Obsidian
| Strength: | Medium-Full |
| Wrapper: | Brazilian, Habano |
| Origin: | Dominican Republic |
| Shapes: | Belicoso, Corona, Double Perfecto, Gordo, Robusto, Toro |
Obsidian
There's a new sheriff in town.
Obsidian’s debut will not go unnoticed. It dares to be different, and in doing so, sets a new standard among premium handmades. The size listing is stacked – a slew of big-ring vitolas, figurados, and more. The blend is dark, meaty, and enticing, delivering a wealth of dense tobacco flavor in an unconventional format. Packed in chunky, Spanish cedar boxes, Obsidian’s most remarkable trait is the price. Premium quality and memorable flavor, all for a fee that’s most similar to an ordinary yard ‘gar. Literally, they would be a bargain at twice the price.
Check out Obsidian's resume:
- a rich, densely flavorful smoke
- plenty of power, but a notable smoothness
- a specially tailored lineup of artisanal sizes
- prices starting at just $2.49 per stick
Obsidian employs a dark, oily Brazilian Habano ligero wrapper overtop a bold blend of Cuban-seed long-fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican, secured inside a spicy Criollo ’98 binder. The result is a densely rich and chewy smoke loaded with complex notes of espresso, pepper, earth, toast, and cream. Full-bodied, but extremely smooth and balanced, Obsidian is thoroughly satisfying.
Obsidian’s debut will not go unnoticed. It dares to be different, and in doing so, sets a new standard among premium handmades. The size listing is stacked – a slew of big-ring vitolas, figurados, and more. The blend is dark, meaty, and enticing, delivering a wealth of dense tobacco flavor in an unconventional format. Packed in chunky, Spanish cedar boxes, Obsidian’s most remarkable trait is the price. Premium quality and memorable flavor, all for a fee that’s most similar to an ordinary yard ‘gar. Literally, they would be a bargain at twice the price.
Check out Obsidian's resume:
- a rich, densely flavorful smoke
- plenty of power, but a notable smoothness
- a specially tailored lineup of artisanal sizes
- prices starting at just $2.49 per stick
Obsidian employs a dark, oily Brazilian Habano ligero wrapper overtop a bold blend of Cuban-seed long-fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican, secured inside a spicy Criollo ’98 binder. The result is a densely rich and chewy smoke loaded with complex notes of espresso, pepper, earth, toast, and cream. Full-bodied, but extremely smooth and balanced, Obsidian is thoroughly satisfying.
Showing 1-35 of 35 Reviews
Customer Reviews of “Obsidian” “Always liked the flavor of Brazilian tobacco, and these are loaded with the sweet, nutty Brazil tobacco, moderated by several well chosen others in the mix. Well constructed, feels firm in the hand, with even burn. Great aroma, even before lighting! Definitely full flavor, but does not taste acrid or leave any trace of throat irritation. Smoke them down to the last inch. I don't inhale, so others may get a stronger sensation. Excellent cigar and serious competition to the pricier CAO Brazilia.”
AV of Paoli, PA
“I have been forced as of late to get more bang for the buck with samplers. I received one of the Obsidians, via Belisoco, in one...was really intrigued at the ligero factor. I'll tell you this; very nice draw, oomps of smoke, very clean but with a clinging of a Flor Dominico Ligero aftertaste (FDL, my fave) but a helluva less expensive. Now, unfortunately, I'll have to at least order a fiver or 10 pack, hopefully on Joes Daily...really pairs nice with a decent bourbon like Jim Beam or Evan Williams (of course, Black Jack would be fine, too:) if you are up to the high priced grades that empty your pocketbook.”
JH of Crowley, TX
“I'm a fan of AJ Fernandez's Man O' War which this really reminds me of. This cigar has a darker and mysterious quality to it. It's less sweet but with intense blasts of pepper and spice. It has the same sensual full-bodied character and strength. Definitely a must try.”
PS of Silver Spring, MD
“This cigar is excellent! particularly for the price. I spoke about 5 cigars per week and have been looking for a nice alternative to Padron which has become a bit expensive. This cigar has a nice aroma, and smokes smooth as advertised. Definitely worth the price given the quality.”
EK of Reston, VA
“I get high hopes every time I hear of a new cigar that is full bodied and has "deep tobacco flavour". Such was my reaction to the announcement of the Obsidian cigar. Unfortunately, IMHO it did not live up to the billing, as it is very low on earthiness, otherwise known as "barnyard", and higher in wood tones and leather notes. Maybe after 25 years of smoking many types of cigars (many of them from CI), my taste buds have had it, but I know what I like "barnyard earthiness", and this cigar ain't it. So far, the best bang for the buck seems to be Rocky Patel's Edge Counterfeits. Sorry Obsidian.”
