Black Works Studio Killer Bee

Black Works Studio Killer Bee corona (4.5 x 46) includes Nicaraguan filler and binder and is covered in a dark Ecuadoran Maduro wrapper. It’s blended by the Hardest Working Man in the Tobacco Business, James Brown, so I expect that “I’ll feel good” smoking this small batch boutique. You gotta like the bee hive around the cap. Nice touch.

Flavors: charred oak, pepper, hazelnuts, dark roast coffee/espresso, and a spicy, sugary sweetness – like caramelized sugar or fruit. Occasional background notes include chocolate, a malty creaminess, leather, herbal and floral notes. This cigar is rich, bold, and medium-full bodied. I’d rate it medium strength until the final third when the strength kicks up a notch. The retrohale is very peppery, but also includes earthy vegetal and floral aromas.

This stick pumps out smoke like a Pittsburgh steel mill in the 1950s. The draw has a touch more resistance than I prefer, but it is an open draw. No complaints. The burn line is fairly even with solid white ash that held to about ¾-inch before falling off.

My only concerns about the Black Works Studio Killer Bee is a lack of balance from the midpoint to the finish. The flavors meld nicely initially, but the charred wood and pepper dominate the other flavors by the final third.

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