Master blender Tony Barrios built the Rodeo Clown as a new core line for Cigar Clowns, and the name reflects both his own rodeo background and the brand's willingness to push boundaries with tobacco selection. This is a 25-count box release that demonstrates what happens when you combine serious aging protocol with uncommon binder choices.
Construction: The Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper provides the dark, oily foundation. Underneath sits a dual-origin binder pairing Nicaraguan and Brazilian leaf, which gives you structural complexity you rarely encounter in a single cigar. Nicaraguan fillers anchor the blend with strength and balance. The tobacco sees nine months of aging in Nicaragua, followed by 45 days in New Jersey. That two-stage rest allows the different origins to settle and integrate properly.
Flavor: Expect to start around medium strength with earth and leather notes leading the first third. As you move through the cigar, intensity builds toward full-bodied, and the profile shifts into richer cocoa and espresso territory. The Sumatra Oscuro wrapper holds up well to retrohaling if you want to extract more spice and layered complexity from the blend.
Pairings: Reach for a dark stout or porter that can stand up to the weight. Bourbon barrel-aged beers work particularly well. On the spirits side, rye whiskey or añejo rum complement the cocoa and spice notes. For food, grilled ribeye with chimichurri or smoked brisket provide enough char and fat to match the intensity without getting buried.
Save this one for evenings when you have time to track the strength progression and flavor development from start to finish.
- Strength:
- Medium-Full
- Wrapper:
- Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro
- Binder:
- Nicaraguan and Brazilian
- Filler:
- Nicaraguan
