Video review HERE.
(Description provided by Black Works Studio)
HYENA is a Limited Edition that began shipping to select BLK WKS retailers at the beginning of March.
"Hyena is the latest addition to the BLK WKS portfolio. A truly unique cigar that is focused on showcasing a perfect balance between Nicaraguan fillers and the Cameroon wrapper. The profile is spice forward with white pepper & semi-sweet baking spices blended with herbal notes & cedar.
The finish is a blend of bitter cocoa, cream & malt. Hyena is an extremely complex and balanced cigar and is a tribute to our many years of living in Africa,” said James Brown, creator of BLTC & BLK WKS and owner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
HYENA
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaragua
Vitolas:
Corona Gorda – 5 x 46 (20 count) MSRP $12.00
Lonsdale – 6.5x42 (20 count) MSRP $12.50 REVIEWED TODAY
These cigars are an expression of art showcasing the talent, technique and tobacco of our boutique cigar factory; Fabrica Oveja Negra.
After having several of both the corona gorda and the lonsdale I chose to review the lonsdale because it gave more and better flavors.
This is not the first time James Brown has used a Cameroon wrapper in a cigar. Last year I reviewed the Killer Bee Swarm. It was his first time using the wrapper and this cigar received a score of 94.33.
The cigar is nice looking and features a semi-closed foot.
The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were cedar, light apricot, brown sugar, light leather, and earthy black coffee. There was white pepper rated at 7 1/2. At the light up there are not a lot of Cameroon characteristics but I expect that to change quickly.
At the first third (28 minutes) the cigar has settled down into some nice Cameroon flavors; buttery caramel, cedar, light leather, light nutmeg that is actually fairly cloaked by the caramel, and earthy black coffee. The finish is caramel and nutmeg with nice lingering white pepper. The caramel notes appeared around the 3/4 to 1 inch point. The cigar is medium bodied at this point. I rated the first third 94.
As I moved through the second third (51 minutes) the cigar started to come together nicely. The caramel is very sweet and has a toasted aspect; almost scorched, but in a good way. There were cedar notes, light underlying leather, and earthy black coffee. There is now a lot of black pepper. It switched over. The black coffee helps to balance out the cigar with the massive, rich caramel notes. The cigar is now medium to full bodied. The finish is still caramel with light nutmeg. The lingering black pepper is very good. The cigar definitely improved. I rated the second third 95.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 9 minutes. The richness continued. The massive sweetness continued. I no longer had any light leather notes. There is a lot of sweet, rich caramel and accompanying brown sugar, a little cedar, very light nutmeg, and quite a bit of earthy black coffee. The cigar reached full bodied. The finish is unchanged and has a lot of lingering black pepper. The black pepper is probably the second star of this cigar with the caramel being the first. The cigar has an intense sweetness with a lot of black pepper. I held the score of 95 for the final third. This is a very good cigar. James Brown did a good job with the Cameroon in this blend.
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