Mr. Red, Mr. Black, Mr. White; it sounds like part of the cast for the Reservoir Dogs, but in reality it is the core lines of Sinistro Cigars, a Glendale, CA based cigar company founded by James Agopian. The company has been in existence since 2015 and has been growing year over year.
Adding to their growing portfolio, the Sinistro Cigars released a full production line, known as the Last Cowboy, at last years IPCPR. The Last Cowboy comes in two different blends; Natural and Maduro. For today’s review I will be discussing the Last Cowboy Maduro which was recently gifted to me, by my good friend and Stogie Press associate, Alton Otto.
The Sinistro Last Cowboy Maduro blend is described as:
- Wrapper – U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
- Binder – Mexico (San Andrés)
- Filler – Dominican Republic (Piloto Cubano)
Hand rolled at the La Aurora cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, the Last Cowboy Maduro is available in six vitolas and comes packaged in 20-count boxes with the exception of the Salomon, which comes in 12-count boxes.
- Churchill (7 x 47) – MSRP $9.66
- Corona (5 1/2 x 42) – MSRP $8.17
- Petite Belicoso (5 x 52) – MSRP $8.33
- Salomon (6 1/2 x 50/60) – MSRP $19.00
- Scala (4 1/2 x 38/60) – MSRP $16.00
- Toro (6 x 54) – MSRP $10.29
For this review I sampled the Sinistro Last Cowboy Toro.
Pre-Light Examination
The Sinistro Last Cowboy Maduro is, and I mean this is a good way, an ugly funky looking cigar. I love how the company did not try to hide, die, or steam out, the natural look of the dark brown, gritty, bumpy, blotchy, and veiny broadleaf wrapper. The head is finished with a simple cap. To make it even more interesting the cigar foot is wrapped with a small amount of candela leaf giving it a closed foot. It may not win a beauty contest, but then again, Sinistro Cigars founder, James Agopian, knows what he is doing and understands that veins produce nutrients and nutrients equal flavor.
There is a single black and white band that adorns the Last Cowboy. It has an image of a scruffy, gun toting cowboy, centered in the die cut band along with the the phrase “LAST COWBOY by Sinistro” printed on the bottom.
Running the Last Cowboy along the nasals, I was treated to a sweet fermented leaf aroma along the barrel and with a closed candela foot I detected a hint of sweetness off the foot.
I sliced the cap with my double blade Xikar cutter to give it is a smooth straight cut and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs. The draw was snug, as you would expect with the closed foot, and it delivered a light but growing peppery spice as I rolled it about.
Well folks, this cowboy has met his last stand, as I prepare to burn it to ash! I used a triple flame torch to warm the foot and take in the first puffs of earthy smoke. Follow along as I take the Last Cowboy to an ashy grave.
Cigar Review Notes
- Earthy start
- Settles into a baking spice and cocoa delight
- Thick creamy smoke
- Light grey ash rests on a jagged medium char line
- Rather unique notes coming in after an inch of burn
- Full smoke volume and excellent draw
- The jagged burn continues
- Dry leather notes enter along with a sweet toasted nut aroma
- Ash falls after a good burn displaying a decently centered burn cone
- Natural sweetness begins to grow moving into the second third
- Dryness picks up – definitely a growing tannin component
- Aroma shifts to a cocoa note
- Off burn developed midway which required a touch up
- Dry fruit and light spice take control of the profile
- Starts to burn hot to the touch
- Butter cracker notes end of second third
- Flavors start to mute down in the final third and then a spice note spikes in the final few puffs
- Medium to Full in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 50 minutes
Overall, I found the Last Cowboy Maduro by Sinistro to be a flavorful and aromatic smoking experience. I enjoyed how the flavors evolved keeping my interest from foot to nub. There was a off burn that developed and required a touch up, which was the only time it need to be hit with the flame after the initial lighting. You may want to consider a fiver to add to your rotation. I rate this a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Jagged Burn; (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Needed Touch Up; (-2) Burned hot to the touch
