It was back in 2013 at the DC Tweetup I first met Skip Martin, and he was pimping a prototype cigar called Black Irish. It was a dark cigar with a thin candela stripe around it, that I bidded on for charity. Myself and another person kept raising the price, until we decided to split the box. However, my friendship with Skip Martin goes back at least a few years before that.
It’s not often we watch a new rock star develop in the cigar industry but it is safe to say that Skip has reached that status. Pretty good for a guy who started in retail before moving on to role of manufacturer. His original cigars had no bands, and they were oilier then an Exxon Valdez fuel leak. He eventually succumbed to pressure to band them, and today we smoke a vitola from the very first line he released, CroMagnon.
Cigar: CroMagnon
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5.75
Ring Gauge: 46
Size: Anthropology (Grand Corona)
The Look: Packaged in a wooden box of 24 cigars, the CroMagnon features a skull branded into the box. Inside the cigars are laid out in 4 rows of 6 cigars. The band features the word cromagnon that is embossed and possibly using spot uv coating on a matte black band. That primary band is laid over an ivory band that features hieroglyphics. The dark cigar has a nice amount of oils, brindle coloring, and some tooth on the wrapper with a well packed foot.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Anthropology size has a citrus like component to it, with a touch of cinnamon as well. The nose off the foot of the cigar provides a little graham cracker element to it as well. Once we light up the cigar the initial note is reminscent of a dry rub that you will use at a barbecue.
As we work our way into the first third, there are notes of earth and leather that dominante with some subtle lemon zest. The spice from when we first lit up is only showing up on the retrohale which works for me as the complexity of this size really shines on the palate as a subtle caramel note appears just before the first third is over.
As we enjoy the second third the caramel note becomes the focal point as leather and earth move to the background. The lemon zest note has been replaced by a dried fruit component. The retrohale of the cigar is incredibly smooth with hints of vanilla appearing as the cigar as a nice coffee note finish.
The dried fruit note is a bit more dominant in the last third as the cigar sees some continued vanilla notes. As we pass the band the coffee component of the cigar becomes the focal point with a wonderfully sweet retrohale.
The Finish: Wow. The CroMagnon is a strong cigar, but in this vitola the strength takes a backseat and the complexity really shines. It might be the best blended regular release from Skip Martin and Mike Rosales and is hands down my favorite cigar in the line. Definitely box worthy, and an excellent cigar.
Score: 94
Price: $8.69 / $183.99
CroMagnon Anthropology
CroMagnon Anthropology Burn
