It’s starting to chill down up here in New Hampshire, so I was looking for something I could enjoy outside that wouldn’t take too much time. But I also wanted a cigar that was going to have the power I like. One of my favorites that fits both of those requirements is the CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger, a dark cigar that hails from Nicaragua made by Skip Martin and Michael Rosales of RoMa Craft.
What am I Smoking?
Cigar: RoMa Craft CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 4 Inches
Ring: 52
Power: 9 / 10
Packaging and Design
I’ve said it before. I love the packaging all RoMa Craft cigars come in. The wood they are made of is sturdy as hell and has a hefty feel to it. The wood is burned with images of skulls and show the size designations on the sides. They are sealed with cellophane that hugs each corner of the box and include humidification inside. These particular cigars are shipped out in 24 count boxes. There are two bands on the Knuckle Draggers, a larger white band under a smaller black band with the RoMa Craft logo on the back side.It’s tough to see, but the band does say “CroMagnon” in a raised font.
First Impressions
The look of the cigar itself is impressive. The construction looks great. The wrapper is so dark it’s almost black, and there is also a sheen of oil that can be seen when held in the sunlight. The foot is packed nice and tight and the cigar has an even feel to it. This feels like a sturdy smoke that can take a beating in a travel humidor. After I cut the caps with my foldable cigar scissors that came in the RoMa Craft Monolith pack, notes of molasses and rich tobacco were present in the prelight draw.
For my fellow cigar geeks, the aforementioned Monolith pack was limited to a production number of 500. There are a few left here, so grab one while you still can. It’s the ultimate all-in-one pack that includes 10 cigars, a cutter, lighter, bottle opener and sweet looking travel humidor by Xikar.
The Smoke
Right away, the cigar starts pumping out plenty of power and taste. Notes of leather and black pepper are the first things present, followed by a good amount of smoke. The burn is slightly wonky, but a quick touchup fixed that. The draw is spot on for what I enjoy as well.
Getting into the second third and the power is building even more. Huge notes of that same black pepper are setting in with a backbone of earth and slight hint of hickory smoke. The burn is staying mostly in line, albeit slightly wavy. Not a big deal though, as it is not adversely affecting the taste.
The final third is where everything comes together to surely qualify this as a hard hitting full bodied cigar. Those same notes of leather, black pepper and molasses are all still there, but at this point I can really feel it. The CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger isn’t a cigar for those who like mild cigars, this is something for people who enjoy a hard hitting kick to the palate.
Final Thoughts
I’m no stranger to these cigars, as they always stay in rotation in my humidor. This is short powerhouse of a smoke that offers a lot in a little package. These make for a great winter time cigar (or any time cigar) the will put chest hair on your chest hair. They come and go fast, so best you get a move on before they’re gone again.
Rating: 90
Price: $6.79 / $143.99 (Box of 24)
