Black Cházaro is a company you probably haven’t heard of yet, debuting for most at the 2017 IPCPR Convention and Trade Show, but it’s bringing an interesting product to the market. Generally speaking many of the more recognizable manufacturers don’t come from Mexico, but on top of that, you don’t hear of many Mexican tobacco puros either.

Over the past few years, Mexican San Andrés tobacco has become very popular to use, especially as a wrapper, but Black Cházaro decided to make a Mexican puro completely out of the San Andrés tobacco. The San Andrés wrapped line comes in three sizes.

  • Black Cházaro Robusto (5 1/16 x 50) — $10 (Boxes of 10, $100; Bundles of 25, $250)
  • Black Cházaro Toro (6 1/8 x 52) — $10 (Boxes of 10, $100; Bundles of 25, $250)
  • Black Cházaro Torpedo (6 1/8 x 52) — $10 (Boxes of 10, $100; Bundles of 25, $250)

  • Cigar Reviewed: Black Cházaro Toro
  • Country of Origin: Mexico
  • Factory: Real Fábrica de Tabaco, SA de CV
  • Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Negro
  • Binder: Mexico
  • Filler: Mexico
  • Length: 6 1/8 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 52
  • Vitola: Toro
  • MSRP: $10 (Boxes of 10, $100; Bundles of 25, $250)
  • Release Date: July 2017
  • Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

The Black Cházaro has a very even and dark wrapper, living up to the namesake immediately. When squeezed it’s more firm than not – in fact I’d say there’s almost no give at all. Off of the wrapper comes the aroma of leather, old wood and perhaps a bit of mustiness – it almost smells like walking into an antique store. The cold draw is very similar but lacks the musty note, giving it a much more traditional barnyard profile with leather, wood, and a rich earthiness.

Starting into the first third I’m greeted with a bold profile of pepper, leather and earth up front, which really dominates the profile and isn’t really allowing much else to come through. Despite an even light, the burn line is quite a mess from almost the very get go. One section needs a touch up before the first inch while another section has started to burn faster than the rest almost immediately after that. After a little over an inch the pepper has calmed down a little, but what I’m left with is a very muddy profile with lots of moist earth and decomposing vegetation.

Moving into the second third the muddy profile thankfully backs off of its potency a little bit, leaving a more generally earthy profile of leather, pepper, earth and a slight vegetal note. The Black Cházaro’s burn hasn’t gotten any better in this section, still wanting to wander off course and needing help from my lighter. A dark roasted coffee note appears, adding itself nicely to the earthy profile, though it’s subtle enough that it’s perhaps been there and I was just missing it earlier with the other overwhelming notes.

Interestingly enough as I shift into the final third a huge note of artificial cocoa pops up, almost like the scratch and sniff chocolate stickers you would get as a kid. While the bit of artificialness takes away from the specific note, overall it fits in with the earth, leather, pepper, vegetal and coffee notes. Another touch up is required to keep the burn from going completely off track, though at this point I don’t think there’s any fixing of the issue. Thankfully the profile finishes up as smoothly as a bold, earthy profile can, without getting bitter or harsh in the last inch.

Final Notes

  • Two of the samples performed almost identical to the above notes, while the third was like smoking a completely different cigar. The construction was perfect with almost zero burn issues, and the profile throughout consisted of sweet spice, rich chocolate, roasted almonds and hints of black pepper and leather in the background.
  • Though some of the flavors in the review might sound off putting, there wasn’t any point where the flavors were offensive to my senses, that’s just the closest way I can think to describe them.
  • The company also makes a toro that uses a habano wrapper, though it isn’t disclosed from where. The rest of the blend is still Mexican San Andrés negro tobacco.
  • I found it interesting that the cigar comes in both 10-count boxes and 25-count bundles, with an MSRP of $10 across the board.
  • Cigars for this review were sent to halfwheel by Black Cházaro.
  • Final smoking time averaged about two hours.
  • Site sponsor STOGIES World Class Cigars carries the Black Cházaro line.
83 Overall Score

I’ll admit that I was slightly skeptical when I read the Black Cházaro Toro was a San Andrés puro, but I like tobacco from that region enough that it intrigued me as well. What I was met with from two samples was an overwhelming earthy profile that at times seemed to step on its own feet, not allowing me to pick up distinct flavors. On top of that the construction issues created a fairly average experience. Having said that though, the third sample was quite impressive, with very distinct flavors and virtually flawless construction, giving me a really great experience. I’m hoping the first two samples were flukes, but unfortunately with two thirds of my sample size being those, I’ll have to remain skeptical until I get to try more.

Avatar photo

Brian Burt

I have been smoking cigars since 2005 and reviewing them as a hobby since 2010. Initially, I started out small with a 50-count humidor and only smoking one or two cigars a month. Not knowing anybody else that smoked cigars, it was only an occasional hobby that I took part in. In March of 2010, I joined Nublive and Cigar Asylum, connecting me with many people who also shared an interest in cigars. Reading what they had to say about brands I had never heard of, I quickly immersed myself in the boutique brands of the industry and it was then that cigars transformed from a hobby into a passion.