Hrafn (Skallywag Cigars Exclusive) by Blackbird Cigar Co.

I've been away for a hot minute (again). I'm back in a deploying billet, so I was underway for a while, then had to travel home after the unexpected loss of one of my cousins, so... I've been busy.

Tonight's review is on one of my absolute favorites, a cigar exclusive to Skallywag Cigars in Scottsdale, Arizona. I've never been there in person, but these guys have been great to me as an online customer and a member of Navy-associated cigar groups, so, thanks, Skallywags! “Hrafn” is the old Norse for “Raven,” so it's nice to get to sit and smoke and review this on a Wednesday, the day dedicated to Odin, often seen accompanied by his two ravens, Huginn and Muninn (Thought and Memory, respectively). Incidentally, it's also 9/9, nine being a sacred number in the Norse religion. All-around great day for this one.

Hrafn combines some of the best elements of Blackbird's Raven and Crow cigars, which I have reviewed previously (as pre-release samples directly from Blackbird), so it's no surprise it's one of my favorites. But the more time I spend writing here, the longer it takes me to get to smoking it, so... let's get started.

Cigar: Hrafn, by Blackbird Cigar Co. (Skallywag Cigars Exclusive)

Vitola: Toro (6” x 54)

Price: $10.50/stick

Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Brazilian Cubra
Binder: Habano
Filler: Nica, Pennsylvania
Body: Mild-Medium

Rating (out of 10): 9.8

Appearance:
The “telltale” Blackbird Cigar band (see what I did there?) features metallic gold on black, which I absolutely love. It stands out from its Blackbird peers by the glimmer alone, and we haven't even gotten to the taste yet.

The wrapper is a rich, near-dark chocolate-brown, with distinct veins and a silky sheen of oils. It's a fantastic hold.

Construction:
How many Blackbird Cigars have I already reviewed? And the quality never diminishes. Flawless construction, balanced roll, perfect cap... what else is there to say? Hrafn does have the same closed foot as both Raven and Crow, hearkening back to its roots.

Aroma:
The barrel smells of earth and cedar with a slight muskiness to it, and I get a hint of citrus and spice at the closed foot.

First Third:
It's hard to really take a cold draw through a closed foot, but that doesn't stop me from trying. As expected, I don't really get much, but there is a slight note of earth and salt there.

Lighting up now, smoking this one as an offering to Odin, and to his blood brother, Loki. Wonderful cedar coming through once I light up, with a salty little kick on the finish. That citrus is nice and prominent on the retrohale, which really rounds this out pretty nicely.

Burn seems to be a little uneven pretty early on. Maybe it'll work itself out.

The smoke itself is a surprisingly mild-to medium body, but very full in flavor. It is much like Thought and Memory, which are powerful forces in our lives, and yet wholly intangible.

I think I just got the faintest hint of caramel. Quite a nice little surprise.

Nice bit of charred wood on the aroma just now, normally I have a hard time detecting specific scents as

I'm actively smoking, but this was pretty unmistakable.

That burn did end up evening out on its own.

Second Third:
Rolling into the second third, the salty finish takes on a hint of black pepper, as well.

The burn is perfectly even now, and producing a crisp, white ash.

That cedar remains prominent, with that very subtle caramel becoming much more lasting than “A little surprise.” The retrohale remains citrusy, but takes on a somewhat more “syrupy” quality that's incredibly enjoyable.

The wrapper just cracked open slightly, just a little past the halfway mark. I don't expect it'll affect things significantly, though.

Final Third:
The spicy finish softens up toward the back third, letting more of that caramel sweetness come through.

Unrelated: It's exceptionally humid here in Hawaii lately, I can't wait for it to change... I can't not mention it...

As we burn down toward the end, the cedar becomes more and more pronounced, rounding things out right at the end.

It's been trending down, but suddenly that salt-and-pepper finish lights off again right at the very end, like the blowout finale of a fireworks display. It leaves a distinct tingling sensation on the lips. Not a burning sensation, but a definitively spicy zinger to cap off the whole experience.

Closing Thoughts:
I'm honestly a little disappointed with myself that it's taken me so long to review this particular stick; this is my second to last one, from my second box of these. I'm definitely going to have to order more. And hopefully I'll get to make it to Scottsdale one day and visit Skallywag in person...