Ezra Zion Tantrum PA (6 1/2 x 44)

Video review HERE.

The Ezra Zion Cigar Company launched a line extension to its Tantrum line at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show.  The Ezra Zion Tantrum P.A. is a lonsdale format.  While this cigar is a different size, it is also a different blend.

The “P.A.” stands for “Passive Aggressive” and as described by Ezra Zion co-founder Kyle Hoover "the cigar has more strength in the early stages, then it mellows in the second third before ramping up on the final third".

Ezra Zion says they did not have the tobaccos from the original Ezra Zion Tantrum to create another cigar, but they looked for tobaccos that would deliver a cigar that incorporates some of the profiles of the original. 

Ezra Zion is considering making the Tantrum series an annual release, but a final decision hasn’t been made.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Vitolas Available:

The Ezra Zion Tantrum P.A. will be available in one size – a 6 1/2 x 44 lonsdale.  

A total of 600 boxes were made.

I reviewed the original Tantrum last year and it was one of the best cigars I reviewed in 2014. Since this is a different blend I am curious as to whether this cigar will be as good as the original.

The cigar is very well made and beautiful to look at. It is box pressed.

The gauge of the cigar is the same as the original Tantrum; 44, and they stretched the length to a lonsdale at 6 1/2 inches.

Here is a shot of the foot:

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good with just a touch of firmness. The initial flavors were orange citrus and graham crackers with nice sweetness, along with some brown sugar and dry wood. There was white pepper rated at a 7 1/2.

About 1 1/2 inches in the citrus notes are overshadowed by the heavy graham cracker and cinnamon. The dry wood is also very prominent. The cigar is very meaty, almost like a good steak. The cigar is a tad over medium bodied. The finish is a sweet cream with some dry wood and a little lingering white pepper.

Into the second third the cigar is a sweet cedar, brown sugar, and cinnamon with quite a bit of influence from the dry wood and there is now light coffee at the base. The strength does not appear to have changed much but it possibly went down just a tad. The finish is about the same.

The cigar ended at a definite medium to full bodied. It really amped up! The flavors are a sweet cedar, cinnamon, and brown sugar with dry wood. The light coffee is still at the base. The pepper seems to be wanting to transition to a black pepper. The finish is about the same. The strength of the cigar is the big news here at the end. This cigar is not, after having it, the same as the original Tantrum. However, it is very good. The flavors are somewhat similar and do remind me of the original, which I liked a little better. But, this is a good cigar in it's own right and lovers of the original will like this one as well.

Score: 92

Ezra Zion Tantrum (4.44 x 44)

Video review HERE.

Ezra Zion is another cigar from The House of Emilio and Gary Griffith. It has several blends in various sizes but this version, the Tantrum, is available in only one size and it's one that's easy to remember; 4.44x44. The actual size is called Prensado Pequeño. This is a Nicaraguan puro and in limited release. There were only 1500 boxes of 28 cigars released. 

Wrapper: Limited 1999 Cuban Seed, Corojo

Binder: Grade AA Nicaraguan Tobaccos Aged 5 to 7 Years

Filler: Grade AA Nicaraguan Tobaccos Aged 5 to 7 Years

The cigar is box pressed and well made. Here is a shot of the foot.

After cutting the minimum from the cap the test draw was very good. The initial flavors at light up were a sweet cedar, roasted nuts, and a lot of black pepper. There are light nutmeg notes. The black pepper is rated at an 8. Right away you get a lot of sweet cedar and roasted nut flavors. I will be smoking this cigar slowly to get the best flavors.

About 1/2 inch the black pepper has changed to a red pepper. There is a sweet, thick cedar and nutmeg combination with the roasted nuts. The pepper is very good. The finish is a toasted cream with a nice lingering black pepper. Did you get that? There is a red pepper on the front end and a black pepper on the finish! The cigar is medium bodied and very close to medium to full bodied.

About one inch in the roasted nuts are faint but the sweet, rich cedar and nutmeg are dominant. The pepper is still very good but the lingering pepper on the palate is fantastic. There is also a base flavor of coffee on the front end. The two peppers make the cigar very interesting and enjoyable.

About 1 1/2 inches in the ash is dropping quite a bit! The flavors are now evening out. The sweet cedar, nutmeg, roasted nuts (which are back), and the coffee are very even in intensity. The flavors are smooth. The finish is a graham cracker flavor. The lingering pepper has ticked down just a notch. The cigar is now a little over medium to full bodied and approaching full bodied very quickly.

With about 1 1/2 inches left the nutmeg notes have tailed off. The sweet cedar is prominent and there is a lot of charred oak attached to the cedar. The coffee is still the base. The pepper seems to be transitioning over to a black pepper on the front end. The finish is still  one of graham crackers. The lingering pepper on the finish has also tailed off a bit. The cigar is full bodied now. The cigar is slow burning and burns evenly when smoked slowly.

