Brand overview
Rules are made to be broken. Spiraling from the blackness in 2013, allow me to introduce you to a brand that is both eye-catching and edgy, with a deep-rooted vestige of dissent.
The Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) is founded by James and Angela Brown. This boutique cigar label quickly made waves in the industry with its exciting blends and distinctive branding, leaving a tasteful impact on cigar smokers at every experience level.
The BLTC advocates for the ‘less is more' approach with a fine art mentality to cigar making. Within each line, only a few sizes are made as anything more than three vitolas is considered a waste of resources.
Other cigar names in the BLTC portfolio include “Morphine”, “Killer Bee”, and “Last Rites”, so you’d be forgiven for being a little hesitant when it comes to the dark, almost gothic branding.
However, there’s a real elegance to their cigars, and in particular, the demonic artwork. James, an artist by trade, does all the imagery for the brands, giving each cigar a unique frontage of personal expression.
When I first lay my eyes on Black Label Trading Co. Lawless cigar, the semi-gothic lettering and skull with a crown above it looked extremely sophisticated – the epitome of cool. The Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper was glossy with an earthy, reddish patina. It brought bold spice and richness to the table.
I was fascinated to see whether the Lawless (aka the James Dean of smokes) would be a nonconformist when it came to its flavors. Rulebreakers rarely fly under the radar, so I was expecting to feel the full force of a fully-loaded flavor bomb.
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Medium
- Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Smoke Time: 70 minutes
- Sizes Available:
Cold draw
The stick is expertly constructed and finished with a seamlessly fashioned triple-seam cap. On cutting, the cold draw is impeccable. Pre-light notes included dry cocoa, some salt, and a tang of spiced raisins.
Flavor profile: first third
The Lawless wasn’t afraid to flip the script on its head when it came to going against the grain. The initial profile started off with rich notes of espresso bean and cocoa powder, while an influx of spice grew with just about every puff.
There was a hit of red pepper on the finish, but it was the lip-tingling complexity of warm cinnamon that broke all boundaries of flavor.
Flavor profile: second third
The cigar’s smoke production was still very much alive as I embraced a creamier texture to the persistent spice.
There were subtle tinges of dried fruit and earth on the palate, but it was the cocoa powder that stayed strong against the shift in dynamic from sweetness to saltiness, and back again.
Flavor profile: final third
As this slow burner inched towards its final hurrah, a sprinkle of nutmeg crept into the profile. Its nutty and slightly sweet nuances worked superbly in constitution with a grind of black pepper on the palate and an even lighter spice in the nose.
Those unfailing notes of cocoa powder and espresso continued to shine as the all-around balance of this stick (in my humble opinion) reached its optimum level.
Conclusion
The small-batch ethos of BLTC has led to supply shortages on retailer shelves, and it’s no surprise when you consider the alluring flavor profiles of their cigars. The Lawless with its spicy character and medium-full body is no exception.
Rule breakers get noticed, and this is definitely a stick that will be getting my undevoted attention again and again. Pick up your box of Black Label Trading Co. Lawless cigars from Cigars.com today!