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!)

WH-660

Larger Cigar, Gordo 60 gague size. Very well constructed. Prelight aroma grassy/barnyardish. Lit easily and very good draw. Spicy start with grassy undertones. Spice diminished after the first inch or so moving to a more tobacco and leather flavor. Not a super strong cigar as you might be led to believe from the blurbs but sill nice and medium-full. Lots of nice smoke. Very good cigar but the ring gauge is a bit big for my preferences.

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.

QX-6542

6.5x42 Lancero. Only had one of these so far and it had problems. Was very squishy for first 1/3 or so but right at the band it was as hard as a rock, even bulging out a bit. As a result the draw was very very hard. Rolling and pinching the hard spot didn't help much at all. As a result had to puff pretty hard to keep it going and it never felt like ti was really "lit" well. The hard puffing also made it burn hot at times and that hurt the flavor. Incredibly uneven canoe burn right from the start that touch ups were not correcting. Wrapper came a bit unraveled several times just in front of the burn.

The burn/ash then got REALLY weird as there was a very hard bit of ash that would not come off. I wish I had taken pics because never seen this before it was almost like it was a very hard thin twig right in the center of the cigar. I mean you could bang this thing pretty hard on something or push hard against the ashtray even at an angle and it would not come off!

Eventually once the cigar burned past the halfway point things got better. The draw loosened up, you didn't have to constantly puff it and, after several significant touch-ups, it finally burned a bit more evenly and the super hard ash "twigish" thing crumbled away. At that point the QX did start tasting like mentioned in the blurb but it was sure not worth the wait.

Have another one of these and going to let it sit in the humi for a while before trying it again but as it is, would not rebuy.

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

Yeah and I haven't tried any of the ones that are on there right now. just wish they had 5 packs and samplers available.

We are working on getting some 5 packs up. 🇨🇮

Mothership used to have samplers up.

My personal favorite is the PH-650 but haven't seen any here in years.

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

I got to try a 5 pack sampler awhile back when it was offered on cbid, it was a nice little package and came with a paper that briefly described all in the cigars. It was an interesting sampler at a really good price, didn't turn out to be something to write home about but they weren't bad.

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

Im liking your reviews. I have a handful of different blends don't remember when I got em or what blends. Suppose I'll have to check at some point.

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!

QX-6542 2nd try

Would not let me edit for some reason so here is the review of second one of these:

Much more consistent on the firmness. Not the soft first third and hard as a rock bulge at the band. Firm draw but not horrible. Also burned much better. Problem here was the flavor. Simply not good. Bitter ash is the best way can describe it. Unpleasant. Let it sit for a bit in case I had gotten it to hot. Didn't go out but taste still the same. Tried but couldn't finish. (Cleared my palette with a CI Nicaraguan 2nd that I got a bundle of real cheap a while back.)

Interestingly, there is one other review besides mine on the Mothership for this BlendLab stick and sounds like be had the same draw/burn problems I had with the first stick. In all I will be staying away from this one.

Some different BlendLabs on the way so more reports coming soon.

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.

ME-6052

Have smoked two of these from recent shipment and its one of my favorites. They call this a "toro" sized cigar (6.0 x 52). Also a beautiful made cigar, firm lovely color. Very straight burn throughout - no touch-ups needed. Ash was incredibly firm and hung on a long time. I'm sure everyone has seen photos in ads of a cigar standing on its end, balancing on a couple inches of ash. Well, if you had a level surfacel, you could do it with this one. Despite the firm ash and how well packed it was, the draw was excellent. The aroma out of the wrapper was like you walked into a big humidor - tobacco, wood, etc - it was wonderful.

After lighting, it was very flavorful although I would not give it the full, "full" rating you see on CI, I have had a lot more "fuller" cigars. That's not a bad thing with this stick as its has a wonderful flavor I would not want messed up by trying to punch up the strength. Flavor of aged tobacco with bit of cedar - again just like a walk-in humi. Consistent but not overdone dark chocolate/mocha coffee undertones - but never "sweet" picked up a bit of choco-cherry at times. Again not sweet but you get that flavor. Lots of lovely smoke. Nice "meaty" satisfying smoke but no ashy or bad aftertaste. Lasted forever. No real pepper to speak of despite what the blurb suggests.

The only negative - for some people - that I can think of is that the flavor profile stayed pretty much the same from start to finish. Although the undertone of cocoa/coffee/etc did fluctuate a bit in and out, the cigar was pretty much the same from start to finish. That was fine for me for how this tasted but i know some want a cigar to "evolve" over it's burn and this one really doesn't do that. At $6/per on CI its not the cheapest blend-lab, but not the most expensive either.

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.

I made some Elk chilli this week and the Punisher was my after chili cigar, and it went great. Shared some chilli and a punisher with the neighbors. They are young, and really enjoy the cigars I pass them.

Keep up the taste test,I am taking notes. =p~

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

PJ-5556

This is a very interesting cigar that I will need to get more of to make a final opinion. Just picked up a single of this one (for $2 and, since i only get singles after i already have a bigger order in, the shipping on it was $0.25.Goes for $4 a single on CI) Listed as 5.5x56 but it seemed a bit thicker than that - going to have to get something to measure ring-gauge I guess for these Blendlabs.

Started out very "Cuban-esque" reminded me of the H.Upman Tubos i used to pick up in Windsor. Mild spice and lots of smoke. Tasted a lot more Cuban than many others that advertise that.

About one-inch in (and that took a while as it burns slow) it hit a bad spot. Flavor left completely and it was simply harsh and ashy -wasn't over-smoking it either.

The bad spot cleared and the spice was no longer there. Much more "toasty" and "earthy" still with a lot of nice smoke. Very tasty but quite a lot different from the start.

Huge solid ash that was not coming off.

About 2/3 in the toast flavor faded out and spice started coming back(but never as much as the very beginning) and it got stronger. Also, at that point, developed a bit of a burn issue and needed several touch-ups

Finished strong and flavorful with a savory/chewy aftertaste that was quite pleasant.

Lasted a full two hours and I feel like I just finished off a nice steak.

In all, except for the brief bad spot, was a very good smoke and a great value - 2 hours for $2.25 is a deal, but going to try and grab some more of these to get a better sampling.