The Vow 6.29 by Avowed

After trying the New Dawn, which was fantastic, I needed to get the other available blends; The Vow and Awakening.  According to Avowed for The Vow, the "vitola name marks the date that each blend was approved and committed to history with our vow to take it into the world and see it prosper.  The 6.29 Toro also adds a leaf of Cotuí for an extra dimension of flavor." 

Additionally, "To make The Vow extraordinary, each size was extensively aged at the Kelner SAS factory for at least 18 months after production! And only one pair of rollers were tasked with bringing each size to life, ensuring a more consistent experience." 

BRAND / CO:  Avowed
CIGAR:  The Vow 6.29
VITOLA:  Toro - 6" x 50
STRENGTH:  Medium
WRAPPER:  Ecuadorian Habano, Natural
BINDER:  Ecuador (Habano)
FILLER:  Dominican Republic (Corojo 99, Cotui, Criollo 98, Piloto Cubano, San Vicente)
ORIGIN:  Dominican Republic, Kelner Cigars, S.A.S.

APPEARANCE & CONSTRUCTION:   Good

A medium tannish brown with a nice oily sheen, heavy mottling and light tooth covering the wrapper.  There's nice color differences between the lighter veins and darker leaf areas between them.  The veins are thin and light with only a couple being more prominent.  The seams are tight, blending in nicely and the triple cap is clean and even.  This is a good looking cigar.

DRAW & BURN:   Good / Great

The draw has good resistance. The burn is uneven to start but controlled.  The ash is a very light gray and littered with oil crystals but has some feathering.  Just before the midway point, the burn has evened out with great self correction and the ash is still holding on, though it's curving.  Of course, right after saying that, the ash fell. The burn holds dead even through the rest of the smoke. 

FLAVOR PROFILE:   Excellent

Immediate pepper tingling the mouth and lips.  Baking cocoa, nuttiness and woodiness are next to register.  There's a saltiness and mild caramel sweetness but also a citrus zest.  I'm getting a lot of cinnamon and baking spice now as well, with some sourdough breadiness. I'm only through the first inch but this blend is fantastic.  It's hitting all the notes between sweet and savory. Creaminess galore on the finish, no harshness.

Getting into the second third that immediate pepper hit has calmed down, letting the cinnamon and baking spice take the lead. Between the sweetness, saltiness, spice, and breadiness, I'm getting that gingerbread cookie vibe. The sweet goes between caramel and molasses, which offers some nice depth.  There's a ton of complexity and flavor in the blend.

With the final third, the woodiness comes back strong, while baking spice and saltiness hang on.  The sweetness is regressing a little, and it only feels disappointing because the blend has been so enjoyable I didn't want it to change. But it still finishes strong.

OVERALL EXPERIENCE:  Excellent 
What a spectacular blend and a good anytime cigar being medium strength, what robust flavor too. Seriously, this is an excellent cigar IMO if you like nuanced complexity and the flavors I listed.  I'm going to have to get the Corona Gorda which is supposedly a bit more intense.  It also doesn't include the Cotui tobacco that's present in the Toro making up the difference in ring ring between the two vitolas.

This is definitely a top 5 cigar for me right now and I'm looking forward to trying the Awakening next.  

Purchase Singles or by the box HERE

Written by Sean McCloskey of the Collective.