Killer Bee Buzz Saw Review

Black Works Studio Killer Bee Buzz Saw | Agile Cigar Review

Today, we are reviewing the Black Works Studio Killer Bee Buzz Saw from Oveja Negra Brands. In late 2015, James Brown, the owner of Black Label Trading Company, introduced a new brand called Black Works Studio. One of the first series he launched under this brand was the Killer Bee line.

In 2021, Black Works Studio released a special limited edition sampler called the Hive. It would feature 27 cigars that were variants of Killer Bee and an off-shoot of Killer Bee known as Green Hornet. The 27 cigars in the Black Works Studio came in various sizes and shapes. One of those sizes was a 5 x 56 perfecto of the original Killer Bee brand. When the opportunity came for Black Works Studio to make an exclusive offering for Smoke Inn, it was decided to offer the 5 x 56 perfecto as a limited release for them. This became known as the Killer Bee Buzz Saw.

SPECIFICATIONS

The Buzz Saw shares the same blend as the core Killer Bee line. An Ecuadorian Maduro wrapper with Connecticut Shade accents highlights it. The remainder of the blend features all Nicaraguan tobaccos. Production comes from Fabrica Oveja Negra in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro and Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica Oveja Negra
Perfecto: 5 x 56

PERFORMANCE

After some coffee and cream notes on the pre-light draw, the Buzz Saw continued with more of these notes. In addition, notes of fruit, earth, and black pepper emerged. The coffee notes moved into the forefront early on. These notes were also present on the retro-hale with a slight amount of black pepper. The coffee remained the primary note as the cigar moved into the second third. The fruit and cream notes subsided while the earth and pepper increased. Going into the final third, the coffee remained primary but developed some bitter qualities. The earth and pepper were the main secondary notes, and there were still touches of cream and fruit. The Buzz Saw finished with a soft and slightly lukewarm nub.

Buzz Saw delivered medium-bodied flavors that were countered by medium strength. Both the strength and body balanced each other nicely. The burn did require slightly more touch-ups than I preferred to maintain a straight burn path and straight burn line. As for the draw, it was somewhat open but not loose.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Killer Bee has received high ratings from the Cigar Coop Coalition. The original Petit Robusto earned a score of 92 on Cigar Coop, and the Robusto size was recently ranked as the #2 Cigar for 2024 by El Oso Fumar. While the Buzz Saw is a good representation of the Killer Bee brand, it does not surpass the Petit Robusto or Robusto sizes in quality. Some of the bitter notes toward the end affected the score. Ultimately, the $9.99 price point makes this cigar a good value for any cigar enthusiast. Personally, I would buy and enjoy it again, but I would prefer to stock up on more Robusto or Petit Corona sizes.