At the end the flavors were sweet cedar with a touch of richness and a brown sugar sweetness. There were charred oak notes. In the previous segment I stated that the red pepper seemed to be changing over to a black pepper on the front end. Here at the end I can taste both black and red pepper on the front end. Coffee remained the base. The finish remained one of graham cracker with a black pepper finish. The cigar ended up full bodied. This has been a fantastic cigar. I was totally impressed by the Tantrum. It would be nice if the cigar was available in a larger size as I hated for it to end!

Score: 93

Top Cigars of 2014; Year end wrap up

Video recap HERE.


2014 was a very good year for cigars. I reviewed a total of 80 cigars and I found many that were very good and the scores show it. I tried to review only new cigars this year and for the most part I succeeded. This is my year end countdown of the top 20 cigars but every cigar that I reviewed will be shown at the end of this post in groups according to score. The top cigars will have a link to the blog post shown in the year end countdown. Otherwise you can search for them by name.

Let's get started!

Number 16-20

#20
Tatuaje Tattoo Cabellero
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: unknown
Filler: Nicaraguan

#19
Crowned Heads Las Calaveras LC550
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano Oscuro (8th priming)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

#18
Roberto P. Duran La Punta
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Crillo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan and other Latin America tobaccos (unknown)

#17
CAO Amazon Basin
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Bragança, Dominican Republic, and Colombia

#16
House of  Burgess Connecticut Toro
Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican

Number 11 - 15

#15

Reunion Digestivo Toro
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres maduro
Binder: Proprietary
Filler: Jalapa and Esteli (Nicaraguan)

#14

Draig Cayuquero Robusto
Wrapper: Brazilian Arapirica
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

#13

Ortega Serie D Black Robusto
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaraguan (Esteli)

#12

Ditka Signature Toro
Wrapper: Honduran criollo
Binder: Nicaraguan corojo 99
Filler: Dominican Republic

#11

Perdomo 12 Year Double Aged Vintage Maduro Epicure
Wrapper: Nicaraguan maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

My Top 10 of 2014

1502 Nicaragua Robusto

93 points

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Ditka 89 Toro

93 points
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican and Honduran

Ezra  Zion Tantrum

93 points

Wrapper: Limited 1999 Cuban Seed, Corojo
Binder: Grade AA Nicaraguan Tobaccos Aged 5 to 7 Years
Filler: Grade AA Nicaraguan Tobaccos Aged 5 to 7 Years

Reunion Aperitivo Toro

94 points
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Claro
Binder: Proprietary
Filler: Nicaraguan (Jalapa and Condega)

King of Kings Broadleaf

94 points
Wrapper: Broadleaf
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Kings proprietary blend

1875  Romeo y Julieta Bully

94 points
Wrapper: Indonesian Shade (TBN) Select Vintage 2010
Binder: Aged Dominican Piloto
Filler: Aged Dominican and Olor

Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Epicure 

94  points
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

La Patrona Robusto

94  points
Wrapper - Sungrown Sumatra Ecuador
Binder - Brazil 
Filler - Brazil, DR, Peru and Nicaragua

Ashton Symmetry Belicoso 

94 points
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano 
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic

Cohiba Nicaragua En Crystale

95 points
Wrapper: Honduran Colorado Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR

Perdomo Cigars

for their

12 Year Double Aged Vintage Cigars

Connecticut

Sun Grown

Maduro

DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR

House of Emilio

for having 

5 cigars in my Top 15

Reunion Digestivo Toro

Draig Cayuquero Robusto

1502 Nicaragua Robusto

Ezra Zion Tantrum

Reunion Aperitivo

Click the link for the full review and a link inside the blog post for the YouTube video review.

There were a lot of cigars that came out this year that I simply did not have time to review so look for them early in 2015.

As always, it was fun reviewing all these cigars. I look forward to next year and a lot more reviews! I welcome  your comments so please don't be shy!

Here is the complete list of every cigar I reviewed in 2014 with score. The cigar name, size, and date reviewed are shown. Where did your favorite cigar place?

95
Cohiba Nicaragua En Crystale (5 x 50) 10/5/14


94
Reunion Aperitivo Toro (6 x 52) 5/3/14
King of Kings Broadleaf (6 x 64 Box Pressed) 6/7/14
La Patrona Robusto (5 x 50) 7/20/14
1875 Romeo y Julieta Bully (5 x 50) 8/31/14
Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Epicure (6 x 56) 10/4/14
Ashton Symmetry Belicoso (5 1/4 x 52) 11/9/14


93
Ditka 89 Toro (6x50) 2/2/14
House of Burgess Connecticut Toro (6 x 52) 2/15/14
Reunion Digestivo Toro (6 x 52) 3/8/14
Draig Cayuquero Robusto (5 x 50) 3/16/14
Ezra Zion Tantrum (4.44 x 44) 3/29/14
Miami Cigar Bundles Maduro torpedo (5x52) 6/21/14
1502 Nicaragua Robusto (5 x 52) 8/3/14
Ortega Serie D Black Robusto (5 x 52) 8/10/14
Ditka Signature Toro by Camacho (6 x 50) 9/20/14
Roberto P. Duran La Punta (6 x 54) 10/12/14
Crowned Heads Las Calaveras LC550 (5 x 50) 11/2/14
Perdomo 12 Year Double Aged Vintage Maduro Epicure (6 x 56) 11/22/14
Tatuaje Tattoo Cabellero (Robusto) (5 x 50) 11/23/14
CAO Amazon Basin (6 x 52) 12/13/14