MF of Cocoa, FL
“Several years ago, Obsidian was one of my faves. But then it disappeared for a while. When it returned a year later, it was not the same cigar and I was mad. This new Obsidian brings back the memories of excellence and may even surpass what we smoked back then.”
PK of Milwaukee, WI
“I smoked the Obsidian Box-Pressed Toro and for a sub $3 dollar stogie it was great. I struggled with an uneven burn and was forced to re-light several times. I did enjoy the cool burn all the way to nub. It wasn’t super complex, but the flavor was a very nice sweet/spicy M/F body mix. I would smoke it again.”
LL of Round Rock, TX
“I don't normally stick with just one cigar as my favorite. I bounce around from one to another so my taste buds don't get bored. But that's changed. If I were stranded on an island and had a crate full of Obsidian, I would be perfectly happy to smoke these day after day. I've smoked several sizes and they're all good. You just can't go wrong with this cigar. Clouds of smoke, rich, but not overpowering, smooth as silk. Great with coffee.”
DS of Casey, IL
“At this price point (or double) this is a really nice, dependable medium-full cigar. It does compare well to the La Flor Dominicana Ligero but at a fraction of the cost. Not obnoxious or in your face (ala The Punisher) but rich with a full flavor profile with very little pepper. Gorgeous to look at, firm in the hand and on the draw, with a nice gray ash that needs to be pounded off. A six inch cigar with a three ash burn, I'll be keeping these in my box at all times, and they've actually been aging well. Can't go wrong!”
DV of Middle Village, NY
“After reading reviews about this cigar I finally tried one. I am not as impressed with this smoke as some but I think it is still a cigar worth keeping around. Pretty simple smoke without a lot of changes. Once you fire it up what you get is what you get. If it burned better and didn't have to re-light over and over I'd give it higher praise, but for now it's what you would expect for a $3 cigar.”
HB of Edgewood, MD
“Picked up a couple of these during my last trip to the CI Superstore. Smoked one a couple days later and was blown away! Needless to say, I will be ordering a box very soon!”
MM of Clayton, NJ
“the obsidian for me is the best new cigar Ive ever tried since being with CI. Every thing about it is near perfect. of course it leaves one to wonder who is the man behind Pinar Del Ray, the company that makes them????”
DE of Arcadia, IN
“Today I smoked an Obsidian Double Perfecto. This is supposed to be a 6x60 cigar. I'd guess it's more like a 6x56. The wrapper is a nice dark very oily looking leaf. The cigar is constructed well with no soft spots. The draw is good. The burn started off sort of funky. It self corrected in a matter of a few minutes. This cigar is medium bodied and smooth. Nice flavor profile with a variety of pleasant spicy flavors. Starts off witha bang, but quickly subsides into a really smooth, well balanced cigar. For me, this will be a great first cigar of the day. I liked it, and yes, it's great to see a good cigar available at a great price.”
JW of Plainfield, IL
“I'll admit, I'm spoiled when it comes to my favorite pastime. My humi is populated by some of the best cigars this side of Havana (ok fine, most are from Havana). Obsidian's unique presentation and blend led my paycheck astray of the Liga Privada No.9's and Partagas D4's. I violated my 5 day hold on all freshly shipped cigars in anticipation of lighting one of these bad boys up. The reviews are right on! Tantilizing aroma, balanced, solid construction and dynamic flavor profile. Upon reaching the 2/3 mark of the Obsidian I was pleasantly surprised. The unique taste that makes the Cohiba Maduro 5 (one of my favorites) so amazing was billowing from this oily robusto. If you enjoy rich, earthy, dark full-flavored blends, Obsidian will definitely compliment your portfolio. Enjoy!”
DS of North Prairie, WI
“A clean burn with absolutely fantastic flavor. Would buy again!”
PM of Seattle, WA
“All I can say is,"Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" Getting ready to order my 2nd box. What a great smoke. Once again THANK YOU CI!!!!”
BW of Hamilton, OH
“Received one from a sampler, and I didn't care for the cigar. That being said, I've received the same cigars in a second sampler and they were great. I could have received one not up to par, and may need to try a second one.”
