This weekend we finalized an event at my job where Terence Reilly will be on hand April 25th to do a blending seminar featuring Aganorsa tobacco. The day will start with him as a guest on The Ash Holes, a podcast that is part of the United Podcast Network. The show airs every Wednesday at 4pm. So in honor of that event, today I fire up the Campeon size of Guardian of the Farm
Cigar Review: Guardian of the Farm
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo ’99 (Jalapa)
Binder: Nicaragua Corojo ’99
Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 and Nicaraguan Corojo ’99
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 44
Size: Campeon (109)
The Look: The Guardian of the Farm Apollo is packaged in cabinet style boxes of 20. The Campeon which appears to use the same mold as a 109 is often referred to as a belicoso. The cigar has some thin veins and is rolled to perfection with a closed foot. The black and gold band denotes the brand name.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Campeon has an abundance of cedar with a subtle nuttiness in the background. Meanwhile the aroma from the closed foot has a subtle cinnamon to it. As we torch the closed foot cigar the first note is there is cedar that quickly is joined by a gingerbread sweetness.
As we smoke the first third, the gingerbread sweetness remains especially on the finish. Also in the mix is some subtle pepper notes and cashews. The retrohale adds some more pepper, but there is a hint of sweetness as well. The cigar has a moderate to long finish at this point in time.
Moving on to the second third, the Guardian of the Farm Campeon continues to show its strength and flavor. There are notes of cedar, and nuts, and a peppery finish that lingers especially with the retrohale that has a touch of cinnamon. The retrohale adds a nice sweetness to the finish and complexity.
The final third of the Guardian of the Farm Lonsdale sees cedar and pepper become the focal point. There is still a touch of nuttiness on the finish of the cigar that sees the pepper notes intensify on the finish.
The Finish: I am convinced the Campeon is the big dog of the farm. It feels stronger than the other sizes and its bite is as fierce as its bark. While the Rambo remains my favorite size, when I want something that steps things up, this is the size I reach for. If you tried the cigar before, and want more pepper and Aganorsa goodness I suggest giving this size a walk.
Score: 91
Price: $8.89 / $196.99
Guardian of the Farm Campeon
Guardian of the Farm Foot
Guardian of the Farm Campeon Burn
