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
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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.
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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.
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Cigar Review Notes
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- 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
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