La Colmena Amado No. 36 Review

La Colmena Amado No. 36
Made by: Warped Cigars
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican
Vitola: 6 by 36

Warped Cigars have released several interesting blends, Black Honey, the Reina, and the Unico Series are all harder to find lines associated with the “La Colmena” line. This cigar is known to be a honey bomb. And with my past experiences with the cigar its reputation holds true. But let’s see how the cigar performs today with a La Colmena Amado No. 36 Review.

Prelight

One thing I do have to say about Warped Cigars as a brand is that they have found some wonderful rollers. As far as construction goes the cigar is flawless in appearance. Visible seams, well-constructed cap with a little pigtail. The cigar has a closed foot but it still releases a sweet syrupy honey note with a cedar undertone. There are a few medium sized veins and the band is simple but clean. Very clean-cut, almost no loose tobacco, and the pre-light draw reveals more developed woodsy notes than foot suggested. Slight white pepper tingle on the lips, and very easy draw.

1/3

Right off the bat there is a strong dry Cedar note on the front followed by a sweet hay and then a moderate white pepper finish. Medium smoke production and the cigar was easy to light. Medium bodied and no strength detectable at this point. The blended flavors of the sweet hay and Cedar produce a honey-like flavor. As the first third progresses those two flavors blend even more to produce the unique honey note. The smoke has gotten thicker, leaving a great mouth feel. The white pepper finish has died down, and quickly leaves the profile. The Cedar and sweet hay flavor stays in the mouth well past the white pepper note. The cigar is not presenting much in the way of transitions at this point. But the flavor is immaculate, and I hope it does not change at the moment because the next profile would need to be better than the current one to keep my attention. Right at the end of the first third the compact white ash dropped which is impressive for this rain gauge. Sharp burn no issues at all with that.

2/3

As the second third starts, the Cedar has come up on the front and the sweet hay is now following that note again. There is still a hint of white pepper on the finish, but it’s subtle. Medium bodied still and no strength detectable. My only complaint at this time is the burn time, it seems to be going pretty quick and I am enjoying the profile so much I want it to last. I’m at about the halfway point and the cigar is just reaching 30 minutes, I expect it to last approximately 55 minutes. As the second third burns down there is an oak accompanying the Cedar on the front. This is just giving off a heavier feel to the profile but the body is still at a medium plus. This is not the most complex smoke and not terribly exciting in the way of transitions but it is enjoyable in my opinion. Toward the end of the second third, there is a black pepper mix in with the white pepper on the finish creating a slightly bitter note.

3/3

And Cedar with the sweet hay maintains the front. Again not much is going on in the way of transitions, the main thing to note at this point is the white pepper finish has morphed into a mixed pepper slightly bitter note. Low strength and still medium body, great burn in the ash is falling off in perfect thirds. As I reached the nub the pepper notes came up as did the harshness and bitterness unfortunately. But the cigar did shine in the first third, and majority of the second third.

Smoke Time: 50 Minutes

Conclusion: 87

The score is misleading here, the flavor notes in the first and second third were wonderful. The cigar did exhibit a lack of transitions and lack of overall complexity, and that did hurt the final score. But that unique honey note is something that should be tried at least once. Personally, I do look forward to smoking another one of these on occasion but certainly not consistently.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com