The Black Label Trading Company Orthodox is an exclusive cigar that was made available only to retailers who attending the PCA 2024 trade show that occurred in March in Las Vegas. Available in three sizes; Short Robusto (4.5 x 52 / $12.50), Corona Gorda (5 x 46 / $12.50) and Toro (5 3/4 x 50 / $13.00). Each size is limited to 900 boxes.
According to James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Co./Black Works Studio and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra, “Orthodox is really about Black Label getting back to its roots. We’ve done a lot over the last 10 years but at our core we are about highlighting the strength & intensity of Nicaraguan tobacco. That’s what I went for with the Orthodox. It’s extremely bold with spice throughout the palate and nose. Its intensity is balanced by flavors of dark fruits, cherries, raisins and finishes with star anise. This cigar is bold but very balanced and extremely complex.”
Cigar Review: Black Label Trading Company Orthodox
Size: 5.75 x 50 (Toro)
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Ecuador Habano
Fillers: Nicaragua
Factory: Fábrica Oveja Negra
Release Date: May, 2024
Box Count: 20
The Cigar: A dark, thin San Andres wrapper adorns the Black Label Trading Company Orthodox PCA 2024 Exclusive. The band is black, gold, olive, white and gray featuring a skull which serves as the logo. The cigar has a pigtail cap and the wrapper has a fair amount of oils present. In the hand the cigar has a nice weight to it and no voids of tobacco with a well packed foot.
The Taste: The cold draw serves up a subtle cherry sweetness that lingers in the background while the focal point is leather with additional nuances of raisins and charred wood. The aroma from the foot is warm and inviting with a touch of cedar, and abundance of mocha.
Once the cigar is toasted and lit the initial notes are oak with a touch of nutmeg. Settling into the first third the first thing I notice is the incredibly thin burn line. The cigar is smooth and balanced and while none of the flavors are overly intense it is flavorful. There are notes of white pepper in the background with nuances of apricots, and oak. Some dark chocolate appears as an afterthought at first before becoming the focal point. As the first third comes to a close some cherry sweetness begins to emerge while the retrohale has some citrus and pepper.
The second third sees notes of cherry sweetness intensify while the cigar remains dark in flavors. Its medium-full in flavor and full in perceived strength. Around the halfway point dark chocolate notes become dominant and the cherry slides into the background. There are notes of leather and oak present as well. The front end of each puff as the second third comes to close has a nice sweetness before offering an earthy finish. The retrohale offers white pepper on the nasal passages with a touch of dark chocolate.
The final third sees leather notes become the primary focal point. There is some spice on the lips as well as the palate as remaining cigar gets smaller and smaller. It tries to hold on to some sweetness with raisin occasionally showing up on the finish with nuances of apricots and other stone fruits. The retrohale offers an abundance of pepper especially as we come to the end of the experience.
Conclusion: I’ve always been a fan of Black Label Trading Company but I have had an issue with the brands and branding. Most of the bands look alike and outside of a footboard it is hard to know which is which. With the foot band removed the name doesn’t have a chance to be memorized. The Orthodox does stand out enough to be memorable in terms of the experience and the branding.
The cigar offers a myriad of flavors and has a lot of changes while building a bit in strength throughout. If you like strong cigars like me this one will be right in your wheelhouse. I just ordered a box and look forward to enjoying them more in the futures.
Score: 93
Price: $13.00 (Before any local or state taxes)
