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Been enjoying my Blendlab sampler I purchased at the Hamburg superstore and thought would start a thread on the ones I have smoked so far since at least some of the blends are available at c-bid. If anybody can contribute, please add on! Also if anybody knows who the "secret" manufacturers are of any give blend, post that as well!

For those that don't know, the Blendlab sticks are supposedly either small-batch cigars they don't have enough tobacco to for a full production run OR "experimental" blends that manufacturers distribute through CI to see how well they do and what the feedback is. IF the cigar is popular/well-reviewed, then apparently it might make it into regular production from the manufacturer. No doubt all the makers of these cigars are ones affiliated with the ultimate owner of the mothership and affiliated companies. When at the store one of the staff did tell me who made some of the sticks but I don't know who made which ones in my sampler. I got the "full-bodied" sampler, but they had others as well.



UPDATE AND SUMMERY

This thread is getting pretty long so I thought I would post some notes here in the OP for those just finding it. Below as you scroll down, there are (so far) about 30 different Blendlabs reviewed and discussed with more on the way. Please feel free to add your own reviews and to add to or disagree with my opinions.

My overall experience with the Blendlabs has been great. For the price being charged here on C-bid (and with MAP making a lot of old favorites vanish from here) I don't think there are many better values to be had. Many of these sticks can be bought (if you jump on them right away) for $1-$3 which is quite a bit less than the Mothership and there are often 5-packs available here which are NOT available on CI for some reason.

I do not know what the letters stand for of if there is really even a set "code" for the different manufacturers. It would seemingly make sense if the maker of a "YH-456" is the same as the maker of a "YH-5552" but I don't actually know for sure if that is the case. I would bet bucks, that the RY-444 and RQ-444 were from the same manufacturer so, perhaps, the first letter is for the factory and the second letter is some sort of code for the type of cigar -- not sure. In any case, you CAN tell the size of the cigar from the numbers "5552" would mean a 5.5 inch 52 ring cigar 444 is a 4 inch 44 gauge, etc. (see post #137 below for more on the codes)

Of course since most of these cigars are sold singly, you do have to be careful about how the shipping cost impact the overall price. Most people trying them out for the first time are going to want to wait until they have made another purchase then pick up a couple of Blendlabs so that the shipping doesn't run up. For me now, for the ones that I know I want, I am buying 10-15 at a time to reduce the shipping per stick. I will keep posting reviews so long as the price does not get too out of line, so when you see "DO" on the winning list, give me a break!

On that topic, someone messaged me on if I was worried about driving up the bids on favorites of mine and I think that HAS happened somewhat on a few blends that seemed to get a lot more action after the review was posted. However, I want them to keep making the sticks I like and want them to keep putting them on C-bid, so I don't mind a little price-pressure if it keeps them available.

So here is a summery of my reviews below into categories: Those I will defiantly buy more of either here or on CI; Those that I might get again but ONLY at a couple bucks or so (either bidding or big sale at CI); any that need a second look after some humi rest and those I will be passing on in the future. Just because I would not buy them again, however, doesn't mean you wouldn't. Some cigars I would reject are just because I don't like that particular style or size and your preference might be different. Some of my "rejects" are because of construction issues which might not be present in every batch, so read the reviews and comments. With that said here is the list!

BLENDLABS I RECOMMEND AND WILL BE BUYING

KX-648 (on backorder, but one of the best of the Blendlabs!)
KK-5252
WH-6552
YH-456
YH-542
RY-444
RQ-444
ZV-654
RH-5554 (the Kristoff suspect!)
QE-654
HH-5060 (I dont usually go for the 60 gauge but these are worth it)
QB-552 (a great Maduro)
WA-6552
FB-554 (Check out Jason's review on the Mothership!)
JC-548

I WOULD BUY AGAIN WHEN 'THE PRICE IS RIGHT'

XX-5552
LJ-554
QC-652
ME-6052
MY-6552 (Demoted from "will buy again" thanks to a couple of recent inconsistent ones.)
PH-650 (just missed the "will buy again" cut but only because so many others I like just a bit more)
ZH-6552 (taste great but poor construction)
YP-5754 (Great Stick but $7/per on CI is hefty)
ZT-6560 (If you are a big Conneticut stick person, this would be on your "buy again" list!)
KK-4560 (very good smaller cigar but can get similar for less usually)
KB-656 (a stick maduro fans would probably put in the "buy again" catagory)

WAIT AND SEE (sticks that not perfect ROTT but show promise, so I am putting away to see how they age or until can try another one)

WC-554 - (Great mild smoke, but need to see if there are construction issues as opposed to my abuse...)
QE-654 PROMOTED (They ARE worth the wait!)
PJ-5556 (very good flavor, very "cubany" but bad spot and some construction issues make it "Wait and see")
YH-738 (first inch was not good, then much better. At $7 need to know its better before recomending)

NOPE, NO THANK YOU!