DM of Taylor, MI
“Received one of these in a sampler and I found like I was smoking two cigars. One end being high dollar (lit end), while the cap was from a much less value cigar. The good news; it is a full flavored, huge amount of smoke, and burned even all the way down. On the other end (cap), seemed like it was from a buck cigar. Meaning; the 54 ring size would slide out of your mouth, while making a cut around the cigar. As a result, the cigar had to go further in your mounth than desired, due to is sliding unless you bit down hard with your teeth. Because of this, half way down it became chewy more than I desired. In addition, the cap just gave away to smasked up slick tobaco increasing with every draw. My teeth made a circle around the cigar due to trying to hold it so tightly. It was a full bodied cigar, enough to satisfy any smoker but the cigar wanting to slide out of your mouth made the cigar less enjoyable. Half way down the outer leaf broke on me, but I have discovered a way to fix this problems most of the time. After finding out that a substance much like an ingredeint in jellow bonds cigars. I took a box of jellow, poured it in an empty water bottle, then filled in with hot water. After shaking it up to disolve the powder, I keep the liquid on a shelf where I smoke. When a leaf begans to crack on me, I use my finger and spread a small amount of this on the leaf that is cracking. I know it sounds crazy, but most of the time it will stop the cigar from cracking any further without changing the flavor. Try it for yourself, since it doesn't cost much money. They make a cigar clue that I have asked CI to offer, since everyone of us have had good cigars have a leaf open up on us. It is not going to fix a huge gap, but it will stop a broken leaf turning into bad cigar. As far as this cigar, I'm glad I got to try it and suggest others to do the same. For me, it is not one that I would make a purchase of in a large amount. You may feel much different since others who wrote felt better about the cigar than I did. Good cigar with even burn, just not my cup of tea.”
DM of Taylor, MI
“Power and flavor are the two things that I need my cigar to be and I am happy to say that Obsidian Double Perfecto (My favorite shape) delivers! Thick clouds of smoke, fantastic aroma, chocolate, coco, leather, touch of pepper and spice. Enjoy this one on a full stomach as this is truely a full bodied gar. It is sure to be a regular in my rotation.”
MD of Philadelphia, PA
“I kept seeing these while browsing through the catalogs smoking my favorite romeo y julietas, I was kind of curious about them, I just recieved my motherlode sampler today, didnt relize there was one of these with them so I pretty ecstatic that I'd get to take this fella for a test drive, very smoky right after lighting, very tasteful and aromatic, in other words, not bad at all my friends, I think my next cigar purchase will be a box of them, definitely a must try if you like full bodied cigars.”
DP of Aliquippa, PA
“Good smoke, draw was great, burned very even with a touch up after lighting. Beautiful thick smoke, but I found the aftertaste a little too earthy for my taste. Flavor profile was great except the imbalance from the earthiness. Nice and spicy, if you want something with a strong flavor and less kick than a Padron.”
BL of Columbus, OH
“This one has become one of my favorite smokes. Starts off with a punch, develops into several enjoyable flavors, becoming smoother at the end. The total package for an extremely enjoyable smoke.”
DE of San Angelo, TX
“Possibly the steal of this whole website, incredible cigar that offers everything. The only mistake is you not buying this full bodied animal.”
KN of Amityville, NY
“I've only had one of these, but it will make it into the rotation again for further scrutiny. It was unusual in a positive way. Need more burn time...with a few more to get to an accurate review.”
MS of Bethlehem, PA
“Great cigar at a fantastic price! I liked everything about these. Will definitely order more. Get on these before the price increases.”
ST of Fpo, AP
“Nice medium bodied cigar. Well aged tobacco and aroma.”
JM of Aguada, PR
“I have been seeing these come up for awhile and have been hesitant on pulling the trigger trying them. A few guys at work are hard core cigar smokers too and haven't tried one yet either. Bought a box of box pressed toro's.....they are $$$$$$. Don't even bother buying a 5 pack...Buy a box of your favorite size and shape. If you don't like them you must be crazy. ”
TH of Plain City, OH
“Wow what a great smoke! I got the Joe's cigar deal for the Belicoso. Wrapper is dark brown, nice and matte.. Dry draw is tight. At first draw is tight with medium smoke. Flavor is quite good. Medium body with hints of chocolate and coffee. Great cigar. Halfway through its getting hot because of the draw. I might have a tight stick. I'm hoping it's just my humidor. It needs more work, I've been having issues keeping it at the proper %. I can't wait to spark up another one. Great buy getting a box next time. ”
RP of Saint Cloud, FL
“All around a great smoke. Comes in a near seamless dark espresso wrapper. Burns very steady and consistent, but does not lose flavor. Very enjoyable from the tip to the nub. This is a cigar you can count on whenever you want a nice medium to full flavor on your pallet. I personally have purchased 3 boxes within a month time period and intend to keep doing so. Obsidian, a timeless piece for the modern age.”
