The HVC Black Friday is back in 2024 for the 10th time. Each year the cigar features a new blend and a new size but the one thing that remains is the 50 count box. This year only 400 boxes have been produced. The name Ometepe refers to the volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua that grows tobacco which is featured in the filler of this limited edition.
Cigar Review: HVC Black Friday 2024 Ometepe
Size: 5 7/8 x 52 (Escogidos)
Wrapper: Mexico San Andres
Binder: Nicaragua
Fillers: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos HVC S.A.
Release Date: October 2024
Box Count: 50
The Cigar: The HVC Black Friday features a black gold and white primary band denoting the brand. A secondary orange and gold band denotes 2024 Ometepe. As far the cigar goes it features a rustic looking San Andres wrapper that feels coarse under the fingers. The cigar feels light in the hand with no voids of tobacco and a well packed foot.
The Taste: The cold draw of the HVC Black Friday showcases notes of cayenne pepper and wasabi covered nuts. The aroma from the foot has some subtle earth and an abundance of rawhide. Once the cigar is toasted and lit it is remarkably smooth with a subtle orange marmalade showing in the first couple of puffs.
As we move into the first third the citrus slides into the background as notes of wasabi covered nuts from the cold draw make there way front and center. As the first third comes to a close the nuttiness becomes a defined almond and some floral notes begin to emerge as well. The retrohale is loaded with black pepper.
Moving into the second third notes of steak begin to emerge that are intensified on the retrohale which sees black peppercorns. On occasion a floral note appears at the beginning of the second third that seems out of place. However once we reach the halfway point it seems to have disappeared. As we cross over the halfway point notes of leather and espresso emerge.
The last third of the HVC Black Friday 2024 Ometepe is most complex of the cigar with notes of espresso, charred steak, cayenne pepper and black peppercorns. The retrohale sees the spice kick it up a couple of notches along with a subtle chocolate component and an abundance of leather that creates a long finish.
Conclusion: When this cigar has seen a yearly release since 2015 it is hard not to compare them to years past. For me the best one ever was the 2021 release. This one falls considerably short but I will sit on the others I purchased and perhaps do a redux review in 2025. It’s not a bad cigar by any stretch of the imagination but at times it seems rough around the edges. Hopefully some resting time will do them wonders and bring some balance to what I perceived as the strongest Black Friday to date.
Score: 88
Price: $12.40 (Before any local or state taxes)
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