JC Newman

September 11, 2022

Bishops Blend 2022 Corona Larga (6 1/4 x 46)








Video review HERE.


(Description provided by Black Label Trading Company)

Black Label Trading Company is pleased to announce the shipment of Bishops Blend to select retailers beginning next week.  Bishops Blend is hand crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua at Fabrica Oveja Negra.

“We are very excited about this highly anticipated release.  This is the seventh release of Bishops Blend and continues to be one of our most sought-after, limited annual releases.  Bishops Blend boasts big bold flavors of anise, pepper, raisins, and a sweet earthiness on the finish. It is very complex and extremely refined. As with the past vintages, the broadleaf fillers shine at the forefront and are perfectly balanced by the Nicaraguan filler tobaccos,” said James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Co. and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.

BISHOPS BLEND will be available at select retailers. 


Blend and Origin:

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Habano Maduro

Binder: Ecuador Habano

Filler: Nicaragua, Connecticut & PA Broadleaf


Available vitolas:

Corona Larga – 6.25 x 46 (20 count) MSRP $12.00 REVIEWED TODAY

Robusto – 5 x 48 (20 count) MSRP $11.00

Lancero – 7 x 42 (20 count) MSRP $12.50    


The cigar looks like previous versions, very dark and well made with the signature cap and closed foot. It has an average feel in the hand.




The test draw after cutting the "Bishops hat" cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were raisin, citrus, citrus peel, brown sugar, and black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2. The initial notes are quite similar to previous versions.



At the first third (29 minutes) this year's version is a little different from last year's. I had light raisin, light citrus/cedar, brown sugar, toffee, and black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish had toffee, brown sugar, and light coffee with good lingering black pepper. This year's version does not have the over the top rich raisin notes. This year they are rather light. The cigar is good but does not have the richness of last year. I rated the first third 93.




Moving through the second third (1 hour) nothing has changed. I had the same notes. The strength was the same and the finish was the same. I held the score of 93.




The cigar lasted 1 hour 20 minutes. In the final third the toffee notes seemed to come out a little more giving the cigar nice sweetness. The notes were hints of raisin, brown sugar, light cedar, toffee, and black coffee. The cigar is now full bodied. The finish is unchanged; primarily brown sugar and toffee with very good lingering black pepper. Because of the sweetness of the toffee and brown sugar I raised the score to 94. This is a very good cigar but not quite as good as last year.




Overall Score: 93.33

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