Most of the time, when things don’t go according to the plan, all hell can break loose, money is lost, people are reprimanded, and sheer chaos can ensue. Then on those rare occasions when the stars align, the error turns into some good. That is the story of the Blackbird Cigar Company’s latest budget line of cigars – The Glitch.
As the story goes – one of the company’s new employees mislabeled two of the tobacco components for the blend. The mistake was not noticed until a number of the cigars were rolled. The cigars were then aged and when the company’s master blender, Papo El Caballo, returned after a trip in 2022, he smoked one of the new cigars and immediately realized it was not the blend he originally created. The company owners then tasted the cigar and looked at each other and said ‘this is a pretty good blend’. The company then decided to put it into full production in 2023 as a wallet friendly line adding something the company needed in their portfolio.
Jonás Santana, Blackbird’s co-founder stated:
“On behalf of the Blackbird Team, we are more than happy to announce this new product. For us, the feeling of a new creation is always a great motivation to keep growing in the cigar industry. This is an example of… listen to what the team has to say!! We can’t wait for you to enjoy this affordable but great cigar.”
The Glitch was launched at TPE in Las Vegas early this year with three blends, each expressed in Robusto and Toro vitolas. The blends are defined as Claro, Habano, and Oscuro.
The full blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder – Mexican
- Filler – Dominican Republic & USA
As noted, the Blackbird GLITCH Claro is expressed in 2 vitolas and come packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $6.10
- Toro (6 x 52) – MSRP $6.60
For this review I sampled one of the Blackbird GLITCH Claro robustos, which was sent to me Blackbird Cigar Co. Co-owner – Jonas Santana Sanchez for the purpose of revieing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Blackbird Cigar Co. Glitch Claro is draped in a golden tan wrapper that has some light marbling, minimal veins, and a few bumps along the barrel. The cigar is firmly bunched and rolled, and a well applied cap finishes the construction.
The cigar is adorned with a single band that uses a black, white and gold motif. The name “GLITCH” is printed in a bold, distressed white font. The bend claro is printed in gold below. Electronic circuit board lines are printed in gold on both sides. As an Electrical Engineer I can appreciate the band design.
Running the cigar across the nose I did not pick up much aroma along the barrel but there were sweet floral notes off the foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and gave it some cold draw puffs that I found to be spot on with restriction and offered notes of pepper and pungent barnyard.
I used my single fan flame Xikar lighter to warm the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs that treated the palate with tannic fruit and pepper notes. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- First puffs offer tannic dry fruit and pepper
- Dry leather develops quickly
- White ash forms on top of a jagged, medium thick, char line
- Buttery notes fill in the early profile
- Bitter cocoa powder adds to the profile end of the first third
- A grapefruit citrus notes build and becomes predominate flavor in the second third
- Ash fell in a large chunk revealing an off centered burn cone
- A mild nut nuance enters midway and pleasantly lingers on the palate
- Moving into the final third, the cigar begins to burn a tad hot on the palate
- Pepper returns along with cedar notes down to the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The Blackbird Cigar Co. Glitch Claro Robusto unfolds with a tapestry of tannic dry fruit and pepper. Swiftly, the texture evolves to a dry leather, adding depth to the flavor profile. As the experience progresses, a delightful interplay of buttery notes emerges, contributing to the early stages of the cigar’s character. Towards the conclusion of the first third, the introduction of bitter cocoa powder enriches the flavor spectrum. The second third sees the emergence of grapefruit citrus notes, gaining prominence and dominating the palate. Meanwhile, a mild nut nuance makes a graceful entrance, lingering pleasurably on the taste buds. Advancing into the final third, the return of pepper, accompanied by the subtle presence of cedar notes, brings the narrative full circle. This is one you should grab a fiver of. I rate this an 89.
Point Deductions: (-1) Jagged Burn; (-2) Burns hot on the palate in the final; (-1) Off-Centered Burn cone; (-1) Tannic to start
