Premium Cigars is definitely a business with a lot of family legacy. There are many family names known throughout the industry, and the love of fine tobacco passes down from father to son. In the case of the Ortez family, from father to daughter. Indiana Ortez is a daughter to Omar Ortez. Omar has been well known in the business for over 30 years, and Indiana Ortez is following in his footsteps. Although she has been active in the business for a few years, the new iteration on the PSyKo SEVEN line from Ventura Cigar Co. is her creation entirely. Here is Matt’s experience with the Robusto size of this cigar line.
In addition to the 5 x 50 Robusto reviewed here, the PSyKo SEVEN Nicaragua is also available in a 6 x 50 Toro and a 6 x 60 Gordo.
PSyKo SEVEN Nicaragua Robusto
MSRP: $8.49
Size: 5 x 50
Origin: Agrotabacos S.A. (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade (Nicaragua)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Prologue
The wrapper on this cigar is just a bit deeper in color than the shade wrapper grown in Ecuador. The surface is almost papery in texture, with little oil and little tooth. There is a smell of cedar on the wrapper and aromas of grass and brown sugar at the foot. The cold draw is also grassy and sweet with a little bit of a vanilla note.
Act I
Right from the first few puffs I get some black pepper spice and charred wood. That quickly mellows and converts to notes of roasted nuts and creamy coffee. There is also a sweetness on the retrohale mixed in with some black and red pepper spice. The sweetness almost reminds me of Cameroon tobacco, but I know that’s just a coincidence as this blend does not contain that varietal.
Act II
There’s a note of dark brown sugar and a little bit heavier cream note in the middle of the cigar. That mixes with more of the deep spice from earlier, along with that same note of roasted nuts. Now the retrohale has more of that spice, a little bit less of the sweetness, and a hint of an earthy sort of mineral sharpness in the back of the nose.
Act III
As the cigar reaches the conclusion, more of that sweetness comes in, with the same core flavors like nuts, cream, coffee, and spice. The mineral characteristics also come a little more into the foreground, but are not so harsh as to drown out the main flavor and aroma profile. The retrohale is now noticeably spicier now, with a good pinch of spice and more of that earthiness.
Epilogue
While I rarely bring up construction concerns, I have to with this review. I smoked at least 10 of these cigars and almost every one had some kind of construction issue that affected the overall performance. Some were too tightly rolled, some cracked apart, and some were so loosely packed that they burned hot. That being said, it is a solid blend with a nice mix of core flavors and aromas. It is really interesting to taste and smell the differences with shade wrapper grown in Nicaragua. You definitely get the main characteristics normally found in shade grown from Ecuador, but there is a uniqueness that almost leans in the direction of a Cameroon or Sumatra leaf. I think Indian Ortez has a bright future in this business, and you world be well served to pick up some of these cigars for yourself.
PSyKo SEVEN Nicaragua Robusto – How Bout That Cigar?
Rating: How Bout A 5er?
Overall Score: 88
PAD: +0.0 (What is PAD?)
Flavor Summary: Cream, Roasted Nuts, Coffee, Earth, Spice, Sweetness
Strength Assessment: Mild-Medium
Source: Cigars for this review were provided by Ventura Cigar Co.