At this year’s Premium Cigar Association trade show, Ventura cigars introduced the 3rd chapter of the Archetype cigar series. New release included the Dawn of Destiny and Sacred Scales, both of which were created in collaboration with cigar maker Ernesto Perez -Carrillo and Ventura Cigars General Manager Michael Giannini. It was noted in an earlier press release that both Ernesto and Michael were former employees of General Cigar Company, so it only made sense for the two masters to collaborate on a new project.
Michael noted in the press release:
“Ernesto Perez-Carrillo is one-of-a-kind,” Giannini said. “He and I go way back. It made sense for us to team up and begin this new chapter of Archetype.”
Today I’m going to talk about the Archetype Chapter 3 Dawn of Destiny robusto. This cigar as a blend that is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Nicaraguan
The Dawn of Destiny is expressed in 3 vitolas and are packaged in 20 count boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 50) MSRP $9.99
- Toro (6 x 52) MSRP $11.49
- Gordo (6 x 60) MSRP $12.99
Both Sacred Scales and Dawn of Destiny are hand crafted at Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. in the Dominican Republic.
For this review I sampled the Dawn of Destiny robusto which I received from Ventura Cigars at the Premium Cigar Association trade show this year.
Pre-light Examination
The Ventura Cigars, Archetype Dawn of Destiny is a coffee bean brown cigar Which has some noticeable veins and a decent weight in the hand. There are no soft spots along barrel and it is finished with a well applied triple cap.
There are 2 bands that adorn this cigar. The primary band uses a colorful orange, green, and black motif. The center of the band contains a yellowish orange moth. I’m not sure why Michael and his team chose a moth for the symbol of this cigar. The only thing I can think of, is that a moth is a transformation in the universe, starting as a larvae and emerging as a flying creature. It fits the magical sense of the hero that is the center of the archetype series. The secondary band is on the foot and contains the orange archetype logo centered on a black background.
Running the cigar across the nose I picked up a well fermented leaf aroma along the barrel and a sweet orange honey note off the foot.
I proceeded to remove the cap using a straight cut, with my double blade cutter. Taking in the first few puffs of the cold draw, which was nicely restricted, I was greeted with a growing black pepper and mild sweetness.
Using my double flame torch lighter I warmed the foot and drew in the first puffs of peppery smoke. Let’s see how the Dawn of Destiny transforms through its journey to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Touch of pepper on the initial light
- Medium grey ash rests on a wavy, medium thick, burn line
- Decent volume of smoke
- Vanilla bean aroma after an inch of burn
- Spiced butter cracker notes join the profile
- Burning a tad hot to the touch
- Aroma shifts to more of a spice note
- Orange honey notes brighten the profile and builds my interest
- Butter notes blend in the background
- Ash fell with slightly off centered burn cone
- Mild chocolate notes midway
- Natural tobacco sweetness keep it smooth and flavorful
- Honey notes still in the core
- Raisin nuances find their way in entering the final third
- Medium in strength
- Finished with a peppery spice
- Total Smoking Time was
Overall, I found the Ventura Cigars Archetype Chapter 3 – Dawn of Destiny robusto to be an interesting and complex cigar. The notes were rather unique, including such flavors as orange honey, vanilla bean, butter cracker, pepper, raisin, and chocolate. The cigar was decently constructed though it did have slight wavy burn and did burn a tad hot to the touch early in the journey. When the ash fell is revealed a slightly off centered burn cone. This is worth picking up a fiver and maybe let a few age. I rate this a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Medium Grey Ash (-2) Burned hot to the Touch; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone
Interestingly, there is a German heavy metal band called Dawn of Destiny.