PH-652
This cigar is a bit of a weird duck and a good one to end this journey upon since it results in a good double "reveal" by the end.
You will not find the PH-652 on the Mothership and, unlike some other sticks that no longer show up there, the PH-652 gives no return results on google or any other search. It is a different cigar completely from the PH-650 (which is still available online). The 652 is a torpedo shape tasted quite different.
The first impression was that the cigar smelled nice pre-light but was a bit squishy. The looser pack showed up on the burn which was uneven at times and needed a couple touch-ups. Wrapper was a bit thin. Classic medium Nicaraguan tobacco taste a bit of espresso some very light chewy sweetness at times. In all the blend of tobacco was very good, it was just that it had some burn issues and did not burn as long as you would wish given its size all do to the loose pack.
Throughout this smoke, it kept reminding me of another cigar and it took a long time for me to figure it out. This smoke was very very similar to the La Perla Habana Modaro (purple) version 2,0. For those that have not followed the saga of La Perla, there have been (at least) three iterations of this cigar that I have had experience with.
The first, initial, release was an amazing smoke, well worth the "93" rating (that they still advertise). I never purchased any of this initial release, but did have some gifted to me. They were great!
On version 2.0 of this release they downgraded the packaging (to save money and keep the cigar affordable according to the PR dept.). The cigar was also noticeably looser packed. It still tasted good but the construction had been downgraded noticeably and they were using a lot less tobacco per cigar. Although people who had fallen in love with the initial release railed against this cigar like it was everything evil in the world rolled - loosely :) - into this stick, the fact of the matter is this was a very nice "daily-driver" of a cigar at a very reasonable, indeed even cheap on Cbid, price. At one point you could easily get these for for a couple of bucks (and sometimes even $1.00) per! They were a good deal and it is this version I started buying either on Cbid or special deals elsewhere.
Then came version 3.0. Here the blend of the tobacco had clearly changed and it simply was not that good anymore. Interestingly, the construction on the version 3.0's that I did have was a bit better than 2.0 but it was not worth the money even at rock-bottom prices. The flavor was simply not the same and it was not worth the coin. I do not know if there has been any further changes in the blend or construction since then, as I have not ventured to try one but the reports I have seen have not been flattering.
The PH-652 that I had was very very similar to the Version 2.0 sticks. Good taste, less than optimal packing and construction. Now after this revelation, it doesn't take much to figure out that the "PH" for this Bleandlab stands for la Perla Habana. Thus, I am confidant that the PH-652 is a version of the LPH Morado. It might not be exactly the same retail blend but it was close. Perhaps it was a prototype of the version 2.0 that they eventually starting selling. In any case, a good cigar but one that I would only buy at a pretty good price give the construction and burn.
But there is more! After realizing (duh!) that "PH" on the blendlab meant "LPH" in the real-world. I went back to check out the PH-650 that was reviewed above. Comparing blends and wrappers and shapes, the LH-650 looks like a dead-ringer for La Perla Habana 1515 Toro. The blend, wrappers, and reviews match up. Again, you can't be sure its an exact match, but the PH-650 is either the same as the 1515 or a prototype.
It is also a good cigar but not in my highest tier of Blendlabs, but it was close. The PH-650 does appear on the CI website but it is, alas, "out of stock."
Well, that's all folks. I have exhausted my supply of unreviewed blendlabs. I have a nice large stock of my favorites in the coolador (with the Hearfelt Beads!). As confirmed with the folks at CI-HQ, unless there is legislative relief from the FDA regulations pretty soon, the Blendlab program will be slowly wound-down. It is just not feasible for CI to go through the expense of getting blendlab sticks through the FDA approval process. There won't be any new blendlabs coming out and the rest will be discontinued as the stock and/or tobacco set aside for them runs out over the next year or so. Right now there are only 12 Blendlabs in stock on CI, but they include some very good ones (and the VB!). Therefore, if you find one you like, stock up now!
When was at the Superstore in October, that is exactly what several of us were doing. They had some great deals on bundles and I grabbed several. The old "Blendlab" room (while still about half full of blendlabs) was now the re-named the "Value Vault." It was a pretty sad visit, but it was great talking with the gang. They even went over a number of my reviews and we discussed them in detail.
It has been a fun ride. The great thing about blendlabs was the chance to try out a lot of different blends and styles at good prices (and sometimes amazing deals!) without being influenced by the "Name-Brand." I learned a lot about what I do and don't like (omg, how can people keep smoking those VBs from Drew Estate !?!?!?!?!?) and the importance of things like the pairing when reviewing a cigar.
With the recent U.S. election, of course, there is a chance that the FDA debacle is reversed. NOW is the time to call and email you congressman or senator and to join up with the folks at cigarrights.org (CI is a supporter!). I joined, you should too!
http://www.cigarrights.org/main.php
At almost 58,000 views, this has been a pretty popular thread, and I appreciate all of the positive feedback and the others that put in their reviews of the Blendlabs.
IF the FDA regs can be rolled back, then I am sure the Blendlab program will survive as well as all of the smaller manufacturers and small-batch blends. IF that happens, perhaps I will revive this thread or start a 2.0 version.
But until then: "Smoke 'em if you got 'em!"