RH-5554

One of the most interesting Blendlabs I have had. It has a closed foot and curly-que cap. Very good looking cigar. Did feel a bit squishy especially the first half.

Very nice, tobacco and cedar-ish pre-light aroma. Very easy draw which confirmed that this stick was not tightly packed with tobacco. As a result the first half burned a bit faster than you might expect from just looking at the size. Never overheated though and did slow down in the second half.

The flavor - wow - this was incredible. Wonderful spicy flavors at the start that seemed to change just slightly at every puff. Never overpowering or too much spice, but extremely flavorful with other notes such as cedar and nuts and other spices coming in and out. Large amounts of very nice smoke. At about the halfway point the spice got a bit softer and the cigar became more a "Savory" and "meaty" tobacco flavor. A good chewy, mouthwatering smoke. It was a slow transition. Spice never left but it was in the background now and milder perhaps more white peppery than black pepper for those that know the difference. Spice along with a bit of a slightly stronger tobacco flavor became more pronounced at the end.

This never felt like a "Strong" cigar but at the very end a pretty good nicotine buzz snuck up on me.

This was literally a "lip-smacking" cigar.

As I usually do, AFTER I smoked this one and wrote down my notes, I went to the Mothership to see what others had to say. Unfortunately this one is not on CI right now. In fact there are NO "RH" sticks on the sight that I could find.

Just to see what would happen, I searched just "5554" and, interestingly, up popped up 2 Kristoff cigars that both have a curly cap. You cant tell really from the photos on CI, but I googled Kristoff cigars and it looks as if all of the curly-topped Kristoffs also have a closed foot and it looks like all of their blends come in a 5.5 inch/54 guage size (hence the "5554" in RH-5554)

A visit to the Kristoff webpage shows that they have several blends that are very similar to the description given on Cbid, including blends with Dominican Corojo and Criollo and Ligero leaves. While the web site shows several blends (including one that got a #11/94 from CA in 2012) none EXACTLY match up with the description on Cbid. Of course, Cbid could have the description a bit wrong, but it would be too much work for them to just make these things up, so I assume they just cut and paste whatever the manufacturer sent them.

Thus, I am confident in making my very first Blendlab source declaration: The KH-5554 IS an experimental or limited-run blend from Kristoff!

With the only negative being the slightly loose pack (especially in the front half) this is one of the best Blendlabs I have had.

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Ah-HA... More Evidence. Popped over to that other site that is affiliated with the site that is affiliated with this site and here is their description of the Kristoff Criollo:

This high-end blend utilizes some of the Dominican Republic's best-tasting tobaccos and is only rolled by the factory's best torcedors. The blend is complex, and utilizes all Cuban-seed tobaccos grown in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua and masked with a Cuban-seed Dominican binder. Outside you'll find a mouthwatering Habano Criollo wrapper which was grown in the heart of Nicaragua.

Expect competing flavors of earth, peat, nuts, and a mix of different spices as the cigar burns. You should find a smooth, effortless draw as the cigar produces a ton of thick smoke and exudes a cedar aroma. The blend burns cool from head to foot and even comes complete with a shaggy foot and pigtail cap

Sounds a whole lot like this Blendlab!

Some Updates and Announcement:

Have had a few more of the smaller Yh-542's that I picked up and this and the 444's are going to be my go-too cigar for smoking out in the cold. They have been very good and consistent with great flavor and burn.

Have done some more snooping on the RH-5554. Nobody will admit that they are from Kristoff, but I still think they are. Went to a B&M and bought a Kristoff to compare. Both of the cigars look and "feel" very much the same. I note that on subsequent RH-5554, they were much firmer and not squishy in the front half as the one i reviewed above. The wrapper on the B&M Kristoff was a bit darker than the Blendlab which makes sense since none of the advertised Kristoff blends match up exactly with the Blendlab description. However, both wrappers had a very similar look with the similar veiny-ness standing out.

The Pigtails are almost identical, except one was twisted "right-handed" and one "lefthanded"

The biggest difference was in the foot. The Blendlab had a lot more tobacco that was folded over than the Kristoff did.

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/cihamburg 


Now announcement time! I am pretty well stocked up for the next few months. Three humi's and a tuppadore nice and full. Not only with a number of my favorite Blendlabs, but nice selection including some Aging Rooms, La Historia's, AF's, a few Padrons and a great CC score from some folks I know that went to Cuba on a trade mission (love me them soybean people!). Even have a 5-pack of "The Punisher" waiting for the right moment. And that is not mentioning some of the misc. and very interesting ones that I have been so kindly gifted over the last few months!

So other than any updates to the cigars already reviewed (or if I get any more lowdown on the Kristoff connection) I will be taking a break from reviewing any new Blendlab cigars until I get some more room OR until Trish or Shana convince someone to start sending me free samples to review!

But keep using this thread to post your own reviews! I read above that several people have picked up some Blendlabs, so give your own review.

HEADS UP!

A Bunch of Blendlabs including a number reviewed above on bid right now (Jan 12). I am stocked so won't be bidding on these!
http://www.cigarbid.com/Auction/Search/?cb_search_box=blendlab 

http://www.cigarbid.com/auction/lot/2209777/blendlab-rq-444-single/ 

Strongly Advise you guys to snatch these up.

They are the closest thing I've ever found to a Short Story, that wasn't a short story.

