Today I would like to continue in my review of the Rebellion Cigars line, sticking with the Rock Star Range. This time we take a journey back to 1987 with a real appetite for destruction. The band Guns N’ Roses released the hit single (the only number 1 from the band) Sweet Child O’ Mine. Shaun Wilkinson, co-owner of Rebellion Cigars says this is one of his favorite blends and Rock n’ Roll songs.
Fun fact, the single from the band was released just a month before the birth of my son – Dr. Dominic Vita, so it too has a special place in my Rock n’ Roll heart.
As for the cigar, Shaun notes:
“Sweet Child O’ Mine has taken a lot of time and love to bring to fruition, hence the name!“
Rebellion Cigars describes the blend as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andres
- Binder – Indonesia
- Filler – Special Blend including Jamastran
The Rebellion Cigars – Sweet Child O’ Mine is expressed in 3 popular vitolas, each packaged in 20-count bundles
- Robusto (5″ x 52) – MSRP $11.50
- Toro (6″ x 52) – MSRP $12.50
- Gordo (6″ x 60) – MSRP $14.80
For this review, I sampled one of the Rebellion Cigars – Sweet Child O’ Mine Toros which I recived from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Rebellion Cigars – Sweet Child O Mine is wrapped with a medium to dark brown leaf that has some marbling throughout. There wrapper is little rough to the touch and exhibits a few minor veins and has more of a matte finish as opposed to an oily shine. The cigar is well packed with no discernable soft spots. A double cap finishes the construction.
Two bands adorn the cigar. Like all offerings from the company, they use a pink, white and black motif. The primary band is the same used on all the company’s offerings and proudly displays the company’s logo in the center. The secondary band is placed just below and declares this as the “Sweet Child O’ Mine”.
Running the cigar along the nose, I picked up a slightly piney aroma along the barrel while the foot offered peppery and malty vinegar notes.
I used my double blade Xikar cutter and sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be just fine with restriction while delivering notes of earth and pepper.
Cigar Review Notes
- Introductory notes of pepper tantalize the palate
- Light grey ash forms on top of a thin char line
- A touch of coffee joins the mix
- The draw is smooth and mouth palate filling
- Sweet cream notes add to the pleasure, deep in the first third
- Citrus peel brightens the profile and moistens the palate
- Spice notes start to grow through the second third
- Strength hits medium
- A bitter component enters midway
- Mild wave in burn but does not require a touch up
- Coffee notes evolve and move forward in the profile
- Mild sweet aroma wafts off the foot
- The ever growing, long ash finally fell revealing a decent burn cone
- The earlier bitter note morphs into a bittersweet essence
- Continued deeper spice and citrus takes it down though the final
- Finishes at Medium Plus in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
The Rebellion Cigars – Sweet Child O’ Mine Toro journey begins with notes of tantalizing pepper that awakens the palate. As the journey unfolds, a subtle hint of coffee weaves into the mix, complementing the smooth, mouth-filling draw. Sweet cream notes enhance the pleasure, particularly evident in the first third of the smoke. Citrus peel adds a bright, refreshing quality, lifting the profile and moistening the palate. As the cigar progresses into the second third, spice notes gradually intensify, with the strength reaching a medium level. A hint of bitterness emerges midway through. The burn remains consistent, requiring no adjustments. Coffee flavors evolve and become more prominent in the profile, while a mild, sweet aroma wafts from the foot. The long, persistent ash eventually falls away, revealing a well-formed burn cone. The initial bitterness transforms into a bittersweet essence, and the deepening spice and citrus notes carry the cigar through to the finish. I would say grab a fiver of these or try the whole Rock Star Stage sample pack. I rate this a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild wave but no touch up required; (-1) Bitter notes enter midway
Bonus Points: (+1) Extreme Ash
