Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Halfwheel.com website)
United Cigars has released two new vitolas of its Independence line.
The blend, which is made by Arnold André in the Dominican Republic, debuted earlier this year in the Independence Firecracker, a limited edition release as part of United’s long-running Firecracker series of cigars.
At the time, the company didn’t announce that there were new vitolas coming. However, last month, it said that Independence would be a regular production line, offered in two standard vitolas. Like with the Firecracker version, the two new cigars ship in 12-count metal tins that can also be used as an ashtray.
“Why mess with success?” said Oliver Nivaud, director of operations for United Cigars, in a press release last month. “The Independence Firecracker exceeded every expectation. Rather than retire a blend people fell in love with, we’re making Independence a permanent part of the Arnold André portfolio.”
United is also the American distributor for Arnold André.
Blend:
Wrapper: Mexican Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
Vitolas:
Toro: 5 7/8 x 50 REVIEWED TODAY
Robusto: 4 7/8 x 50
The cigar is dark brown and has an average feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were a citrus/cedar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and earthy black coffee. The notes have a slight buttery flavor. There was black pepper rated at 7. Pretty good start.
At the first third (25 minutes) I had a little more citrus than cedar, brown sugar, cinnamon, earthiness, and black coffee that's a little intrusive. You get the sweet notes and then from out of nowhere the black coffee swoops in to steal the show. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is a doughy nutmeg with a touch of citrus and very good lingering black pepper. The sweet notes are very nice but the attack of the black coffee is detracting. I rated the first third 93.
As I moved through the second third (45 minutes) the back coffee pulled back to a normal amount. Now the nice notes of citrus, cedar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and slight buttery notes can shine as they should with a moderate amount of earthiness and black coffee. The finish is more of a citrus with a sprinkling of cinnamon and brown sugar with very good lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied, leaning toward medium to full. The cigar improved. I rated the second third 94.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 13 minutes. In the final third the earthy black coffee rose a little but it's not the intrusive type that was in the first third. It's just elevated causing the sweet notes to dip a little. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is back to that doughy nutmeg with hints of citrus and very good lingering black pepper. I rated the final third 93. The cigar is not back but it's a little interesting how it was blended and the differences in the thirds.
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