Ventura Cigars launched the PYsKo Seven Maduro cigar four years ago and followed it up with a Connecticut variety the following year. Both of these cigars made the Stogie Press top cigar list in the year they were introduced. Now four years after the initial PYsKo Seven Maduro, Ventura Cigars launched their latest variety, the PSyKo Seven Nicaragua at this years Premium Cigar Association Trade Show after introducing it at TAA 2019.
As part of this latest launch, the company reached out to Indiana Ortez, a rising cigar industry star, and daughter of tobacco industry icon Omar Ortez. The result of this collaboration is a fresh, bold point of view from the younger Ortez.
In the press release earlier this year, Ventura Cigars noted:
Indiana spearheaded the project with her trademark enthusiasm and expertise, testing blend after blend to get exactly the essence she was looking for. The result is the bold and complex PSyKo SEVEN Nicaragua; offering rich, nuanced flavors that constantly evolves throughout the smoking experience. It’s a cigar that invites you to unleash the madness and experience of the spirit of Nicaragua.
The PSyKo SEVEN Nicaragua is a Nicaraguan puro that has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – 2007 Nicaragua Connecticut Shade desflorado
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Condega, Estelí and Jalapa
The PSyKo SEVEN Nicaragua is available in 3 vitolas and comes packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $8.49
- Toro (6 x 50) – MSRP $8.99
- Gordo (6 x 60) – MSRP $9.49
The PSyKo SEVEN Nicaragua is hand-rolled in the Ortez factory in Condega Nicaragua. The use of the 2007 vintage Desflorada wrapper is a nod to the stories of those working within the tobacco industry before Ortez.
For this review, I sampled the PSyKo SEVEN Nicaragua robusto.
Pre-Light Examination
The PSyKo SEVEN Nicaragua is a beautifully smooth and oily, medium tan cigar that is light on veins and finished with a well applied triple cap. The cigar is solid in the hand with no soft spots and seems to be well packed.
Like all PSyKo SEVEN cigars, the Nicaragua is covered with an outer band that resembles a doctors prescription. In this case it is prescribed and signed by Indiana Ortez. It is also noted that you should remove the sleeve before lighting. Once removed there is the standard band that adorns the cigar. It uses a copper color as the base background and declares it as the PSyKo Seven brand and boldly notes the it is the Nicaragua blend with white on a blue strip.
Running the cigar along the nose I picked up mild earthy and grass aromas along barrel along with some natural sweetness and barnyard notes off the foot.
I sliced the cap using my double blade Xikar cutter and took in some cold draw puffs that offered sweetness, fruit, and cinnamon spice through a draw that was spot on. I noted the spice grows as you puff more especially on the back of throat.
With the pre-light much t my liking, I warmed the foot with the soft flame of a Bic Lighter – hey don’t knock it, you don’t want to scorch the sensitive shade wrapper. The foot took the flame well and I was hit with spice notes especially on the retro-hale.
Cigar Review Notes
- Spice hits first especially on the retro-hale
- Full volume of smoke right of the first light
- Light grey ash with a medium char line
- Dry fruit notes fill in behind the spice
- Light hay/grass notes join the mix
- Delightful sweet and nutty aroma
- Caramel notes enter near the start of second third
- Amazingly clean finish
- Floral aroma developing
- Ash dropped in big chunk with a centered but flat burn cone
- Aroma shifts back to syrupy and hint of chocolate
- Slight wave in burn develops
- Sweet cafe latte notes enter midway
- Strength sits at medium
- Burns a little hot to the touch moving into the final
- Flavors blend into the final third with an added ouch of sweet earthy notes
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 15 minutes
Overall, I found the PSyKo Seven Nicaragua to be a fine addition to the PYsKo Seven line from Ventura Cigars. As much as I liked the original Maduro blend, I feel this is even better with a medium body and strength that any cigar enthusiast would enjoy from beginner to experienced. The flavors and aroma are well balanced and kept my interest throughout the journey. From a construction perspective, it held a decent ash that had a centered but flat burn cone when it fell. It did develop a bit of wave in the second third but never needed a touch up and it burned a bit hot moving into the final third. I would certainly recommend picking a fiver of these and enjoy them any time of the day. I rate this a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wave in Burn; (-2) Burns Hot to the touch in the final third; (-1) Flat Burn Cone
