If you are familiar with Hammer and Sickle Cigars, Davidoff, or even Henke Kelner then you know the Occidental Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic. The cigar factory is Henke Kelner’s factory, the father of the Premium Cigar Industry. So it only makes sense that when the Ventura Cigar Company was looking for factories to collaborate on their Case Study projects, Occidental would be one of those selected.
At the 2017 IPCPR, Ventura Cigars released 5 of their Case Study project blends which eventually will include 26 blends. The Case Study Project is was designed to partner with five of the world’s most renowned factories and their masters, releasing blends that showcase the unique qualities of vintage and aged tobaccos in cigars that exemplify the blender’s craft.
Today’s review will showcase the Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04 Limited Edition cigar. Unlike some of the other cigars in the Case Study line, the CS04 is a one and out, when they are gone there will be no more. That is a shame though, because as you will read this was a terrific Connecticut blend, but sometimes there is just a limited amount of leaf available and that is the situation for this cigar.
The Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04 Limited Edition is available in only one 5.5 x 52 torpedo vitola and comes packaged in 20-count cedar cabinet boxes.
The Case Study CS04 Limited Edition blend is described as:
- Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
- Binder: Mexican Sumatra
- Filler: Multi-Country Blend
Produced at the Occidental Cigar factory, the Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04 Limited Edition has an MSRP of $12-$13.
Pre-Light Examination
The CS04 Limited Edition is a nice looking specimen of a cigar. The medium tan Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is smooth as silk with just a few veins. The cigar is has a solid packing and looking at the foot you can see the dark fill that should be indication that this is not going to be an average Connecticut. It is finished with more of a blunt point torpedo cap as opposed to a pencil tip like most torpedoes.
The band on this is simple as for all the other Case Study cigars using a simple black and white band. You might notice the reversal of the black and white on this which indicates that it is a Limited Edition Case Study cigar. The band states simply “Case Study CS/04”.
The fun begins with the pre-light aromas on this cigar. There is a citrus akin to grapefruit with a little sweetness coming off the foot and a lightly fermented leaf aroma along the barrel.
I cut the cap down about a 1/4 inch, which is what I generally do with most torpedoes, and gave it some cold draw puffs that delivered some deep earth notes.
With the early examination done it was time to fire this up and take another Ventura Case Study journey.
Cigar Review Notes
Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04
Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04
Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04
Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04
Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04
- Mild pepper to start with a slight astringent note to start
- Light grey ash rests on a medium char line
- Flavor is slow to enter with a hint of butter as the pepper faded
- Citrus slips in after an inch
- Some oils are developing on the wrapper
- Coffee notes entering near the end of the first third
- Outstanding ash and burn
- Ash fell midway with a perfectly centered burn cone
- Cedar starts to evolve moving into the second third
- Spicy nut aroma
- The smoke is creamy and palatable at this point
- Dry Fruit enters with some spice at the end of the second third
- Spice continues through the end
- Mild in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Overall, the Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04 Limited Edition is fine example of what a master blender at one of the best cigar factories can accomplish with a Connecticut wrapper. There was only a slight bitterness to start which gently faded to give way to a truly pleasurable yet mild smoking experience. The construction was spot on with a pristine burn and long ash. It is sad that this is a limited edition cigar as I would like to see more of these available, but that’s how the leaf rolls. I tried to find where these are available but I failed at that. If you know where they can be purchased leave a comment.
Ventura Cigars Case Study CS04