92
Fuente Fuente Opus X - Angel's Share PerfecXion X (6 1/4 x 48) 1/4/14
Kentucky Fire Cured (MUWAT) Just a Friend (6x52) 2/1/14
Arturo Fuente Destino al Siglo De Pasion (6 3/4 x 49) 2/8/14
J. Castanon Mareba (5 3/4 x 50) 3/22/14
Nomad S-307 Toro (6 x 50) 3/29/14
La Musa Melete Toro (6 x 50) 4/5/14
Leccia Luchador El Hombre (5 x 54) 5/4/14
La Musa Mousa Toro (6 x 50) 5/18/14
Los Regalos Quetzal Toro (6 x 52) 6/1/14
Arandoza Cigars Red Label Toro (6 x 52) 7/6/14
Quesada 40th Anniversary Robusto (5 x 52) 7/27/14
L'Atelier LAT Lancero (7 1/2 x 38) 8/9/14
262 Cigars Revere Lonsdale (6 1/2 x 44) 8/16/14
Perdomo Double Aged Vintage Connecticut Epicure (6 x 56) 8/23/14
E. P. Carrillo 5th Anniversary Toro (6 1/2 x 54) 9/27/14
BG Meyer Standard Issue Robusto by Camacho & Rob Weiss (5 x 50) 10/26/14
La Palina Black Label Robusto (5 x 52) 11/16/14


91
Liga Privada T52 Robusto (5 x 54) 1/5/14
Baron robusto (by Kings Cigars) (5x52) 1/26/14
Tres Reynas Robusto (5 x 50) 2/9/14
House of Burgess Maduro Toro (6 x 52) 2/22/14
Cuban Crafters Medina 1959 Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52) 3/1/14
Camacho Diploma Robusto (5 x 50) 3/9/14
Tijerinos Torpedo (6 x 54) 3/15/14
The Judge by J. Fuego, Blind Justice (5 x 50) 3/23/14
Guayacan Robusto (5 x 50) 4/13/14
Gonzo Santeria Heina (6 x 52) 5/31/14
Partagas 1845 Extra Oscuro Robusto Gordo (5 1/2 x 52) 6/8/14
Miami Cigar Bundles Habano Torpedo (6 x 52) 6/14/14
Dunhill 1907 Robusto (5x52) 6/15/14
My Fathers Cigars La Antiguedad 'Toro (5 5/8 x 55) 6/28/14
Room 101 The Big Payback Chavala (5 x 50) 6/29/14
Buena Vista Reserva Piramide (6.3 x 52) 7/19/14
OSOK (One Shot One Kill) by Edgar Hoill - Cabron (6.5 x 60) 7/26/14
My Father Connecticut Robusto (5 1/4 x 52) 8/17/14
Jericho Hill OBS (4 3/4 x 52) 9/11/14
Espinosa Laranja Reserva Toro (6 x 52) 11/15/14
Surrogates Satin Glove (7 x 47) 11/29/14
Joya Red Robusto (5 1/4 x 50) 12/14/14


90
Arturo Fuente Casa Cuba Pre-Release 2013 toro (6 x 52) 2/12/14
Vega Fina Sumum Edicion Especial 2010 Toro (6 x 54) 4/26/14
Nomad Connecticut Fuerte Toro (6x52) 5/24/14
Cubanacan Habano Piramide (6 1/8 x 52) 8/30/14
Illusione Fume D'Amour Viejos (5 x 50) 9/21/14
A. J. Fernandez New World Gobernador (Toro) (6 1/2 x 55) 10/25/14
Ave Maria Immaculata Toro (6 x 50) 11/1/14
Black Label Trading Co. Lawless Churchill (7 x 48) 11/30/14


89
Inferno Flashpoint Robusto (5 x 52) 2/23/14
Inch Short Run 2014 No. 62 (5 x 62) 3/30/14
Ezra Zion Eminence Belicoso Gran Toro (5 x 58) 4/27/14
Partagas 1845 Extra Fuerte Robusto Gordo (5 1/2 x 52) 5/25/14


88
Juan Lopez Seleccion no. 2 (6x4) 1/25/14
Gonzo Vintage 2007 Trajabador (5 x 56) 4/6/14
H. Upmann The Banker Annuity (6 x 52) 7/13/14
Montecristo Espada Guard (6 x 50) 8/2/14
Black Abyss Banshee (by JR Cigars) (5 x 50) 8/24/14
Quesada Oktoberfest Kaiser Ludwig (6 x 49) 9/28/14
CAO Black Limited Bengal (6 x 50) 11/8/14


87
7-20-4 1874 Robusto Especial (5 1/2 x 52) 2/16/14
Ezra Zion Honor Series FHK Character (Belicoso) (6 x 52) 5/26/14