Cigar Review | Barabbas

The inspiration for Barabbas comes from the story of a man who faced death several times throughout his tumultuous life. Most people know this cigar’s namesake from his affiliation with Jesus of Nazareth. It was Barabbas, known for a life of crime, who was freed by Pontius Pilate, which ultimately led to the crucifixion of Jesus. What is not widely known, however, is the personal transformation he experienced as a result. Witnessing the impact of the death of Jesus on his followers, Barabbas eventually gave his life so that a disciple of Jesus could be spared.

The dichotomy between the two historical figures was the basis for creating the Barabbas cigar. The vision was for it to evolve into the most exclusive brand on the market, only to be purveyed in 33 locations nationally. The number 33 is certainly not arbitrary, as it represents the age of Jesus of Nazareth when Barabbas was spared and he met his death. The cigar is distributed in wheels of 33 as another homage to historical event.

Cigar: Barabbas
Size: 5.5 x 54
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Not Disclosed
Filler: Not Disclosed
Strength: Medium

The Look:  The Barabbas from Cuba Rica features a dark Habano wrapper that has a nice amount of visible oils with some thin veins to it. The tobacco used int he binder and filler is secret to the company and not disclosed. The cigar features an old testament inspired band that depicts Barabbas. In the hand the cigar feels light but firm with no soft spots and a well packed foot.

The Notes: The cold draw of the cigar has a nice black cherry note to it with hints of nutmeg and cloves. The foot of the cigar has a wonderful cedar like aroma with some continued nutmeg and a slight pepper. Once the cigar is lit there is a nice cedar note and some cashews present in the background.

The first third of the Barabbas is very nutty with strong notes of cashews and some earth the slowly building into a mouth-watering smoke with some hints of licorice slowly developing as we delve further into the cigar.

The second third of the cigar the Barabbas from Cuba Rica continues to deliver an incredibly smooth and complex experience. There are notes of licorice that remain with some wood and nuts making up the core notes.

The last third of the cigar brings me sadness as I know that this great experience is coming to a close. The notes of the cigar continue to tantalize the palate with subtle licorice over cashew nuts and a coffee finish with a little bit of earth. Complex and smooth to the last puff.

The Burn: The burn of the Barabbas is as iconic as the cigar itself with a perfect draw and the slightest bit of resistance on each and every pull. The ash was firm with a medium to dark gray ash holding solid for a third at a time. The cigar did need one re-light due to user neglect and I smoked the Barabbas from Cuba Rica until I could no longer hold it.

The Finish: The interesting thing about Barabbas is the story behind it as it revealed a story that many people aren’t aware of and it stirs one of the most dangerous conversations to have at a cigar lounge, religion. However, the cigar itself is the real story as it is one of the better cigars I have smoked this year. Limited to only 33 shops across the nation, Two Guys Smoke Shop is one of the exclusive shops to carry this cigar both in-store and online. Smooth and complex, the cigar is simply summed up in one word.. Biblical.

Score: 94
Price: 19.99