The Cigar Clowns recently dropped their latest release, the Rodeo Clown. The name is a bit of an homage to the cigar blender and maker of this one – Antonio Barrios (Tony) owner of Stallone Cigars, known for his love of horses. The Rodeo Clown is the culmination of over 2 years of blending and aging.
Tony and the Clowns worked together on this and created a bold and satisfying blend that is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro
- Binder – Nicaraguan & Brazilian
- Filler – Nicaraguan
The cigars were aged for nine months in Nicaragua before shipping to the US.
The Rodeo Clown is expressed in a (6 x 54) Toro vitola and comes packaged in 25-count boxes with an MSRP of $13.50/cigar.
For this review, I sampled 2 of the Rodeo Clowns which I received from the Clowns for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Cigar Clowns Rodeo Clown is presented as a silky-smooth cigar that is cloaked with a milk chocolate brown wrapper that exhibits a few veins and a touch of marbling with a slight oily sheen. The cigar is decently packed with no soft spots detected along the barrel. A well applied triple cap finishes the construction.
A single, bright shiny band adorns the cigar. It presents the Cigar Clowns logo in the center, with circus tents on the left and right. The band pops nicely on the background of the cigar.
Running the cigar along the nose, I noted a sweet baking spice note along the barrel while the foot exudes a pungent barn yard essence.
I used my CigarMedics Guillotina De Saka cutter to slice the cap straight and proceeded to give it some cold draws that I found to be spot on with restriction while offering creamy notes with a cold draw with a growing pepperiness, especially on the lips. The sweetness builds around the cream the more you cold draw it. This is one I enjoyed an extended cold draw time.
Using my Xikar fan flame lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs sweetness and earth to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial woody, earth and gentle spice start the journey
- Natural tobacco sweetness quickly joins the profile
- The draw is effortless and produces a palate filling dose of thick chewy smoke
- A light grey ash forms on top of a medium thick char line
- Creamy chocolate notes swirl into the early profile
- The burn gets a little wavy and develops a slight off burn that requires a touch up
- The early sweetness morphs into more of a caramel note
- Once the ash fell, in a decent chunk, it revealed flat burn cone
- Tasty ginger nuances add to the moderate complexity
- A mild nut develops moving into the second third
- Richer dark chocolate notes evolve midway
- Mild spice and sweetness maintain deep in the second third
- Earthiness forms in the final
- Medium-Plus in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The Cigar Clowns Rodeo Clown Toro experience begins with a rich blend of woody and earthy notes, subtly accented by a gentle baking spice note. With just a few puffs into the journey, natural tobacco sweetness weaves into the profile, creating a pleasant introduction to the journey. The draw is smooth and effortless, delivering a dense, chewy smoke that fills the palate on every puff. As the journey unfolds, creamy chocolate undertones swirl into the flavor, enhancing the complexity. The initial sweetness evolves into a more pronounced caramel flavor as ginger and nut nuances introduce a layer of complexity in the second third. Rich dark chocolate notes develop midway, adding depth while mild spice and a persistent sweetness remain, complemented by an increasing earthiness as the cigar moves toward into the final. The complex, yet balanced profile of this blend makes it a box buy recommendation even with the minor burn issues. I feel this is a very approachable cigar for any cigar enthusiast. I rate this a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Touch-up Required; (-1) Flat Burn Cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Well Balanced and Flavorful; (+1) Box Buy
