Blackbird Unkind Robusto

📌 Brand: Blackbird Cigar Co.
📌 Line: Unkind
📌 Size: Robusto (5" × 50)
📌 Weight: 13.5 g
📌 Age: 4 years
📌 Origin: Dominican Republic

Tasting Notes

• Cocoa – Soft sweetness but inconsistent

• Black Pepper – Present on the retrohale, sharp at times

• Earth – Foundation note, slightly dry

• Bitter Herb – Noticeable on/off throughout the smoke

First Impressions

The Unkind Robusto shows a dark, semi-oily Brazilian Cubra wrapper with a rugged, toothy texture. Pre-light aroma brings cocoa, barnyard, and a hint of pepper. Cold draw is slightly loose, giving early signs of potential combustion issues.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Cocoa and earth appear early, pepper adds lift. Slight looseness noticeable. Burn begins well.

• Second Third – Bitterness creeps in around the edges. Smoke output fluctuates. Requires one relight to continue.

• Final Third – Earthy and pepper-forward, bitterness returns stronger. Loose pack makes smoke thin and hot toward the end.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Foursquare Probitas White Rum (Barbados/Jamaica blend), bright, grassy, and lightly sweet to balance the cigar’s bitterness and dryness.

• Tea – Ceylon Nuwara Eliya Black Tea (Sri Lanka), citrusy and crisp, cutting through the harsher edges without overpowering.

Music Pairing

“Night Nurse” – Gregory Isaacs

Cool, steady flow to mellow out the bitterness.

Final Thoughts

The Blackbird Unkind Robusto shows promise with cocoa, pepper, and earthy notes, but inconsistency holds it back. A loose draw, lingering bitterness, and one relight disrupt the experience enough to limit its potential.

Final Score: 6/10
Why not a 10?
Loose draw, persistent bitterness, and a relight prevented balance and complexity from shining through.

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