Finally!  It's not below freezing outside and no white crap is falling from the sky!  What a winter it has been around here...heck, everywhere!  So, to celebrate this joyous occasion, I am sitting on the porch with a bottle of mineral water and a Black Label Trading Company Benediction.  After smoking the Lawless and being blown to smithereens by its complexity and craftsmanship, I decided the time was right for round two.  Let's get smoking....

Construction: An absolutely gorgeous red-brown and veinless wrapper leaf, no seams or other issues, oils so heavy you can see yourself in the reflection.  Just another beautiful cigar from BLTC. 

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: An exceptionally sweet aroma comes from this cigar once removed from the cellophane.  I liken it to gingerbread, light coffee, and a touch of leather.  The draw is perfect too.

Light and Burn: I had one issue with the burn....because I am sitting out in the breeze.  A small runner that was easily quelled.  No other problems after that.  Stupid wind....

Tasting: Starting off with the first third, the Benediction is a bit peppery with notes of coffee and leather.  Like its brother, the Lawless, the Benediction is exceptionally smooth and creamy.  There is a mild cinnamon note to the finish as well.  As the first third passes, I get a mild note of toasted bread.  Delicious so far.

The middle of the cigar starts showing more balance.    There are sweet cinnamon and vanilla notes underneath a very nice cedar and leather core.  Because this is a habano wrapper, I am looking for citrus notes but instead I find something a bit more like apricot.  It is very faint, but it is there.

The final third is upon me now.  Loads more cedar and toasty flavors come through in what has been a medium bodied cigar all the way through.  I could smoke these as a first of the day with a cup of coffee or tea and be pleased as punch.  Yet another great smoke from Black Label Trading.

Value: A paltry $9 price tag sits on these beauties.  Worth every cent.

Final Thoughts: While nowhere near as complex as the Lawless, what the Benediction does have going for it works very well.  It is a nice, tasty, and well balanced affair with some nuances that help remind the smoker just why small batch cigars are so good.  BLTC is making some great cigars here folks.  For my money, I wish they were distributed with the House of Emilio lines as I think they would fit in with Gary's catalog very well.  Highly recommended.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Strength: Medium

Size: 5 x 54

I love the simple and elegant presentation of the BLTC cigars.

Always something badass and pirateish about smoking a cigar with skulls on the band...