I pick em up whenever I'm at the shpo.

One of my favorites. If i didn't have a large supply already, you would be fighting me for them.

Same here. I have a pile already.

Woo Hoo, cause I just received the 5er of RQ-444s I won on a $5 drunk underbid.! Near Short Story for $1 (plus shipping in a bigger order) sounds like a score.

Just ashed the first of my RQ-444 5er, and I'll join the chorus this is a good cigar, and pretty cheap on here. Mine haven't rested long at all-three or four weeks.

Unfortunately they may not last long enough to get much more age on them. Good 40 minute or so smoke.

Based on your review above I scored a fiver of the RH-5554 and just put it down for a nap. Will see how they are in a few weeks time.

Be sure to post your own impression after you fire them up! Also, have you ever smoked a Kristoff? If so, do compare!

I note the Mothership has a pretty good deal on a 10-count Blendlab grab bag. For those interested in taking the plunge, it looks worth it.

I have a trio of rh-5554 and rq-444 headed my way. I'll let them rest then post up a review.

Picked up that good deal 10 stick blendlab sampler from the Mothership which is especially nice when also getting daily deal free shipping. So, with this and the warmer weather, more reviews soon!

Midmo, have you had the YT-650 yet? Was given one, and its sitting here in front of me, site shows it as a Torpedo, but this is definitely a toro.

No I haven't. Connecticuts are not my first choice so getting one of those would be as part of a sampler or a "one-off" to review when I have another order in.

I HAVE noticed some discrepancies in size and description at times with the Blendlabs. Let the store know of the mistake, the one you were "promised" would have been bigger at least.

Post your review! Need other people to get their views in on these sticks.

woo-hoo!

Got my 10 count Blendlab grab-bag from the Mothership. 24.99 and free shipping since I did the daily deal as well.

Here is what was included:

YP 5754
KD 737
QX 6542
ZH 6552
KD 5552
ZO 650
PH 650
ZT 6560
JH 6748
MY 6552

A few that I have had and reviewed but a bunch of new ones as well. also scored a 5'er or QE-654 that never had before so a whole lot of new reviews in the near future!

Have to say that, if you have been looking to try out some blendlabs, this is a great way to start especially if you snag some free shipping from a daily deal or the like.

YP-5754

Pulled this one out of the grab-bag as never had it before and looked interesting. Dang, if it wasn't another good one. Dark, Salomon shape great pre-light smell. Starts off mildly spicy with both pepper and salty flavors. Spice fades out (pepper went away first then the salt) leaving a very rich tobacco flavor with Dark Roast Coffee and Bitter (in a good way) Dark Chocolate underneath. Didn't pick up any real "sweetness" as mentioned in some other reviews and the blurb until near the end and even then not that much. Strength did kick up halfway though and got bit of a nic buzz by the end. This one stays with you, will need a couple of good tooth brushings and mouthwashes before palate is clean again!

Lots of smoke and lasted a good 90 min. before I decided to call it a smoke. Only real drawback to this one would be its listed price on CI. $7.00 per stick is pretty hefty, so putting this in my "will buy again if the price is right" category.

On back-order as of this post anyway.

KD 737

Lancero. Have to say you look really cool smoking this one. Beautiful cigar, firm ash, straight burn. Full Nicaraguan tobacco flavor. Definite niccotine buzz. Trouble was the draw. Like many others of this size, it was too tightly rolled. Like sucking a super thick milkshake out of a straw at times and that meant some heavy puffa that got it burning too hot several times and that made the smoke harsh.

This blend would taste great if rolled better or maybe bigger ring gauge.

QE-654

Beautiful Cigar and great pre-light smell. Lit easily and never needed retouching. Razor sharp burn and firm ash. About 1 hour 45 min smoke. Huge amounts of smoke. Got a fiver of them for $10 here on the great Cbid!

Burned one ROTT and have to say this is one of the stronger Blendlabs I have had. Very strong tobacco and dark-dark coffee-sh flavors. When good, it was very-very good. At times, however, it was a bit harsh and bitter, like coffee that has been overheated on the warmer all day. Not always like that, but at times it came through that way. Other than that the flavor profile stayed the same the entire smoke, so those that want a cigar to "Evolve" over time would not care for this.

This is a hard stick for me to categorize, so going to come up with a new category! I am putting this one in my new "wait and see" category. I am betting that this stick needs to sit for a while to mellow out just a bit, then could be a winner. So the remaining 4 from my fiver will go into the "aging" humi for a while. Will pull one out in about 3-4 months and report back, then, if still a bit harsh, another one 3 months after that. IF that doesn't do it, it will be cold weather time again so that last couple will get a whole year on them before they would get fired up - so this one might be a long-term project!

Tough job but someone has to do it...

THERE HAS BEEN A REVEAL!!!

As of this post, Cbid has the VB-7644 coming up for bid soon . The headline says it is by Drew Estate! Given that it is an infused cigar, this isn't a big shocker -and reviewers have suspected this - but its the first time I have seen an official attribution of a Blendlab to a specific company.

EDIT: Although not mentioned in any text, the photo on the Mothership has Drew Estate on the Band now. Didn't used to and not sure when that showed up!

Interesting, having the Blendlab branded in that way sort of goes against the concept of the whole blendlab thing in the first place - sort of blurs the line with the Copper Label DE's