BV of Stockbridge, GA
“I bought a box of these in Double Perfecto last fall. No doubt the best $4 cigar I have ever smoked. I love a dark oily wrapper with rich flavor and these are par for the course. You will not be disappointed if that is your desire. I will be buying more of these in the future.”
KB of SOUTHPORT, NC
“I really like this Obsidian, the aroma , lots of smoke and the taste is GREAT!! However I have had a lot of burn problems, uneven burn , tunnel burn they are a lot of work I'm not sure they are worth the price perhaps at half the price they might not seem to be so much work.”
RH of WASHINGTON, IL
“Not impressed so far! The taste is good but not as rich or complex as Diesel Unholy Cocktail or La Herencia Oscuro Fuerte at a comparable price and it is not as well constructed. Small pieces of tobacco fell out when I cut the end indicating it is not long filler, and the uneven burn and need to keep relighting it seems related to the same problem. I bought a box so I will try more, but so far I regret the purchase.”
WD of MIAMI, FL
“I ordered the 10-pack sampler and sucked the box dry within a matter of days. I immediately ordered 5 boxes of assorted sizes. These things are absolutely delicious. There are plenty of reviews describing the details of the tastes, so I won't belabor the point. Don't feel bad that the "experiment" cigars in the sampler are not available except for in the sampler: the sizes are interesting and cute, but some of them do not smoke as well (probably due to the small sizes) and they seem to have a bit of a different flavor. I only mention this to advise that the label should be judged based on the regular sizes. I would compare the taste and power to La Flors as many have, but they Obisidians are more chocolatey and smoky.”
EW of Coral Springs, FL
“To make a long story as short as possible, it's an extremely well constructed smoke. As for the taste, I liked it, and recommend that you at least give it a try. Especially for the price !!! ALOHA !!!”
GK of Kahului, HI
“Well wrapped stick, great flavor and arrived in great shape. Devote some time to this one, but well worth the time taken.”
SA of SNEADS FERRY, NC
Posted by Steve-O
A lot has happened since my last review. The Phillies collapsed. The Eagles have gone from the best team in the NFL, to the worst, to the best, then back to the bottom of the barrel about....oh, eleven times. MLS became the number 3 sport in America - I love soccer, but really? Kim Kardashian got married, again. And divorced, again....all while Gurkha released 17 new small-batch brands. During this time, I’ve been trying a ton of samples for future releases, but when I truly wanted to enjoy something special, I found myself reaching for the same cigar, over and over: Obsidian.
Obsidian is a brand that – at first glance – raises more questions than answers. The dark, mysterious appearance. The black, intimidating artwork. The obscure name and simple, yet appealing logo. Where did this brand come from? Who makes the Obsidian? Is it as powerful as it looks? Are the unconventional sizes part of the equation or merely a coincidence? Does the appealing appearance set the stage for an underwhelming performance....a la Paranormal Activity 3?
You’ll quickly notice, everything about Obsidian is dark. A pitch black box with minimal art. A tall, dark black band with the Obsidian name distressingly printed behind a simple rune. A dark and leathery Brazilian Habano ligero wrapper. A generous amount of dark, near-black tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican visible from the foot. Let’s shed some light on the darkness.
I chose the 5.5”x54 Robusto, the size I’ve been burning most frequently. It’s heavy in the hand, oily to the touch, and solid from head to toe. The pre-light aroma is sweet and zesty with a touch of barnyard. After a quick snip and toast, the easy draw produced thick, heavy clouds of aromatic gray smoke. Instantly, the wrapper takes center stage, consuming my palate with a sweet series of spices that linger long on the finish.
About a half an inch in, the Obsidian’s true colors shined through. A rich, chewy core of roasted nuances took center stage, with soft notes of leather, toast, and an underlying creaminess that seemed to cling to my taste buds after each puff.
One third of the way through, this generous Robusto evolves once again, unveiling a dense array of dark, unsweetened cocoa and espresso bean. The finish is peppery-sweet and the zesty aroma remains true to the pre-light inspection.
Shortly after the midway point, I realized I was in the final stretch as the Obsidian gradually moved from medium-bodied to medium-full and then ultimately full-bodied at the finale. The spices returned for a final hurrah, but never overpowered the rich, chewy flavors I’ve been enjoying thus far. This final half of every Obsidian has amazed me. All this complexity, all this evolution in taste sensations, but literally no harsh tones, bitter notes, or signs of imbalance at any point during the burn.
