Black Label Trading Co. Benediction Slim Toro

📌 Brand: Black Label Trading Co.
📌 Line: Benediction
📌 Size: Slim Toro (6 " × 48)
📌 Weight: 14.4 g
📌 Age: 8 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

Tasting Notes

• Cocoa – Soft, dark sweetness

• Cedar – Clean, elegant wood note

• Floral Spice – Light perfume on retrohale

• Earth – Gentle, steady foundation

First Impressions

The Benediction Slim Toro shows a dark, slightly oily Nicaraguan Habano wrapper with BLTC’s trademark understated appearance. Pre-light aroma gives cocoa, cedar, and faint floral sweetness. Cold draw is perfect, offering rich, smooth airflow.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Cocoa and floral spice take the lead with excellent balance. Cedar adds structure. Burn sharp and steady.

• Second Third – Earth deepens, sweetness softens slightly, floral notes remain elegant. Complexity peaks here.

• Final Third – Flavor thins out; profile becomes slightly bland compared to the first two thirds, though still smooth and clean.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Plantation Fiji 2009 Single Vintage Rum - Tropical fruit, vanilla custard, and subtle spice reinforce the cigar’s cocoa and floral elements — a completely new pairing.

• Tea – Laos Phongsali Ancient Tree Black Tea - Naturally sweet, fruity, and aromatic — adds lift and complexity especially where the final third loses intensity.

Music Pairing

“Pa’lante” – Los Amigos Invisibles
Bright, rhythmic energy that pairs well with the cigar’s floral and sweet mid-body.

Final Thoughts

The BLTC Benediction Slim Toro is elegant, smooth, and refined with standout floral-cocoa interplay in the first two thirds. The final third softens too much, losing some character, but overall it remains an excellent, balanced smoke.

Final Score: 9/10
Why not a 10?
Last third becomes bland and loses the depth and complexity of the earlier stages.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.