BrandonP
Cigar King Scottsdale
In a preview for our event Friday, he is a review of the GAR Opium from the Cigar King blog:
Gran Habano is one of the most popular brands here in the Cigar King humidor for several reasons. They make a wide variety of very tasty cigars that suit any smokers tastes, they come at a wonderful price point and they continue to innovate while keeping true to their core beliefs. One of those innovations was the brainchild of George A. Rico, the GAR Opium Black. George has been working as a blender at Gran Habano for many years now and is responsible for many of their most popular lines, with the GAR Opium Black easily fitting into that category. A limited edition product that George worked on for many years, this cigar comes in 1 size, a 6×52 toro, and was limited to 1000 boxes total, 20,000 cigars.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
Size: Toro 6×52
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Corojo Hybrid
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Unknown
Strength: Medium
Flavor: Full
Cost: $7.95/stick or $134.95/box of 20
Appearance: The GAR Opium has a very soft, reddish-brown wrapper with some very light veining. The seams are near impossible to find which bodes very well for the construction of this particular cigar. There are 3 bands on the GAR Opium, 2 in the normal area near the head and 1 on the foot. The 2 bands towards the top are a red and gold foil, with the uppermost band designating the GAR. The lower band is the Opium designation and the foot band is black and gold foil with STK written across in gold lettering. The stick was dense when looking at the foot, packed with tobacco in a nice bunching.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
Pre-light Aroma: The GAR Opium wrapper has a slight aroma, not overly heavy, that carries scents of wood and hay. The foot puts off a much heavier scent with spice dominating the nose with a slight sweetness trying to push through. There was also a musky earthiness to the foot that dominated the overall aroma. The dry draw gave way to flavors of sweet tobacco, a lighter sweet spice, almost like a nutmeg, and a nice woody flavor. The draw was nearly flawless with just a very slight resistance, perfect in my book, especially with how packed the stick looked.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
Once flame hit the GAR Opium the smoke came barreling through in loads. A thick, creamy looking smoke that coated the palate in a very distinct and recognizable almond flavor came with each puff. If you have never tasted almond in a cigar, this would be the one to train your palate with, at least at the start. Exhaling the smoke through your nose brings a sweet tobacco flavor with hints of cedar but the biggest flavor is right up front with the almond. The ash is thick gray color that holds firm through the first inch. The burn line is good, keeping up all the way around for the first inch or two.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
There was a definite transition from the almond flavor almost right as the GAR Opium moved into the 2nd third. The sweet tobacco flavor started to show on the palate and a nice cocoa like flavor came on as well. I would have never guessed this cigar would be as sweet as it has turned out based on the looks and pre-light aroma. The ash still holds for quite some length, again clearing over an inch before I knock it and even then it was firm and most likely could have gone another half inch or more before falling.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
The final third of this GAR Opium brings out some of the earthier flavors I expected with the sweet tobacco staying consistent at this point. The cedar flavor I got through the nose in the first part of the stick has also come back and make for a wonderful finish to this cigar. This was a roller-coaster of flavors from start to finish and made for a great ride. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 38 minutes.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano Video Review
Cigar King Staff Quotes:
-Joe Great medium bodied smoke that had the distinct Gran Habano flavor I really enjoy. Very unique.
- Josh Another great small batch cigar from a great tobacco blender in George Rico.
- Mitchel George Rico is quickly making a strong name for himself in the tobacco industry and this only helps solidify his status as a great, young blender.
-A.G. I cant get enough of these. Great flavor, strength was not too powerful, just a wonderful stick.
Gran Habano is one of the most popular brands here in the Cigar King humidor for several reasons. They make a wide variety of very tasty cigars that suit any smokers tastes, they come at a wonderful price point and they continue to innovate while keeping true to their core beliefs. One of those innovations was the brainchild of George A. Rico, the GAR Opium Black. George has been working as a blender at Gran Habano for many years now and is responsible for many of their most popular lines, with the GAR Opium Black easily fitting into that category. A limited edition product that George worked on for many years, this cigar comes in 1 size, a 6×52 toro, and was limited to 1000 boxes total, 20,000 cigars.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
Size: Toro 6×52
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Corojo Hybrid
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Unknown
Strength: Medium
Flavor: Full
Cost: $7.95/stick or $134.95/box of 20
Appearance: The GAR Opium has a very soft, reddish-brown wrapper with some very light veining. The seams are near impossible to find which bodes very well for the construction of this particular cigar. There are 3 bands on the GAR Opium, 2 in the normal area near the head and 1 on the foot. The 2 bands towards the top are a red and gold foil, with the uppermost band designating the GAR. The lower band is the Opium designation and the foot band is black and gold foil with STK written across in gold lettering. The stick was dense when looking at the foot, packed with tobacco in a nice bunching.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
Pre-light Aroma: The GAR Opium wrapper has a slight aroma, not overly heavy, that carries scents of wood and hay. The foot puts off a much heavier scent with spice dominating the nose with a slight sweetness trying to push through. There was also a musky earthiness to the foot that dominated the overall aroma. The dry draw gave way to flavors of sweet tobacco, a lighter sweet spice, almost like a nutmeg, and a nice woody flavor. The draw was nearly flawless with just a very slight resistance, perfect in my book, especially with how packed the stick looked.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
Once flame hit the GAR Opium the smoke came barreling through in loads. A thick, creamy looking smoke that coated the palate in a very distinct and recognizable almond flavor came with each puff. If you have never tasted almond in a cigar, this would be the one to train your palate with, at least at the start. Exhaling the smoke through your nose brings a sweet tobacco flavor with hints of cedar but the biggest flavor is right up front with the almond. The ash is thick gray color that holds firm through the first inch. The burn line is good, keeping up all the way around for the first inch or two.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
There was a definite transition from the almond flavor almost right as the GAR Opium moved into the 2nd third. The sweet tobacco flavor started to show on the palate and a nice cocoa like flavor came on as well. I would have never guessed this cigar would be as sweet as it has turned out based on the looks and pre-light aroma. The ash still holds for quite some length, again clearing over an inch before I knock it and even then it was firm and most likely could have gone another half inch or more before falling.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano
The final third of this GAR Opium brings out some of the earthier flavors I expected with the sweet tobacco staying consistent at this point. The cedar flavor I got through the nose in the first part of the stick has also come back and make for a wonderful finish to this cigar. This was a roller-coaster of flavors from start to finish and made for a great ride. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 38 minutes.
G.A.R. Opium by Gran Habano Video Review
Cigar King Staff Quotes:
-Joe Great medium bodied smoke that had the distinct Gran Habano flavor I really enjoy. Very unique.
- Josh Another great small batch cigar from a great tobacco blender in George Rico.
- Mitchel George Rico is quickly making a strong name for himself in the tobacco industry and this only helps solidify his status as a great, young blender.
-A.G. I cant get enough of these. Great flavor, strength was not too powerful, just a wonderful stick.