WH-660
QX-6542 (2 of 3 bad construction)
QD-5552
LD-652
JX-8552 (too big!)
JB-754
KD-737 (nice flavor too tight draw)
HO-654 (great tobacco inside, but not very much of it and made very poorly)
ET-652 (might as well vape)
JY-656 (in the past this would have been "wait and see" but no time for that now!)


OMG - So Bad needed another category!!!!

VB-6744 (by Drew Estate. I hated it, but gosh if other people don't seem to love them!)

KK- 5252

Robusto. 52x5.2. Beautiful Cigar. Firm and well made. Lit easily and perfect draw. No spice as stated in the blurb but wonderful Dark Chocolate (but not sweet) and Espresso flavors throughout. Flavor is more complex than I can describe as it subtly varies with a more pure tobacco flavor surging at times but then returns to the Chocolate/coffeeish theme. Got wavy for a bit but self-corrected. Had this one after dinner with a good Red Wine and that was a perfect pairing IMO. Defiantly one I would buy again.

CBID just started putting up quite a few blends up for auction.

We are working on getting some 5 packs up.

Grea! Put up some 5252's and ill be all over them!

WH-6552

Torpedo. Beautiful cigar. Dark. Firm and heavy. Easy draw. Razor sharp burn and long hard ash throughout. Here is a stick where the blurb matches reality perfectly. Starts off quite peppery. After about an inch the pepper slowly fades to background as the chocolate, coffee and tobacco flavors get stronger. Did not burn as long as would have guessed but we'll worth it.

smoked second one at pool party. Cigar types amazed at the long white ash. Less pepper in this one more dark cocoa from the start. Coffee/espresso in the last 1/3

Thanks, wish I knew who made what. I wonder if I call up to the store if anyone would tell me. IF anyone knows, post or send me a private message if you want to stay autonomous!

xx-5552

Just got a shipment in of several different blends so here is the first one ROTT.

First impression is that it is a beautiful cigar. Dark torpedo, firm, feels well constructed. Wonderful pre-light aroma of tobacco and hay. Lit well and perfect draw. First puffs VERY strong and peppery. Huge strong blast of flavor on light-up. Very full and powerful for first bit, then started to slowly mellow out. Became more "medium" strength. Very classic Nicaraguan tobacco flavor with a hint of cocoa underneath. About 2/3 in cocoa gives way to a bit of hard-to-place very mild sweet-spicy aftertaste. This is one of the more reviewed BlendLab sticks on CI and, like many commentators there, had burn issues. Needed several touch ups and, despite careful attention, needed one re-light. last 25% or so got very strong again. If you smoke this one to the very end, you will defiantly taste it again in the morning! I would say that about 40% of the cigar was very full and strong bodied while the rest was more medium Nicaraguan similar to some Oliva sticks I have had. Who know's, maybe this is an Oliva made cigar.

Very nice enjoyable smoke e
xcept for the burn issues and worth the price paid for here on Cbid, but I think these are going to benefit from sitting in the humi for a while so will rest the remaining ones a few months.

update: fired another one up. More mellow from the start. Not the strong blast at the front but allap NO burn issues. Mediumish all the way through.

QB-5552

5x52 Dark. Maduro. Nice and firm. Good burn. Slightly sweet and nutty . classic maduro flavor. Lots of smoke. Not complex - consistent flavor thoughout. Maduro is not my first choice in a cigar, but if you like them this would be a good choice.

UPDATE: Wow this cigar really stays with you. Next morning, three teeth brushings, mouthwash and breakfast and I Still am tasting this one! May have to fire up a "Punisher" to clean my mouth.

Ld-652

Size on CI does not match the stick I have. On the Mothership this is listed as 6x62 but this one is nowhere near a 62 ring gauge. Perhaps a typo. TRISH CAN YOU HAVE SOMEONE CHECK ON THIS?

Very peppery at the start. Very much like a Don Pepin. Hard draw for first half, uncomfortably so. After about an inch in the pepper and spice left and it became surprisingly mild with a hay/grassy flavor. Actually a bit bland at that point. Tasted like these Graycliff G2's I was gifted (and still have not given all away...).

At the halfway point the spice and pepper came back and the draw lossened up some (still a bit hard for me though. Yes... That's what she said...) under the pepper it was more woody/nutty than grassy.

