Video review HERE.
(Description taken from VenturaCigar.com website)
Ventura Cigars announced the addition of Chapter 3 to the Archetype Cigars story, with two new tobacco blends set to release in June at PCA/IPCPR 2019. These unique cigars, named Sacred Scales and Dawn of Destiny, are crafted by Cigar Master Ernesto Perez-Carrillo in his award-winning factory in the Dominican Republic. Perez-Carrillo and Michael Giannini, General Manager at Ventura Cigar, have a unique friendship which spans over the last 20 years, crossing paths at different points in their career journeys. Archetype Chapter 3 is a celebration that marks their 3rd cigar collaboration, and the beginning of a new phase in the Archetype story, and in their story as icons in the cigar industry.
Chapter 3’s Sacred Scales, marks the inflection point in this journey, beginning the hero’s return to the real world from the imaginary. This full-bodied, full-flavored cigar offers a rich, signature Ernesto Perez-Carrillo smoking experience, featuring a San Andres Maduro wrapper from Mexico, an Ecuadorian binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. Sacred Scales will be available in a 5 x 50 Robusto, 6 x 52 Toro, and 6 x 60 Gordo.
“Ernesto Perez-Carrillo is one-of-a-kind,” says Michael Giannini, General Manager for Ventura Cigars. “He and I go way back. We are champions of each other’s work in the cigar industry, and creative collaborators at points along the way. It made sense for us to team up and begin this new chapter of Archetype, forging a new path in its story, and celebrating a new phase in our careers. Ernesto’s a master crafter, as a creator of blends that treat the cigar smoker to an evolving flavor experience. Chapter 3 is going to be an exciting one for all of us- I just know it.”
Today I am looking at the toro, 6 x 52.
The bands on the cigar look like they would look great under a black light. The colors are reminiscent of the colors on posters that were made for black lights. The cigar is dark and has a nice feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were a tangy citrus, low level cinnamon and brown sugar, a massive amount of espresso, and sweet chocolate. There was black pepper rated at 7. At first draw you get the citrus but there is a massive wave of espresso coming right behind. The sweeter notes are mixed in but there is no denying the massive amount of espresso. Perhaps it will tone down after the cigar settles down.
14 minutes in, or about one inch, the flavors have indeed settled down. Now you have orange citrus, cinnamon, brown sugar, orange peel, nutmeg, semi-sweet chocolate, and a stout black coffee. 
At the first third (37 minutes) you have the same flavor notes as described above. There is still a lot of black coffee notes. The orange peel seems to work for the cigar and also against it at times. The cigar is a high grade medium. The finish is a lot of chocolate with little sweetness and some nutmeg. The lingering black pepper is pretty good. The cigar is interesting and very different. I rated the first third at 92.
Moving through the second third (1 hour 9 minutes) the cigar is burning quite slowly. There are more pronounced citrus notes now. The cigar is also smooth. There are still the same flavor notes but the orange citrus is elevated. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is a little sweeter. There is a touch of the orange citrus on the finish helping the sweetness. There are also chocolate and nutmeg notes. The lingering black pepper remains good. The cigar improved in the second third. I rated the second third at 93.
The cigar lasted an impressive 1 hour 38 minutes. I was surprised at the burn time. In the final third the chocolate notes rose considerably and they have sweetness. The coffee notes ticked up also. The citrus morphed over to a cedar as it sometimes does. I still had nutmeg, brown sugar, and cinnamon. The cigar is now full bodied. The finish has gone back to the way it was in the first third; chocolate with nutmeg and very little sweetness with nice lingering black pepper. This cigar made numerous changes along the way. Not huge changes in most instances but it kept changing. The orange peel was no longer in the mix in the final third. I dropped the final third back to 92. This is a pretty good cigar with plenty of dark notes and sweetness. Very interesting flavor notes.
Overall Score: 92.33
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