48 Fathoms (Skallywag Exclusive) by Black Label Trading Company

After reviewing the Hrafn last week, I realized it was beyond time to put in a fresh order for cigars, so I hopped right back on Skallywag's page to order another box of Hrafn, and decided to give another of their store exclusives a try, as well. For this order, I went with 48 Fathoms, under the Black Label Trading Company Deliverance line.

I'm gonna be honest, I smoked four of these in the first two days, so... if you're waiting for me to give a poor review of something, this is not going to be it. I'm in love with this cigar. So I'm just going to get right into it, because the longer I write beforehand, the longer I have to wait to light up.

Cigar: Deliverance 48 Fathoms, by Black Label Trading Company

Vitola: Corona Gorda (5 1/2” x 48)

Price: 10.50/stick

Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: San Andres
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua, Cameroon
Body: Medium to Full

Rating (out of 10): 10.0

Appearance:
The very first thing I notice when taking this out of the cellophane is how much fine tooth there is to it. This is a cigar that, from the moment you touch it for the first time, begs you to experience everything about it. The wrapper is a gorgeous and lightly veined milk chocolate color, with absolutely invisible seams.

The band is classic BLTC, a black and silver kind of gothic macabre featuring a skeletal figure with hands folded in prayer.

Construction:
Construction is perfect: neatly rolled, flawlessly capped, and cuts perfectly-- I'm finding a V-cut to be my favorite these days, it seems to provide a better concentration of flavor. Anyway...

Aroma:
The barrel is distinctly woody in aroma, with maybe the softest little hint of leather, and I get a faint whiff of floral sweetness at the foot. I love it. Even the aroma heightens the macabre mood, not smelling terrible like death, but capturing some of those essences surrounding death, like the wood of the casket and the floral tones of flowers left at a grave. Whether that was an intentional part of the blend or not, it's absolutely masterful.

First Third:
Cold draw is open and airy, and carries a bit of chocolate and nuttiness.

We're at the part I've been waiting for, now. I'm lighting it.

Definitely more cedar to the flavor once it's lit, but that chocolate and nuttiness is still there. Burning evenly, with a neat, nearly-white ash.

It's taking effort to stay focused enough on this one for a review. It's a nice “sit back and relax” kind of smoke. A perfect end-of-day “respose” kind of smoke.

Second Third:
Starting into the second third, I'm beginning to detect a bit of very, very faint leather on the finish. Retrohale is very nice, too, but I'm having a little trouble describing it thus far. Somewhere in between woody, nutty, and coffee...ish? Coffee-like? Wood/nuts/coffee; there, I'll do it that way.

Seems like a fast first half, then the pace kind of slows for the second half. I like that. A good cigar should make you stop and slow down. These aren't cigarettes we're sucking down to get a nicotine fix, these are premium cigars we smoke to step back from the rush of life and slow down to appreciate simple little pleasures. We can briefly escape from life, without the permanence of death.

I get a little philosophical sometimes when it's very late at night, or I'm smoking a very good cigar. Tonight happens to include both of those features.

Final Third:
The final third is taking on a hint of cracked pepper on the finish, not enough to overtake the overall calmness of the flavor experience, but just enough to remind you you're still among the living.

Toward the end, that pepper comes through more strongly, to give you that push back into the land of the living, before it's too late and you stay too long on the other side. It really is an absolutely perfect smoking experience.

Closing Thoughts:
It might be only another week or so before I need to order another box of these, because I don't know that these will even last that long. Hands down, my new favorite cigar. Period. Everything about it is absolutely serene. I said it at the outset, and I'll say it again. I am head over heels in love with this cigar.