Got stronger as it progressed in the last third and was quite full by the end with a more heavy tobacco flavor.

In all, when the pepper was there it was good complex flavor - when no pepper, blah. Perhaps had a bad leaf somewhere in this one. One of the few "full/strong" BlendLabs that I've had that were not going for the dark chocolate/espresso/cocoa/coffee profile along with the spice. If draw had been better would have enjoyed it more.

UPDATE:

second one of these MUCH looser draw. Not nearly as fully packed as the first one - pretty squishy. Flavor profile similar except the pepper went away quicker and the middle section more flavorful. Still mild in the middle but creamer. Needed several touch-ups halfway through. Stronger at the end again but not as much so. Was very interesting how you could tell the blend was the same but also different than the first one

I've got two blendlabs sitting in my humidor. I may break one out soon. Once I do, I'll report back.

PM or e-mail me when you do - I'll take the bait...

Had the second one of these yesterday. Once again very good flavor but a strange burn issue. A "tube" developed right in the middle of the cigar. Will try to post a pic later. It was like the leaves had been wrapped around a straw that was left in the cigar! The tunnel went very deep into the stick. Eventially whatever the hard tunnel wall was burned/broke off. Very strange. With SOME of the blendlab cigars construction - consistency seems to be an issue.

on the other hand, rockin' another ME-6052 and it is perfect again. Razor sharp slow burn. Great flavor.somebody in-the-know has GOT to pm me the maker of this one!

Some pics

ME-6052

http://www.cigarbid.com/...c/posts/646405/Blendlabs

WH-660 weird burn....

http://www.cigarbid.com/...posts/646444/Weird-Burn

Will the true identity of the really good Blendlabs ever be revealed? I understand why no one wants to take credit for duds but it would be nice to know if you find a great Blendlab that you would be able to buy it later someday as its future incarnation.

maybe this falls under "guilty pleasure" but I really like (on occasion and in moderation) the Punisher's. Been dieting a bit after eating WAY too much in Las Vegas and the Punisher makes a great "meal - replacement" cigar!

Thanks for all of the reviews. Although I don't buy too much these days, I did bid on and won a couple of the broadleaf wrapper ones after reading your posts (...CBid should just send you free samples...). Letting them nap for a bit but can't wait to try them in a few weeks.

LJ-554

pre-light it has a huge barnyard aroma. Lit well but burned uneven until halfway in. Required several touch ups. Very woody for first half. Lots of smoke. Not that strong really, didn't get a "corojo" flavor until about halfway done. At 1/2 started picking up interesting but not stong spice. Did get hints of the "black cherry" mentioned in the blurb but never pronounced.

the pairing was important with this one. I don't think this would have been a recommended one for me, but it was great paired with a Baker's bourbon. Not "full" or "bold" like the blurb but would pull one out when having a good bourbon again. Stronger at the end.

UPDATE: second one burned a lot nicer. Wavy some but not the issues the first one had. Still not stong at the start but more flavor and a bit of spiciness that the first one didn't have until halfwaytthrough. Slow burn and solid grey ash. Nailed the importance of pairing with this one. Although the cigar was better, I started out with a gin & tonic and that was not good. Shifted to bourbon and water and it easy much better combo.

^^^

...waiting for "that's what she said..." :)

It's good but might not hold your interest for the whole 8.5 inches.

With all due respect, and with pretty petals of love flowers tossed at your feet, it takes quite a Ash@le for someone in their very first post to say other people need their head examined.

Manufacturers sell products they are testing out all the time. Dorito Tacos anyone?And they are completely up front about what is going on. Moreover, I enjoy doing it, its my money, my cigars, my choice. I also, at least for now, have found some sticks i really really enjoy for about $2 per. So there.

How about you try to contribute something?

Better Yet.

Go slither away....with all due respect of course

Dorito Tacos (at least at 2am) prove that there is a higher power and that intelligent design is a reality!


Actually the best taco ad/poster I ever saw was at a Jack-in-the-Box. It had photo of their tacos and said "We don't know why they taste better after midnight either...."

https://youtu.be/wOsWfzzvlkU

I think you will find that was my second post. My first was pointing out the equally wrong-headed notions of another user on the cause of tunneling.

I'm convinced your evident anger is not so much with me, as with yourself, for getting used so transparently by corporate interests. Yes you are free to throw your money down a rathole, but you can scarce feign surprise when others point and stare. I sense you are waking up to this. Hopefully, your case will provide a warning to others considering embarking on the same folly.

Thanks for the flowers.