Cult Ometepe – Cigar Review

Born and raised in Esteli, Nicaragua, the Cult Ometepe cigar was crafted to overwhelm your senses with the a rich blend that grabs your attention upon first sniff. At first you will notice the hand crafted Ecuador Habano wrapper, but the unique part of this cigar is in the binder and filler which is grown on the volcanic soils of Ometepe. Ometepe is an island in Nicaragua and the island was formed by two volcanos. The volcanic ash has made the soil of Ometepe extremely fertile, allowing continuous planting without fallowing, which allows for a continous growing season. The Cult Ometepe is a very bold cigar with the tobaccos that take center stage as they produce warm, delicous flavors integrated into each puff. Cult Cigars is quickly making a name for themselves in a crowded field of competitors and the Ometepe helps distinguish them from the pack.

What’s inside?

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano (Ecuador)
• Binder: Ometepe (Ecuador)
• Filler: Ometepe (Ecuador)

At Busted Wallet we enjoy a good cigar but we really get excited when we get an opportunity to try something new and unique and we were pleased to get the chance to review the Cult Ometepe. For testing, Cult hooked us up some Grande Churchills (7″x54). Here’s what we found out…

Construction:

The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is beautifully rolled and adds to the uniqueness of the Ometepe. Habano wrappers tend to be a bit spicier than most other wrappers and the Ometepe proved to be no different. The overall feel was very smooth with little to no veins and a nice light brown complexion to it. Overall, this is a very solid constructed stick with just the right amount of give to it. The Grande Churchill size was perfect for our smoke session as well.

Draw:

We used a variety of cuts for our smoke session and the Ometepe seemed responsive to all cuts.  We really enjoyed the punch cut and we were able to draw out quite a bit of spice and flavor.  Throughout the burn we had incredible flavor and smoke.

Burn:

On average we were able to drag on the Ometepe for 1 hour and 58 minutes. This cigar is a great size for a nice evening smoke in the backyard. If you have friends over it is a great treat to pass around to and see their reactions to this unique stick. The Ometepe had a very slow and even burn from foot to nub and produced a solid grey ash. The ash was solid for a very long time, almost half the cigar.

Aroma:

Pre-lit:

• Tobacco
• Cedar
• Cocoa
• Oak

Lit:

• Red pepper
• Spice
• Roasted nuts
• Some Cocoa
• Leather

Flavor:

Marketed as a medium to full-bodied cigar, the Cult Ometpe is truly a unique and delicous smoke. After lighting up and getting through the first third of the cigar you will really start to notice the red pepper and other spices. The Ecuadorian Hablano wrapper really helps intensify the spice. Typical tassting notes on these types of wrappers include bread, intense spice, leather, cocoa, espresso, and cedar and we experienced most of these flavors on the Ometepe. Habano smokes are better for more experienced smokers.

Throughout testing we most notably picked up on flavors of roasted nuts and leather. The red pepper really intensifies as you continue to the latter half of the stick. The cigar also features a nice creamy finish that is quite enjoyable.

Paring: While we love a good cigar, we really love a good cigar AND a good drink to compliment it.  This medium/full bodied stick deserves a good drink and we decided to pair it with Bulleit Bourbon. We have done a previous review of this delcious and flavor bourbon and we found it to pair quite nicely with the Cult Ometepe. At around $30 a bottle you won’t be breaking the bank to really maximize your smoke session.

Value:

The Cult Ometepe is a great value at just $8 to $9 per stick. If you’re looking for a cigar that delivers some great spice and delcious aroma and a smooth creamy finish then the Cult Ometepe is a great choice. The burn time will provide you with a long continous smoke session that is flavorful throughout. This is a great cigar to pass out among friends and listen to their thoughts and most are surprised by the unique flavors and the complexity. Enjoy!