Wrapper : Ecuadorian Havano Vuelta Abajo
Binder : Dominican Corojo
Filler : Nicaraguan, Brazilian, Dominican
Source : Sample sent to me

Welcome to this weeks review of the Rapture from Viva Republica Cigars. This cigar is available in four sizes, Perdition (4.5×50 – review stick), Revel (5.5×54), Exodus (6.25×52) and Harasha (6×58). MSRP ranges from $7.90 to $9.10. This was a sample sent to me for review, so big brother knows.

Have been fighting a cold, hence not having a review last week, so I will rely on my previous notes on this cigar to help with this review.

Pre-Light

Taking a gander at this Rapture cigar and it looks very nice with a band that is prominent but it does take a full roll o the cigar to read it. I know, oh my goodness, I wont smoke it because I have to turn the cigar in a circle to see the name on the band but for full disclosure some people like to know these things.

Previous notes have been, tobacco on the foot, slight barnyard on the wrapper and natural tobacco with a bit of spice on the cold draw. I did not do this on this cigar just because I cant smell up to par so I gave the notes on the previous three I smoked before this review stick.

Lighting these sticks has been interesting but if you get the foot lit well it seems to burn great the rest of the way. I just had some trouble with the foot at places getting lit, figure it is the tobacco at that part that may be a bit harder to light.

First Half

Diving right into this Rapture cigar and there is a nice spicy pepper with cinnamon alongside a solid woody taste. After about a half an inch there is a noticeable bread taste that comes into play and it makes the smoke a bit creamier. Power seems to pick up quick in this cigar with it hitting a decent low full before halfway. Bit of a sugary sweetness has come in here and there, nothing permanent as of yet but we will keep tabs on it. Ash holds on nicely and the burn has been great. A good bit of smoke with a loose draw is right up my alley.

Second Half

Running into the bonus round of this Rapture cigar with a full bodied smoke that has quite a bit of flavor. A good helping of pepper is up front with the cinnamon coming in a close second. There is a solid nutty taste now, conversion from the woody at the beginning, and still has a sweetness that peeks its head in every now and again.

Coming to the end and the flavors have gotten a bit muddied and the cigar is heating up. It is a lot squishier than the others i have had and the others have not gotten so muddied and harsh. On the others I kept getting the nutty flavor with spice till the end. Most of the other flavors went away but never got real harsh.

Wrap-Up

Would I buy it again? Doubtful. I could see having some for a time I want a full bodied smoke but it is out of my normal comfort zone. I am a little discouraged by the price also because there are so many cigars in the same range that fit my flavor profile better. If you are a full bodied smoker I think you should give it a shot.