Cigar Review: Blackbird Cigars Rook Colorado – Gran Toro – Rated 94

Last week I reviewed the Blackbird Unkind Cubra. Today I offer a review of another blend in the Blackbird Cigar Co. line-up – the Rook. For those that may not know, a rook is a bird that has black feathers that often show a blue or bluish-purple sheen in bright sunlight. The bird is part of the crow family and is resident in the British Isles and much of  northern and central Europe.

As for the cigar, the Blackbird Rook has a blend described as:

• Wrapper – Sumatra
• Binder – Habano
• Filler – Dominican and Nicaraguan

While the bird comes in one size, about 19 inches, the Blackbird Cigar Co. Rook is expressed in two sizes each packaged in a flock of 21-count boxes.

• Gran Toro (6 x 54) MSRP $9.52
• Robusto (5 x 50) MSRP $7.52

For this review I sampled the Blackbird Rook Gran Toro which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.

Pre-Light Examination

The Blackbird Cigar Co. Rook has the making of a well constructed cigar with its smooth, medium brown wrapper that has a Colorado reddish hue. The Rook has dense packing, minimal veins, a nice weight in the hand, and is finished with a well applied triple cap.

Like all Blackbird Cigars, the Rook has a single large band that brands the cigar. This time it is uses a black and blue motif, which gives credence to the color of the rook feathers, and boldly displays the name “Rook” along with “Colorado” in a smaller font. The company name is printed in silver on a black background on the other side along with the Blackbird logo.

Giving the Rook the old sniff test, I picked up a mild spice aroma along the barrel and a very slight butter cracker note off the foot. Using my trusty Cigarmedics HumidiMeter I stabbed the foot and got a perfect 67% reading.

I used my double blade cutter to slice the cap right along the shoulder of the cigar and took in some cold draw puffs that I would describe as a tad tight. The draw offered notes of growing pepper on the palate and lips along with a merging sweetness and a notable earthiness.

With the pre-light exam out of the way and pleasing, it was time to set the flame to this bird and see how it flies. I used a double flame torch to warm the foot and drew in the first puffs of mildly peppered smoke. Hang tight as I roast this bird and turn it to ash.

Cigar Review Notes

• Initial light offered a mild peppery note to get things started
• Light grey ash started to form on a medium char line
• Cream and coffee notes enter, making me think this would pair well with a morning cafe latte
• The draw is perfect
• The smoke quickly becomes very smooth
• Ash fell in a nice chunk with an excellent burn cone
• Mild spice notes begin to form
• Dry fruit notes join well with the spice
• Coffee swirls back in
• Fruit and nut aroma fills the nostrils
• Slight off burn developed
• Cream re-enters in the final
• Medium in Strength
• Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes

Overall, the Blackbird Cigar Co. Rook Gran Toro was an excellent, medium body cigar, with fine burn qualities, intriguing flavors, and enticing aroma. This medium strength cigar is one I could easily enjoy to start my morning along with a cafe latte. Other than the slight off burn in the final third, the journey was pleasant from foot to nub. This is one I suggest picking up a flock of. I rate this a solid 94.

Point Deductions: (-1) Slight Off Burn in final third

Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box