My first taste of the Cromagnon Fomorian was at the DC Tweetup, when then was a box of them up for bid at a silent auction to benefit charity. As it turns out me and the owner of a retail shop were bidding against each other and we decided on a bid where we would split the box. It was at this point that I deemed the Cromagnon the best candela I have ever smoked back in 2014.
Today we look at the 2016 Edition and ask this question, is it still the best ever?
Cigar Review: RoMa Craft CroMagnon Fomorian
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabricas de Nica Sueño
Wrapper: Candela
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 56
Vitola: Robusto Extra (EMH)
Strength: Medium
The Look: Packaged in 24 count cabinet style boxes the CroMagnon Fomorian EMH is green. The candela wrapper that adorns the cigar is flawless. It’s oily with minimal veins, and a little bit of tooth. It’s probably the best looking candela cigar on the market today. The cigar has no soft spots and the foot of brown tobacco provides a nice contrast.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Cromagnon is sweet and savory with some subtle cedar and walnust present as well once you get past the sweetness. Those nose of the cigar has a slight hint of vanilla and cedar with a wonderful tobacco aroma. Based on the pre-light ritual this does not seem like the typical candela cigar.
Once the cigar is lit there is a subtle licorice like note, almost like eating a red and black piece at the same time. There is a slight pepper note that really shines on the retrohale with elements of crushed red pepper. Working our way deep into the first third of the cigar it becomes creamy with a little bit of earth in the background.
In the second third of the candela some notes of espresso begin to develop and the aroma has a slight cinnamon like quality to it. The finish is creamy with a hint of nuts. On the retrohale some of the cinnamon on the aroma works its way into the flavor profile as well.
The last third of the EMH Fomorian develops some notes of hay and it is perhaps the first indication that this is a candela wrapper, but if you blindfolded me I would never guess that to be the case. The cigar concludes with notes of espresso and walnuts with a moderate finish. The cinnamon remains on the retrohale with some crushed red pepper.
The Burn: As expected the combustion line is fairly thick on the Candela wrapped Fomorian. Why is it expected you may ask, well the more age to a wrapper, the thinner the combustion line and since a candela is not aged, the “soot” line is going to be darker and wider. The burn however is perfect and the thick white ash holds for more than a third at a time. As for the draw, perfection and the cigar never needed a relight or a touch up in the nearly 2 hours I smoked it.
The Finish: Over the last few years Candela cigars have become synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day so when these shipped in April it was a bit of head scratcher. However, once you smoke the RoMa Craft Fomorian it is easy to see this isn’t a gimmick cigar. It’s a cigar that has a myriad of notes and a complexity that can only can from Skip Martin and Mike Rosales. Nica Sueño is becoming one of the hottest cigar factories around. So the question is, does this still count as the best Candela on the market? My opinion is yes, and it seems even better this year then in those past.
Score: 92
Price: $7.99 / $169.99 (Box of 24)
CroMagnon Fomorian
CroMagnon Fomorian Foot
CroMagnon Fomorian Burn
