Manufacturer: RomaCraft
Brand: Cromagnon
Size: Cranium (6x54)
Price: $7-$8.50
Rest Time: 3-Months
Burn Time: 2 Hours

Prelight: Nicely finished stick with a dense pack and dark chocolate wrapper. Aroma of bittersweet chocolate, earth, hay and spice. Prelight draw is earth and raisins. I use a medium punch to open the cap and off we go.



1st 3rd:

A smokey earth, raisins and some bitter woody notes with a very mild, short finish of wood and portobello mushrooms. The body is a solid medium.

2nd 3rd:

Some nice flavor shits in the second third. The body has kicked up to a full with no hint of strength, yet. The flavors now are bittersweet chocolate, espresso, wood, earth and a touch of black pepper on the finish. The finish is much longer now. The stick had a bit of a burn issue and required one touch up, but the ash held on right into the second third.



Final 3rd:

A second relight is needed entering the final 3rd. The same flavors remain with the addition of some creamy nutty flavors, but the black pepper has really amped up on the draw and on the finish.

Summary:

I have to say I was nervous about this smoke as I've heard others describe it as quite stout and very full bodied. I really liked the complex flavors in the first & second third, but I am not a black pepper guy so the final third was not as enjoyable for me. I was surprised at the burn issues since my last two RoMas had no issues and were all acquired at the same time form the same vendor. Overall, a really nice smoke you full bodied guys & pepperheads will appreciate.