Earlier this year, Blanco Cigars introduced the first of a four part series of cigars known as Above & Beyond®. The HEROES line is a tribute to those that have sacrificed and paid the ultimate price in Civil Service (Police, Fire, EMS) and the Armed Forces. It is also the long-awaited re-branded blend that was used for the American Legion cigar.
All the HEROES sizes are box-pressed torpedoes. Blanco Cigars did this so that the secondary band, on the head of the cigar, could be cone-shaped, to symbolize the folded U.S. flag that all Heroes families are presented at the time they are laid to rest.
Blanco Cigars notes that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to identified organizations that assist families of the fallen and surviving service members.
The blend of the Above & Beyond® HEROES is described as:
- Wrapper: Nicaragua, Habano Rosado
- Binder: Honduras
- Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
The Above & Beyond® HEROES is expressed in four different torpedoes and come packaged in 21-count boxes; emblematic of the 21 gun salute that all Heroes are honored with, at their burial or memorial:
- Willing (5 x 54) – MSRP $8.49
- Unwilling (6 x 54) – MSRP $8.99
- Classic (7 x 54) – MSRP $9.49
- Epic (6 x 60) – MSRP $9.99
For this review, I sampled a Blanco Cigars Above & Beyond® HEROES Unwilling vitola, that I received from Blanco Cigars for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Blanco Cigars – Above & Beyond® HEROES Unwilling – is a silky smooth and well formed, box pressed torpedo. It showcases a medium brown wrapper with a light red tinge. There are no discernible veins or seams along the barrel and the head is finished with an expertly applied torpedo point. The cigar feels solid to the touch and seems to be well packed.
The Above & Beyond® HEROES is adorned with a large single band along with what I would describe as, a first in the industry, torpedo cap cover. The primary band is beautifully artistic, with a silver American flag in the center and the name “ABOVE AND BEYOND” printed below. Just next to the flag, is the name “BLANCO” using the colors red, blue, and gold. The back of the band identifies the symbols for Firefighters, Police, and Military along with the company’s website.
Closer examination of the black background of the band shows the Military Oath of Enlistment. As noted, the cap cover symbolizes the folded U.S. flag that all Heroes families are presented at the time they are laid to rest.
The band was designed by Immerse Marketing, LLC; a graphics arts, website, and social media company that has provided services to a number of cigar industry companies over the years.
As I ran the Above & Beyond® HEROES across the nose, I picked up a mildly pungent, fermented leaf note along the barrel and as you bring the foot to the nose, you will pick up a bit more of those pungent aromas.
I used my double blade Xikar cutter to slice the cap, about a 1/4 inch down from the tip, in preparation for a few cold draw puffs. Bringing the tip to the lips, I was greeted with a peppery note that grew even more as I cold puffed. The draw was pleasantly restricted.
It was time to fire this one up and burn it to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- First light offered a slightly harsh note to start the journey
- Harshness pulls back and a medium pepper note warms the nasals
- Coffee notes grace the palate with a light cedar finish
- White ash evolves on a wavy burn
- Herbal notes complete the early profile
- Ash fell in decent chunk revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Floral fruit aroma is wafting off the foot
- Flaky Ash
- Increased coffee notes with a light sea salt on the lips
- Dry fruit nuance adds to the profile midway
- Spice notes enter and begin to take control of the profile
- Off burn develops deep in the second third
- Spice and dry fruit maintains down to the final
- Medium to full in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 45 minutes
Overall, the Blanco Cigars Above & Beyond® HEROES “Unwilling” was a medium to full strength, flavorful cigar, that started with some harsh notes off the first puffs and quickly settled in and gave way to a nasal awaking pepper burn followed with evolving and pleasant flavor transitions through the rest of the journey. There was a wavy burn to start and deep in the second third an off burn developed but never needed a touch up. I would say this is worth picking up a fiver for the flavor and strength. I rate this an 89.
Point Deductions: (-1) Harsh Start; (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Off Burn Deep in the Second Third; (-1) Flaky Ash
