Initial Thoughts:
Whenever I go into a review of a cigar from Black Works Studio, I go into it expecting flavors of deeply roasted coffee. And that's what I'm expecting with today's cigar from the August Platinum Box from Luxury Cigar Club, the Black Works Studio NBK Corona Larga.
The Black Works Studio NBK Corona Larga has a great visual appearance. An oily Ecuadorian Habano leaf wraps the cigar in a milk-chocolate color that's leathery and smooth. The closed foot on the cigar is also very exciting. Visually, the Black Works Studio NBK is very appealing, and I'm looking forward to it.
After cutting the end with my guillotine, the NBK's draw was practically perfect, if just on the “too loose” side. On the first puff, I was blasted with a ton of spice that was a real kick in pants of flavor. While this Black Works Studio NBK is off to a great start, all I can taste is spice (and nothing else) from the Habano wrapper, and that's got me cautiously optimistic.
CigarScore:
Brand: Black Works Studio
Line: NBK
Size: 6 x 46
Cut: Guillotine
Light: Torch
Price: $9.00 – Luxury Cigar Club
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoke Time: 71 minutes
Through the middle of the cigar, the NBK's construction continued to be the picture of perfection. The draw was excellent, the burn was almost razor sharp, and I was incredibly impressed.
However, the spiciness of this cigar is overwhelming any other flavors that may or may not be present. While the cigar tastes pretty good, it is fairly one dimensional, and any complexity or artistry that this cigar possesses is hidden behind the heat of it.
Final Thoughts
The Black Works Studio NBK Corona Larga is an interesting cigar. Regarding the NBK's construction, it was absolutely perfect. The burn, up until the final minutes, was razor-sharp. I loved the draw and how it enabled a really great smoking experience where I could fully taste the cigar.
However, I wish the flavors were richer, more full, and more complex. Beyond the overwhelming spiciness of the cigar, I tasted nothing. It would be like dumping an entire bottle of steak sauce on your New York Strip – you wouldn't be able to taste the meat. That said, the smoke was silky smooth and left almost no aftertaste.
At the end of the day, the excellent craftsmanship and bold flavors make the Black Works Studio NBK worth trying. However, because of its overwhelming level of spiciness, the NBK should be taste-tested before you buy an entire box. For these reasons, the Black Works Studio NBK Corona Larga earns a CigarScore 5.
