Coming from the Ventura Cigar Company, famous for their work on Psyko Seven, Archetype Cigars are an expansive line of premium blends with a central theme focusing on the archetypes found in every aspect of life.
The Inspiration Behind Archetype Cigars
Based on the work of psychologist Dr Carl Jung and Professor Joseph Campbell, Archetype Cigars follow what is referred to as the “Hero’s Journey” in a series of entries and chapters.
Dr Jung developed the idea of archetypes as motifs that perpetually and repeatedly appear in the human psyche and experience, both in our myths and in our unconscious minds.
Professor Campbell then ran with this idea, identifying common themes and characters found in myths and legends from all corners of the world and all points of history.
This “Monomyth” that appears in countless variations from cultures around the world focus on a Hero’s Journey, where the hero encounters some evil force, struggle, or problem and must adapt, grow, and receive guidance to overcome it.
Just as the archetypal hero undergoes a journey, Archetype Cigars will take your palate on a journey.
The seven top-shelf Archetype blends break down the Hero’s Journey into three chapters, like the framework of a 3-act story, with three additional mini-series releases that add to the story.
The 10 Lines of Archetype Blends
Each of the 10 Archetype blends are distinct from one another and represent a part of the Hero’s Journey. Split up into three chapters and a mini-series; the top-rated Archetype series follows the story of our archetypal hero.
Chapter 1
Chapter one begins with the Dreamstate, where we meet our hero with humble naïveté. The hero is called to adventure with a taste of the unknown, reflected by the mysteriously smooth multination recipe composing the top-shelf tobaccos of this blend.
Once on the journey, our hero receives some Sage Advice from a stranger or magical figure, presenting a helpful token of knowledge or a talisman that will aid the hero. The hero starts to understand the depths and potential risks of the journey, and the corresponding smoke will awaken and prepare the palate for what is to come.
The hero comes upon a Strange Passage, transporting our hero passed the threshold into the unknown. The hero is thrust into an unfamiliar world and must conquer fear to continue the journey. Strange Passage will push the boundaries of your palate with full-bodied, complex flavors.
Chapter 2
As the hero progresses through this unknown world, he faces many trials and challenges to find what he seeks. As he adapts and learns, our hero faces a sort of Initiation by the forces of this strange world. With Initiation, your palate will be tested by the depth of flavor that aged Habano tobaccos provide.
The stars align, and our hero acquires the necessary knowledge or tool needed to accomplish the journey’s goal, and the balance has shifted in the hero’s favor. Axis Mundi represents this with a shifting balance of dark, sweet flavors.
Chapter 3
At the height of the conflict, our hero, with Sacred Scales tipped in his favor, conquers his foes or problems and returns to the world of the familiar. Expand your palate with a unique smoke that will conquer your deepest cravings.Upon the hero’s return, word of how he met his destiny spreads far and wide, and our hero lives forever in legend. Dawn of Destiny will leave a lasting impression on your palate that you will not soon forget.
Mini Series Cigars
Outside of the journey itself, there are three Archetype cigars that pose as different characters that play a significant role in the Hero’s Journey.
Curses represent the forces that our hero is pitted against and must conquer, and Crystals represents the hero’s trusted guide. Last but not least is Cloaks, which embodies our hero’s triumph over his foes.
What Can You Expect From an Archetype Cigar?
A better question would be what to not expect from an Archetype cigar. The portfolio is diverse and covers a wide range of flavor profiles, but each stick is rolled with top-notch construction and provides complex, mouthwatering, enchanting flavor.
Archetype Strength Range
The Archetype portfolio ranges from mellow to medium Archetypes all the way to full-bodied, with many in between. Dreamstate is mellow-medium bodied and features a top-quality Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.
Cloaks, Curses, and Crystals are all medium-bodied and feature Nicaraguan Habano long-fillers, along with Initiation, which is an entirely Habano blend.
Sage Advice is medium-full bodied and boasts a multination blend of aged long-fillers under a Dominican binder and a Hybrid Habano wrapper. Closing out Chapter 1 is Strange Passage which is full-bodied and is another multination long-filler blend enclosed by a vintage Corojo wrapper and an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.
Axis Mundi, Sacred Scales, and Dawn of Destiny are all full-bodied and host a core of top-quality Nicaraguan long-fillers.
Sacred Scales and Dawn of Destiny feature an Ecuadorian binder, with Sacred Scales coated by a Mexican San Andres wrapper, while Dawn of Destiny is accompanied by an Ecuadorian leaf. Axis Mundi is bound by an Indonesian Sumatra binder and an Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper leaf.
Archetype Flavor Profiles
In Chapter 1, Dreamstate starts with notes of sweet fruit, vanilla, and dashes of white pepper, and Sage Advice picks up the pace with bold notes of leather, dried fruit, and spice. Strange Passage transports rich flavors of coffee, earth, spice, and wood to the palate with every puff.
Initiation tests the palate with complex notes of dark chocolate, white pepper, citrus zest, and hints of nuts, followed by Axis Mundi providing a tapestry of dried fruit, charred wood, spice, and sweet maple syrup provide an exciting close to Chapter 2.
Sacred Scales delivers balanced flavors of chocolate, black cherry, earth, and sweet caramel shift and dance in a dazzle of complexity. Rounding out Chapter 3 is Dawn of Destiny, concluding the hero’s journey with smooth yet powerful notes of cocoa, sweet cream, baking spice, and cedar.
Last but certainly not least, Cloaks and Curses provide notes of cocoa, earth, and rich tobacco sweetness, with the Cloaks concentrating the flavors with a box press and Curses having a rich vanilla-like aroma. Crystals provide a savory medley of sweet fruit, cocoa, and charred wood.
Final Thoughts
I love trying new top-quality blends that push the envelope in the premium cigar industry, and I get exactly that with Archetype Cigars.
Trying every blend in the series is itself a journey and one any serious aficionado should trek. Even if you do not want to try them all, there is certain to be an Archetype blend that suits your preferences and will be right at home in your humidor.
Explore the collection of Archetype Cigars right here at Cigars.com, as well as other premium handmade brands!