Earlier in 2022, Isabela Cigar Company released the company’s first Ltd Edition of the year– the Mammoth 660 PepperHead!
Based off of the company’s extremely popular “Mammoth” larger gauge portfolio, the Mammoth 660 is in a ‘more accessible” (6 x 60 vitola) with a hopped up blend of higher priming tobaccos. This tweak gives the smallest release in the Mammoth line some extra punch, and more transitions. The new PepperHead Mammoth went through 2+ years of post -production aging, to take the top off the spices, revealing an exotic journey of spinning flavor changes.
Johnny Piette, owner of Isabela Cigar Company noted:
“We had many many requests over the years for Larger Gauges Huge Gauges as I mentioned upon release of the Mammoth 770 and 880 last year…the large gauge stuff was probably one of the most difficult blends ever,,, to get such a large vitola to reflect our identity of multiple transitions….we also wanted to craft a blend that wouldn’t require extensive post production aging, and were able to accomplish that with the 770 and 880. We also wanted to have a “sizzler ” available in the Mammoth line, a blend that went much further with depth of flavors and more transitions, so we blended the Mammoth 660 in what we call our “PepperHead ” format, dual wrapper, with more of a baseline Nica Habano prieto wrapper, and a smaller Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper….with added higher priming binder and fillers…..
We wanted to release all 3 at the same time….so we blended and produced the 660s 2+ years ago, let them age for a year, then crafted the 770s and 880s…When our tentative release schedule for the Mammoths arrived, the 660 was still not quite where we wanted it to be, as far as the flavor reveals, so we held it back, and just released the 770 and 880., in 2021
Finally , the 660 is ready, so here we go !!”
The company describes the blend as:
- Wrapper – Nicaragua (Habano Prieto) & Ecuador (Connecticut Desflorada)
- Binder – Nicaragua
- Filler – Nicaragua
The company notes that production was limited to 2,000 cigars packaged in 25-count decorative boxes and have set the MSRP at $12.95/cigar. They are available at All Official Isabela Retailers , a list of which is available on the company website
www.isabelacigarcompany.com
Pre-Light Examination
The Isabela Cigars PepperHead Mammoth LTD is a solidly constructed barber pole vitola, something the company has been quite good at producing over the years. It is a big cigar and not normally my go-to size, but I have come to respect the craft this small company has offered through the years. The lines are clear in the roll and the cigar is well bunched with no soft spots along the barrel. There is a mild oily sheen on the wrapper leaf especially the Habano. If the awesome looking construction was not enough to catch your eye, mote the almost quad cap that finishes the cigar.
The cigar band incorporates the standard tropical Isabela Cigars logo and adds the phrase “The Mammoth” on the bottom. I love the look of the band as it certainly pops on the shelf.
Running the cigar across the nose, I notes the sweet cracker aroma along the barrel. Moving to the foot, there was pleasant buttery and baking spice notes.
I used my double blade Xikar cutter to slice the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar nd proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that immediately greet the palate with an added sweetness on the tip of the cigar along with the baking spices.
My double flame torch did the trick to get things started as I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of early peppery smoke. Follow along as I burn this one to ash!
Cigar Review Notes
- Peppery start
- White ash forms on top of a thick and mildly jagged char line
- Caramel notes move in quickly
- Fruity aroma wafts off the foot
- Nice oiling
- Solid ash fell early revealing a decent burn cone
- Slight off burn but eventually corrected with out a touchup
- Dry cocoa notes and sweetness smooth
- Spice notes about two inches in
- Aroma is more syrupy now
- Mild herbal sweetness enters as Cedar brightens the profile
- Caramel swirls back in
- Spicy pepper deep in second third
- Sweet almond notes in the final- yum!
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking time was 1hour and 45 Minutes
Final Analysis
Though not overly complex, the Isabela Cigars PepperHead Mammoth LTD was still a pleasant cigar experience with a decent array of shifting aromas and flavors. One of the reasons I enjoy barber pole cigars is how the flavors swirl about as you move back and forth between the wrapper leaf and Isabela Cigars have mastered that. I especially enjoyed how the caramel notes swirled back and forth constantly enticing the palate. The sweet almond notes in the final just added to the pleasure. This is worth picking up a fiver of, so grab some before hey are gone. I rate this a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) Jagged Burn; (-1) Mild Off Burn;
Bonus Points: (-1) Nice Oiling above the Burn line
