly easy. The flavors, as you note, were quite nice -- some mild spices on top of creamy chocolate and nuts. I was pleasantly surprised, because I'd had a Camacho Connecticut a few months ago and wasn't that impressed with it. Perhaps the smaller vitola is better? perhaps the year in my humi allowed it to improve?

11-04-2009, 08:17 AM	#1
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,064 Trading: (29)	Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch) Some time ago, Camacho cigars made a viral advertising campaign called ‘the black band project’ that was supposed to take care of all the prejudice there is about Cuban cigars versus Non Cuban cigars. Everybody, well, almost everybody as the demand was bigger than Camacho expected and there were problems with the shipping, that signed up and watched the video’s got 3 cigars for free. The three cigars are packed in a nice cardboard box and have “specially selected and hand rolled for Mr.X” on the band, to stay in the style of the viral. You can see the difference kinds of wrappers used and the bands mention an A, B or C and on the website you can check which one is which. The A turns out to be a Connecticut, in a 5 x 50 robusto size called the Monarcha. The Camacho Connecticut is made with a Connecticut wrapper from Ecuador, Honduran binder and filler from Honduras and the Dominican Republic. The wrapper is nice, light brown colored with a silky feel to it. The construction doesn’t feel good, I can feel a lot of soft spots, a sign that this cigar is under filled. Because of that I decided to punch instead of cut, and the predraw confirms my feelings, the draw is way too light and leaves me with a mix of spices and a bit of chocolate. The cigar has a strong hay aroma. After lighting that hay flavor that I got in the predraw is the dominant flavor with mild chocolate as support. The cigar is mild spicy and slowly some spices become noticeable. Halfway into the cigar the hay is gone and all I can taste is a creamy flavor of spices and at the end that flavor is supported by some nuts. The cigar started with a crooked burn but after a correction it was just fine. The ash is firm and medium gray, and as you can see from picture 3, the cigar produces a lot of smoke. Unfortunately, due to the bad construction of the cigar, the draw was way too light. The strength of the flavors are medium to full, and the strength of the cigars is medium. Would I buy this cigar again? No, although I liked the flavors Appearance: 7 / 10 Construction: 5 / 10 Draw: 5 / 10 Smoke & ash: 7 / 10 Burn: 7 / 10 Aroma (first part) 7 / 10 Aroma (middle part) 7 / 10 Aroma (last part) 7 / 10 __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

11-04-2009, 08:21 AM	#2
SmokeyNL Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch) Nice review, I had cigar B a few days ago which was pretty good, cigar A might not be my taste due to the wrapper, but we will see, it was free after all. Good review, thanks!

11-04-2009, 08:23 AM	#3
elderboy02 Lets Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12,496 Trading: (133)	Re: Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch) Thanks for the review Ferdinand!

11-04-2009, 08:41 AM	#4
Emjaysmash The Hebrew Hammer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: M.J. Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 7,025 Trading: (76)	Re: Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch) Thanks Ferdie! This was one of the cigars I PIFed along, so I never had the opportunity to try it. __________________

05-14-2010, 07:46 AM	#5
elderboy02 Lets Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12,496 Trading: (133)	Re: Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch) I smoked this today on the way to work. I enjoyed the first half inch and then tossed it.

05-14-2010, 07:54 AM	#6
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch) Thanks for sharing. By the time I had signed up to receive these...they were all gone. Curious about stick C!! __________________ Dom in the MLB thread "I could probably get you to wear a Yankee hat for a Maduro!"

05-14-2010, 08:00 AM	#7
OHRD Garage w/ couch & ashtray Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Matt Posts: 1,377 Trading: (39)	Re: Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch) I really enjoyed the A, but I haven't had the B or C. Thanks Ferdie... __________________ Did I tell you my garage has a couch and an ashtray? My wife doesn't let me sleep or smoke inside.

05-14-2010, 08:07 AM	#8
MedicCook Mila smoked my cigar Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ryan Location: Schaghticoke, NY Posts: 10,946 Trading: (7)	Re: Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch) Thanks for the review Ferdie. __________________ 27 World Series Championship's "If your wife doesn't like the aroma of your cigar, change your wife.", Zino Davidoff

05-24-2010, 07:12 AM	#10
BlackIrish MassHole Militia Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Eddie Location: Bunker Hill Posts: 1,395 Trading: (55)	Re: Camacho black band A (connecticut monarch) Thanks, Ferdie. I got these a year ago or so and smoked the first one, the A, yesterday. Your experience is very similar to mine, except mine had no construction problems whatsoever: clipped perfectly, burned very straight, and drew fine, if slightly easy. The flavors, as you note, were quite nice -- some mild spices on top of creamy chocolate and nuts. I was pleasantly surprised, because I'd had a Camacho Connecticut a few months ago and wasn't that impressed with it. Perhaps the smaller vitola is better? perhaps the year in my humi allowed it to improve? __________________