Rolling Thunder 50 Cal Cigar Review – Locked and Loaded

One of the many fine Cigar Men i met at this years IPCPR was Dave Cribbin the owner of a small boutique cigar company known as Rolling Thunder Cigars. If you talk to Dave he is passionate about cigars and is quick to note:

“Before founding Rolling Thunder Cigars I literally smoked my way through Ybor City’s cigar makers tasting and refining the blends until I was satisfied that I had a cigar worthy of the name Rolling Thunder Cigars .50CALIBER!

Combining the finest Cuban seed tobacco from Honduras and Nicaragua and rolling cigars with near perfect construction is what sets Rolling Thunder Cigars apart!”

I spent some time with Dave and he introduced me to his small but unique line of cigars known as the .50 Cal. Dave noted that he is a big supporter for of the Cigars for  Warriors: association and you can even select to donate some cigars to the association directly from their website where you can purchase them directly. 

They are available in four different blends:

• Connecticut Shade
• Habano
• Maduro
• Double Ligero

The company selected the Plasencia Cigar Company in Esteli, Nicaragua to manufacture their blends.

I have to give credit to any new brand getting into the business in the post FDA regulation era. Today I am pleased to introduce you to the Rolling Thunder 50 Cal Habano blend which I received from the company at the show for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.

This Rolling Thunder 50 Cal Habano blend is described as:

• Wrapper – Habano Nicaraguan
• Binder – Ecuadorian
• Filler – Habano Nicaragua (Jalapa, Condega, Esteli)

It is available in 3 vitolas

• Gordo 5 x 60 (MSRP $8.35 in bundles of 20)
• Robusto 5 x 52 (MSRP $6.00 in bundles of 20)
• Toro 6 x 52 (MSPR $$6.75 in bundles of 20)

For this review I sampled the Rolling Thunder 50 Cal Habano Robusto

Pre-light Examination

The Rolling Thunder 50 Cal Habano is a fine-looking cigar with its medium to dark brown Habano wrapper that is light on veins and finished with a simple cap.  It is a solid robusto  with a decent weight in the hand. Looking closer at the wrapper you will notice a bit of toothiness.

The band on this is unique – bright gold and black with the phrase  “.50 CAL” printed in bold black ink. Below that is the words “Rolling Thunder” in gold on a black background and the “Cigars” under that in black on the gold background.  The band takes up a good third of the cigar and placed on the foot of the cigar.

Running it across the nasals I am greeted with a slightly spicy barrel and enticing fruit and pepper on foot. 

Once the cap is cut, the cold draw offered notes of and pepper through an open draw.

Having passed the pre-light exam it is time to fire up the Rolling Thunder 50 Cal Habano and see how it performs

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Cigar Review Notes

• Earth and white pepper notes begin the journey
• Wow! This baby is locked and loaded as the pepper opens the nasals
• Takes a good half-inch for the pepper to settle down
• The early earth is joined with delectable buttery spice
• Touch of sweetness joins the mix adding more pleasure to the burn
• The light grey ash rests on a thin char line
• Smoke volume is full with a thick and creamy texture
• The aroma has an exotic spice I can’t place
• Ash fell after an inch with a flat and centered burn cone
• Spice take front and center-  kind of cinnamon note
• Earth is predominant flavor note
• A slight glistening on the wrapper is noticeable as it warms
• Burn is pristine
• Touch of salt enters along with a nut back note
• Spice builds through the second third
• Ash darkens in the second third
• Flavor maintains down to the final third
• Medium  Strength
• Total Smoking Time was one hour and twenty minutes to the nub

Overall, the Rolling Thunder 50 Cal Habano was good medium smoke with consistent flavor throughout.  It had a nice core of spice with a light sweetness and nut in spots. The burn was excellent from foot to nub. This is a cigar that would pair well with a sweet beverage and having smoked a few I found it paired well with a Doctor Pepper.