La Madona Negra | CigarCraig's Blog

Yesterday we took a drive up to Easton to the “Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash” at Famous Smoke Shop/Leaf Cigar Bar in Easton, PA. We wore our tie dye and got a 15% discount, so I picked up some new stuff from Black Label Trading Company that I have been looking forward to trying. I was a little surprised that they didn’t have more new stuff available, but it is what it is. I also picked up some more West Tampa Red Toros, because, ya know, ya gotta support your friends and they are great cigars. I started out with the new La Madonna Negra in the 5½ x 50 size. I bought this in two sizes, the 5½ x 50 and the 5″ x 54, honestly thinking I was getting a robusto and a corona gorda, because they are box pressed and I really wasn’t paying that much attention. This is Black Label’s 10th anniversary cigar, and it’s a good one. It comes in three vitolas, all in the robusto family as far as I’m concerned (the third being a 4½” x 48), has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Ecuador Habano binder and fillers from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania. I like a great many of the BLTC cigars, but I’m going to be very honest, there is a common theme throughout, again, one I like a lot. It’s the dark, cocoa/coffee flavors that are in my wheelhouse that appeal to me, and I can really just pick up any Black Label cigar and enjoy it. This was no different. I really enjoyed it sitting outside the Leaf Cigar Bar at Famous Smoke Shop, watching the band Single Yesterday play their set. The La Madonna Negra was excellent, loads of flavor with a little extra special PA Seedleaf spice perhaps. I dig it and have a few more to smoke, and I doubt I’ll have them around long. It was nice to see Gary Korb there, a day after eye surgery! (best wishes with that Gary!), and Juan Cancel made an appearance as we were leaving. With the exception of my wife having trouble getting service at the bar, it wasn’t a bad time! On the way home we stopped in to New Tobacco Village in Whitelhall, PA. This is a very warm and inviting little shop with a very nice selection! I’d love to get back to have a smoke with John and Lina one of these days.

When I got home I decided to smoke the new Black Label Trading Co. core line Santa Muerte in what they are incorrectly calling a Petite Lancero, but is more of a lonsdale at 6½” x 42. If it had been a 38 ring gauge I would have bought the lancero name, but not at 42. I think I’ve seen cigars this size called Corona Extra too, I guess technically a Lonsdale would be a 43 ring. A Lancero it ain’t. A really good cigar, it is, for many of the same reasons stated in the paragraph above. This one has an Ecuador Habano wrapper, Ecuador binder, and a filler blend from Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Mexico. I suppose it has a bit brighter flavor than the La Madona, however the signature is still there. BLTC cigars are like Roma craft and Tatuaje cigars to me. I’d smoke them all the time If I had a steady supply, at a really great price. When I have them, I smoke them, and enjoy them. I’d love to get back to Nicaragua one day and visit Oveja Negra (and Nica Sueño while I’m there), I think that would be a good time.