La Colmena Black Honey

Last year Warped Cigars relaunched the company, jumping back into the market with not only an impressive lineup of cigars, but some beautiful accessories as well.

One of the particular hits was the La Colmena Unico Especial. Not only did it take 10th place in the halfwheel 25, but it also took sixth in the Packaging Top 10. So when it was announced that they were releasing a small number of cigars that were a tweaked La Colmena blend in the same size as the Unico Especial, I was immediately intrigued.

Dubbed Black Honey, the new La Colmena blend was modified with a little more viso and featured a Ecuadorian habano oscuro wrapper used on the EL OSO line. The cigars were also rolled around a year ago, so they were delivered to the 13 retailers chosen already with a year of age on them.

• La Colmena Amado No. 36 (6 x 36) — $12.50 (Boxes of 10, $125) — October 2014 — Regular Production
• La Colmena Amado No. 44 (5 1/2 x 44) — $14.50 (Boxes of 10, $145) — October 2014 — Regular Production
• La Colmena Unico Especial (5 x 48) — $15 (Jars of 10, $150) — October 2014 — 1,000 Jars of 10 (10,000 Total Cigars)
• La Colmena Black Honey (5 x 48) — $15.50 (Bundles of 10, $155) — January 2015 — 60 Bundles of 10 Cigars (600 Total Cigars)

Another difference was that these were put into bundles, unlike the Unico Especial’s round tin packaging.

• Cigar Reviewed: La Colmena Black Honey
• Country of Origin: USA
• Factory: El Titan de Bronze
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
• Binder: Ecuador
• Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
• Size: 5 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Vitola: Belicoso
• MSRP: $15.50 (Bundles of 10, $155)
• Date Released: Jan. 26, 2015
• Number of Cigars Released: 60 Bundles of 10 Cigars (600 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

Holding up the Black Honey next to the Unico Especial, there are only very subtle differences between them. They both have the same La Colmena band, though the Balck Honey’s wrapper is a slightly darker brown and is a little more mottled than the Unico Especial. It’s not as pretty, but is still a very good looking wrapper. Also different is the foot of the Black Honey, opting for a clean cut foot in lieu of the covered foot with a twist. The wrapper has a slightly sweet hay aroma to it, but that’s about it. The cold draw has a light peppery spiciness to it along with some more hay and a sweet vegetal note.

Starting out, the first third has a strong barbeque note, which is made of up sweet smoky peppers, wood and spices. Only a few puffs in and the profile shifts slightly from the smoky barbeque to just black pepper, sweet peppers and some oakiness. The burn is spot on and the stark white ash is very compact, not looking like it will drop off anytime soon. Smoke production is in the medium range, not overwhelming but enough to be satisfying. The black pepper has died down a bit and while there is still a pepper note the sweetness has moved to more of a caramel note, alongside the oak and spice.

As I start out the second third the black pepper and spicy peppers move further into the background as the caramel, oak and spice mingle while new floral and light citrus notes join the profile. The burn continues to be almost perfect, with just the slightest need for a touch up around the halfway mark. Ash continues to hold on strong, probably able to hold past an inch, though that’s where I’ve been rolling it off. A quick retrohale brings back much of the missing black pepper, though the primary note on the retrohale seems to be fresh hay and more citrus. Up until now I wouldn’t have put the strength of Black Honey at much past a medium, but it seems the strength has been sneaking up on me and it has positioned itself a more of a medium full.

The final third sees the spice grow along with a cocoa note that has appeared, and combined with the caramel and oak the La Colmena has a very pastry like profile at the moment. Floral, citrus and black pepper notes are still around, but have moved well into the background. While the burn isn’t as sharp as it’s been for the rest of the Black Honey, it’s only become wavy and doesn’t require a touch up. The cigar finishes smoothly despite the stronger blend, the only letdown for me being the fact that there’s not more to smoke.

Final Notes

• Going back and reading Charlie Minato’s review of the Unico Especial it seems that there are many similar notes between the two cigars, though my memory tells me that the Black Honey is quite different.
• Having smoked some of the EL OSO line as well, the Black Honey might share some notes with the line, but is again an entirely different profile than what I remember.
• With La Colmena translating into “beehive” and the wrapper is darker than the golden brown regular production wrapper, it’s easy to see where the name Black Honey came from.
• Since there were such a small number of these rolled, and having been done so in the time frame that they were, one might speculate that these were test blends for the Unico Especial. If that was the case, I’m sure the decision between the two blends was difficult, as they both perform wonderfully and I’m glad I was able to try both.
• The cigars for this review were given to halfwheel by a reader.
• Final smoking time averaged an hour and a half.