After being off the grid for a few years, Eddie Tarazona re-emerged in 2019 with a renewed mission, a new partner, and some new offerings. One of those new offerings was the Caraballo828 Edición Limitada which is expressed in two vitolas:
- Silverback (5 x 50) MSRP $10.00
- Benjamins (6 x 52) MSRP $12.50
The Caraballo828 Edición Limitada has blend described as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andres
- Binder – Nicaragua -Jalapa
- Filler – Nicaragua – Condega & Jalapa
The Spanish work Caraballo translates into “Dark Skinned” in English, representing the dark wrapper on the cigar.
I received a box of the Caraballo828 Silverback Edición Limitadas for my 60th birthday last year and besides gifting a few to local friends, I smoked through at least five in preparing for this review.
Pre-Light Examination
The Tarazona Caraballo828 Silverback Edición Limitada is a medium-dark brown perfecto that has a long pointed cap and just a smidgen of an unfinished foot. The wrapper has a few veins running along the barrel along with a decent oily sheen. I found the wrapper to be rather smooth to the touch and the cigar was solid in the hand with an excellent looking construction.
The cigar is adorned with two bands, both of which use a silver and black motif. The primary band boldly declares the cigar as the 828, along with 4 arrows running thought the center. The secondary band identifies the particular vitola, in this case, the “Silverback Edición Limitada”.
From a pre-light aroma perspective, the cigar offered a light cedar aroma along the barrel and enticing cocoa powder notes off the foot.
I sliced the cap on a slight angle, about 1/4 inch down from the tip, and proceeded to give it some cold puffs. My palate was greeted with a light peppery sensation and a growing natural sweetness all delivered through a finely restricted draw.
With the pre-light examination out of the way and much to my liking, I reached for my double flame torch lighter to warm the foot and get the journey started. The first puffs offered a peppery burst that definitely opens the nasals. Follow along as I burn the Silverback to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial puffs offer a long pepper burst
- Light grey ash develops on top of a thin wavy char line
- Cocoa and malt enter as the pepper recedes
- Savory spice notes fill in the early profile
- Each puffs is producing a full volume of thick flavorful smoke (smoke ring texture)
- Cedar notes join the profile after an inch of solid burn
- Slight off burn entering the second third
- Well formed solid ash is still holding strong
- Citrus brightens the profile midway
- Sweet nut aroma wafts off the foot
- Mostly savory notes at this point
- The long solid ash finally fell displaying a picture perfect burn cone
- Sour notes enter deep in second third and the flavor is a tad astringent
- Aroma shifts to more of a black licorice note
- The journey finishes with spice and a dark chocolate nuance down at the nub
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 Minutes
Summary
Overall, the Tarazona Caraballo828 Silverback Edición Limitada was certainly a welcome addition to the Tarazona line up. It offered delectable flavors and mostly smooth transitions along with a solid burn and a terrifically long ash that fell just once. The smoke was full and flavorful. It did have a slight off burn midway but never needed to be touched up. There was also a slight set of sour and astringent notes that appeared deep in the burn, but lasted for just a short while. I say this is worth grabbing a fiver and I rate it a 91.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Slight Off Burn; (-1) Sour Note; (-1) Slightly Astringent Deep in the burn
Bonus Points: (+1) Extreme Ash
