JC Newman

August 11, 2019

Morphine 2019 Short Robusto (4 1/2 x 50)










Video review HERE.


(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)
Black Label Trading Company’s annual limited release Morphine is returning for the sixth consecutive year. This year’s release features three previously released vitolas in the line: Lancero, Short Robusto, and Box Pressed Corona Gorda.

“I can’t believe it’s been six years since our first Morphine release. To celebrate we have brought back one of my favorite vitolas, the 7×38 Lancero. The other vitolas are old favorites also, the short Robusto and the Box Pressed Corona Gorda. This years vintage is rich and earthy with bold spice on the retro. The key note flavors are raisin, black cherry and a big blast of anise on the finish. This vintage is one of the best yet!” said James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Company and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra in a press release.


Blend and Origin
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica Oveja Negra


Short Robusto: 4 1/2.x 50 (20 count boxes, MSRP $10.50/cigar) REVIEWED TODAY
Corona Gorda Box Press: 5 1/2 x 46 (18 count boxes, MSRP $10.50/cigar)
Lancero: 7 x 38 (12 count boxes, MSRP $11.50/cigar)



The cigar is almost jet black. It looks like a stick of dark chocolate. The cigar is finished with a pigtail cap.





The cigar has an average feel for a short robusto.





The test draw after cutting the pigtail from the cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were a citrus/cedar (mostly cedar), a little brown sugar, cinnamon, and cream, quite a bit of nutmeg, and a ton of espresso and unsweetened dark chocolate. The espresso and dark chocolate make up about 70% of the flavors at the outset. There was a large amount of black pepper which I rated at 8 1/2 initially. 




At the first third (17 minutes) the cigar has settled down quite a bit. The mostly cedar (slight amount of citrus), brown sugar, and cinnamon are much more definable now. The espresso has greatly toned down and it's more of a stout black coffee. The unsweetened dark chocolate has also decreased to a more manageable amount. There's still plenty of nutmeg. The cigar is full bodied right away. The finish is one of sweet cream and lots of lingering black pepper. There is no longer cream on the front end but it does show up on the finish. The cigar is impressive. I rated the first third at 93.




At the second third (39 minutes) I had a little citrus but mostly cedar, a lot of cinnamon mixing with the nutmeg making a nice flavor, brown sugar, unsweetened dark chocolate and stout black coffee. The black pepper is more in the range of 7 to 7 1/2 now so it's toned down. The cigar is still full bodied. The finish is now one of cream and nutmeg with nice lingering black pepper. The cigar has not changed enough to change the score so I rated the second third at 93.




The cigar lasted only 51 minutes. It's a short powerhouse. In the final third the cigar seemed to revert back to the way it initially started with decreased sweetness and very elevated unsweetened dark chocolate and black coffee, almost tasting like espresso again. The cigar is very full bodied. The finish is unchanged. This is a very good, powerful cigar with plenty of dark notes and plenty of sweetness for the most part. I'll be comparing this to the lancero version soon. With the decreased sweeter notes and elevated dark notes I rated the final third at 92. You can purchase these cigars HERE.


Overall Score: 92.67

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