Today I offer yet another review of the Croatian Mafia Cigars lineup of cigars. This time it is the Capo blend. The name comes from a key leadership position in the Mafia hierarchy. The Capo is informally referred to as “captain”, “skipper” or “lieutenant”. A capo is a “made member” of a crime family who heads a crew of soldiers and has major status and influence in the organization.
Croatian Mafia Cigars owner, Todd Pribanic notes:
“Our commitment to excellence is reflected in every aspect of our cigars. Hand-rolled with precision and care, each blend boasts the finest tobaccos sourced from Estelí, Nicaragua, renowned as the world leader in cigar production. Partnering with the esteemed 4th Generation Cuban Cigar Grower, Eradio Pichardo Perez from Tabacalera Pichardo, we ensure that every puff delivers unparalleled quality and taste.“
As for the cigar, it is expressed as a single box-pressed (6 1/2 x 52) Toro that has an MSRP of $14.50/cigar and comes packaged in 20-count boxes.
The Croatian Mafia Cigars Capo blend is described as:
- Wrapper: Habano Maduro
- Binder: Mexican San Andres
- Fillers: Nicaraguan
For this review, I sampled one of the Croatian Mafia Cigars Capos, which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Croatian Mafia Cigars Capo is draped in a deep, dark, reddish-brown and marbled wrapper, that exhibits a few veins and a mild toothiness. It has a mild box pressing that is fairly firm with just a bit of softness by the foot. A well applied triple cap finishes the construction.
Like all cigars in the company’s portfolio, the Capo is adorned with a single black, white and silver band. The same basic design is used – a silhouette of a mobster in the center with the name Croatian Mafia Cigars printed below. This time, the blend name “CAPO” is printed on the bottom of the band.
Running the barrel along the nose, I picked up a pungent barnyard note which also was found off the foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draws that I found to have a nice restriction while offering notes of pepper, earth, and tangy notes. I also noted that the pepper grows the more your cold draw on it.
Cigar Review Notes
- First introductory puffs greet the palate with a nice dose of pepper
- A light grey ash forms on top of a thick wavy char line
- Wavy burn develops an off burn requiring a mild touch up
- Espresso notes join the early mix
- Ash fell in a decent chunk revealing a decent burn cone
- Cedar notes build in the second third
- Sweet cream notes enter the profile midway
- Ash gets flaky
- Strength ratchets up a bit
- Dry fruit notes form deep in second third
- Caramel sweetness down in the final
- Medium-Plus in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The initial puffs of the Croatian Mafia Cigars Capo introduce a pleasing burst of pepper that tantalizes the palate. Early notes of espresso blend seamlessly into the flavor profile. In the second third, the flavor profile deepens with the emergence of rich cedar undertones. Midway through, sweet cream notes gracefully weave into the mix, enhancing the complexity. The ash becomes somewhat flaky as the cigar progresses, while the strength increases modestly. Deeper in the second third, hints of dried fruit develop, adding a layer of depth. In the final stages, a caramel sweetness takes center stage, providing a satisfying conclusion to the experience. I rate this a 89.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-2) Multiple Off Burn; (-1) Touch-up Required; (-1) Flaky Ash
