Cigar Review: Ventura Cigars Archetype Mini Series Curses – Rated 91

Crystals, Curses, and Cloaks, it sounds like the plot of a Harry Potter book and so it should, because these are the names of the cigars in the newly released Archetype Fantasy Mini Series from Ventura Cigars. If you recall, the company released a number of Archetype cigars in 2017 and explained to us all,

“we were inspired by the work of psychologist Dr. Carl Jung and mythographer Joseph Campbell who defined ‘archetypes’ as the constantly repeating characters who occur in the dreams of all people and the myths of all cultures”

Now the company is taking us to the next chapter of the Archetype by introducing us the Archetype Fantasy Miniseries that continues the narrative of the hero’s journey.

According to the Ventura Cigars:

“…this three-cigar series unveils new details of the overarching story, a flavorful new tangent to be smoked and savored.

Crystals, Curses, and Cloaks, the cigars of the Archetype Fantasy Miniseries, have been custom-crafted and blended with rich, premium tobaccos at the acclaimed Oliva factory.”

Today I will take you on a journey of the Archetype Fantasy Miniseries Curses cigar which is a 5 x 50 Robusto packaged in 20-count, flip-top boxes.  The company describes the blend as:

• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
• Binder: Nicaragua Habano
• Filler: Nicaragua Habano

The MSRP is set at $9.00 USD.

Michael Giannini, General Manager at Ventura Cigar Company, and visionary behind the Archetype miniseries makes note about the Archetype Miniseries:

“We’re telling a story at Ventura Cigars, and although Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell would agree that there are similarities within any tale, it’s the particulars that set every story apart.

The Archetype miniseries reveals more details of the hero’s journey. Really of every smoker’s journey. We’re all heroes on our adventure through life, and we’ll all uncover different nuances, flavors, and essences from these cigars. And that uniqueness is the beauty of this release.”

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Pre-Light Examination

The original press release of the Archetype Mini Series showed the simple, warning clad, boxes with two-tone art work on the covers. What it did not show was the colorful design of the outer sleeve that may well catch the eye of a casual observer in the humidor.

Once it has caught your attention, you will notice how the sleeve slides off easily, inviting you to examine its broadleaf wrapper beauty, as it brings you under its spell. The wrapper is dark brown with small scattered blotches along the shaft. There is no attempt to hide its natural beauty. It as a few bumps here and there and is light on noticeable veins.

The Archetype Mini Series Curses has a simple cap and is solid to the touch with a decent weight (one of these days I think I will start weighing vitolas to how they stand up to each other). I think about that now and then, how about you?

Besides the outer sleeve there is also a single black band that is emblazoned with the golden Archetype logo and the word “CURSES” in white underneath.

The pre-light aroma further summons you to enjoy what awaits your palate, with a peppery fruit off the foot and mild fermented notes along its barrel.

Once the cap is removed the genie is let out, offering me a mix of pepper and sweetness through a nicely restricted draw. Like in a trance, I rolled it about savoring the pre-light notes. I resist the trance and warm the foot with the flame of my dual torch JetLine lighter taking in the first puffs of the Curses journey.

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Cigar Review Notes

• Curses !! There is an initial pepper burn to the nasal, opening them up for whats to come.
• Natural sweetness enters to help tone down the pepper
• A light grey ash evolves and thin char line
• Leather notes join the mix
• Creamy full volume of smoke fills the palate as the retro-hale become smoother
• The burn is even into an inch of ash
• Sweet, candy-like aroma wafts off the foot, putting me deeper in the trance
• Nicely formed burn with a sharp-pointed burn cone once the ash falls
• Toasted bread and coffee notes appear midway
• An exotic, unique, spice enters that I can not place
• Almond notes enter in the final third as the spice increases 
• Smoke gets a little hot in the final and the barrel is bit hot to the touch
• Medium Strength
• Total Smoking Time was just over 1 hour

Overall, the Archetype Mini Series Curses was a pretty decent smoke that I rate a 91. On the positive side, the flavors were enticing with some unique and exotic notes that kept me under its spell throughout the journey. It had a trouble free burn line and a well-formed ash. On the negative side, the burn cone had a sharp point to it once the solid ash fell, after about an inch and a half.  The final third got hot to the touch  and the smoke was getting hot so I needed to put it down otherwise this would have smoked for another 10 -15 minutes more. At a $9.00 price, I would say I might purchase another one if I saw it on the shelf.

Point Deductions: (-1) Sharp pointed burn cone; (-1) Burns hot to the touch in the final; (-2) Smoke is hot in final; (-1 point) Buy one again