2016 Cigar of the Year Countdown: #9: Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend Robusto

“Since the company launched three years ago, owner James Brown has done an excellent job at growing his company and portfolio. With the Bishops Blend Robusto, this perhaps is his company’s finest work to date.”

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan, Pennsylvania Broadleaf, Connecticut Broadleaf
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Fabrica Oveja Negra)
Robusto: 5 x 48
Price: $9.50
Review: Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend Robusto
Brand Appearances on Countdown: 1 (2016)

Coming in at #9 is the Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend. This cigar was announced just prior to the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show. With Bishops Blend, owner James Brown delivers a maduro cigar that features a combination of both Connecticut Broadleaf and Pennsylvania Broadleaf in the filler.

The Bishops Blend becomes the second cigar by Black Label Trading Company / Black Works Studio to land on the Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year Countdown. It also becomes the third cigar out of the company’s Fabrica Oveja Negra factory to land on this year’s Countdown.

Bishops Blend is also highlighted by a dark Ecuadorian Maduro wrapper and utilizes a Ecuadorian Habano binder. In addition to the Connecticut and Pennsylvania Broadleaf, the filler is rounded off with some Nicaraguan tobaccos. The use of the two Broadleaf fillers is not something commonly seen in many cigar blends.

Brown and Fabrica Oveja Negra have been doing some great artesian work on many of its cigars and the Bishops Blend Robusto is no exception. This 5 x 48 Robusto features a covered footer and a unique “chip” shaped cap.

Bishops Blend delivers a smoke where you get the most of the unique combination of Broadleaf filler. The Connecticut Broadleaf delivers a sweet cocoa flavor while the Pennsylvania Broadleaf adds earth and mineral qualities. The flavors are medium to full-bodied before advancing to full-bodied in the last third. This is countered by medium strength that also advances to medium to full in the last third.

We’ve seen many excellent maduro releases come from Black Label Trading Company / Black Works Studio over the past few years. No doubt, the company has reached another level with this release – a release not only box worthy, but one worth fighting Chuck Norris for.