Then, the finale. After a long, cool burn, the 5.5”x54 Robusto is coming to an end. I could hold on a bit longer, clinging to an uncomfortable nub for just a few more minutes....but I’d rather just light up another and take my palate for another roller coasted ride – or, in the words of Gonz, another “plethora of roller coasters.” (WHAT?).
The Obsidian had me from first sight. Maybe it’s my exploratory nature. Maybe it’s my eagerness to try anything some might call offbeat....with edgy, unconventional art. Maybe it’s my employee discount. Whatever the case may be, Obsidian won my attention, and has kept it for 2 full months. I urge you to try this cigar, and hope you send me your feedback. I think you’ll love it....and can’t wait to hear the positive reviews.
Obsidian
Posted by Brock
As a kid growing up in the 80s and 90s during the professional wrestling boom, I was a huge fan. However, my favorite part of pro wrestling wasn’t particularly the matches, the promos, or the hellacious chair shots to the back of an unsuspecting wrestler. I loved the intros! Every time I hear the guitar intro of “I am a Real American,” I still get chills.
With cigars, I am the same way. Whenever someone mentions a hot new cigar that I like, I’m all over it! Moreover, whenever someone talks about the new Obsidian, I get real fired up! There are so many different aspects of this cigar I can cover, which I whole-heartedly plan on doing in this review.
To start, the name and packaging itself is downright awesome. 20 Obsidians come packed in jet black boxes comprised of Spanish cedar wood. On the petit corona, belicoso, and gordo sizes; a black cigar band encompasses the entire body of the cigar, only leaving the shoulder and cap exposed. Presentation-wise, the Obsidian gets an A+ for originality.
Next, we’ll take a look at the blend of tobaccos that comprise the Obsidian. This Dominican handmade features a powerful mixture of Dominican and Nicaraguan long fillers. As I look at the foot of the cigar, I notice a nice combination of dark tobaccos (ligeros) in the core of the cigar, with a portion of lighter-colored tobacco (visos and secos) bunched in there as well. I anticipate a strong, yet balanced and complex cigar.
The binder is a limited Criollo ’98 leaf, a hybrid Cuban-seed tobacco that is known for a soft spice and creamy undertone. The binder and filler tobaccos are draped by a stunning, dark oily wrapper leaf known as a Brazilian Habano ligero wrapper. Though it is dark brown in appearance, this wrapper isn’t a true maduro like traditional Brazilian Aripiraca and Mata Fina tobaccos. Believer it or not, it’s stronger.
The Obsidian is offered in 6 different vitolas (sizes) but today I’ve narrowed my selection to the double perfecto; a powerful 6.0” X 60 figurado. The thing I enjoy about perfectos is the constant changing of the ring gauge throughout the entire cigar that exhibits a myriad of different flavors.
The Obsidian is made by the same company who brings you the epic Pinar del Rio line; powerful well-blended Dominican handmades. For me, the Obsidian is like the PDR Oscuro on ‘roids…strong, full-flavored and billows of aromatic cigar smoke.
Upon lighting the Obsidian Double Perfecto, dense smoke fills the air and my palate picks up chewy notes of leather. As the 1st third of the cigar builds, hearty spices are detected in the blend. In the middle third of the Obsidian, I finally hit the immense, 60-ring bulbous point in the cigar…did I just hear the “Hulkster’s” theme music? I am more than enthralled at the fact that during this portion of the cigar, every draw had a distinct, unique flavor. A nice sweetness, along with ample pepper dominates this portion of the cigar.
The finish is just as good as the start, featuring many similar flavors as I picked up when first lighting the Obsidian. The rich tobacco core tastes great and just when the cigar is getting hot (because I smoked it down to the bare nub), I finally put it down with a feeling of great satisfaction.
Something that’s notable with the Obsidian is the amount of comments I received from customers in regards to the aroma. The most popular remark I received was, “That cigar smells great!”
In sum, this is arguably the best new blend we’ve brought into inventory at the CI Super-Store in months. Not only does the Obsidian protrude flawless construction, copious amounts of smoke and savory flavor, these sub-six dollar sticks are well worth the value.
Expert advice for the day: “Say your prayers and eat your vitamins.” – H.H.
Colibri Grip Obsidian Cutter Only $5 More
For a limited time, receive a Colibri Grip Obsidian Cutter (worth $39) for only $5 with every box purchased!