The Casas Fumando Family Grows! (+ 1502 Black Gold Review)

By Jeremy Hensley | January 9, 2013

I said there would be news dropping this week, and here it is! As some of you may have noticed (if you’re signed up for our email newsletter) (if you aren’t you can do it on the right sidebar of this site) this review is posted as a different Author. Jeremy! Jeremy shouldn’t be a stranger to most of you, he has posted a few guest reviews already. I met him about a year ago, at my local cigar lounge. Jeremy was already a Casas Fumando reader and crazy cigar enthusiast. Jeremy is big on boutique blends, so expect quite a few of those coming to the site soon. Anyways, here is a quick bio on him before continuing to his review. Please give him a warm welcome!

Jeremy Hensley is a bean counter for a non-profit in El Paso, Texas.  He is married to the most understanding  wife (he still can’t figure out how she puts up with his cigar smoking hobby), and blessed with two beautiful children.   When he is not acting like a kid,  he enjoys everything outdoors, especially fishing with his dad in the Great Lakes. Also, he meets the criteria of being a Casa Fumando reviewer: being a hockey fan.  Feel free to contact Jeremy anytime via email (jmhensley13[at]gmail[dot]com). And make sure to follow him on twitter @pdn_jdog

And now… Onto his review of the 1502 Black Gold!

After a few days of smoking in cold weather, I now have a much deeper respect for Daniel T. and the suffering he goes through to get reviews up during the chilly Canadian winters….Kudos.  Following up with last week’s review of the 1502 Ruby, I will be smoking the 1502 Black Gold.  For a little background on the 1502 brand you can see my review of the 1502 Ruby here or visit http://globalpremiumcigars.com.  This is what Global Premium Cigars’ website has to say about the 1502 Black Gold: 

“If you like strong cigars, you’ll definitely love this one. This particular cigar is made to satisfy the discerning smoker who enjoys bold and strong flavors. It has a double binder and long filler from Nicaragua. With its natural Maduro sun-grown tobacco wrapper, nurtured with all the natural elements where it gets its flavor, especially its strength and character.”

The Facts
Price: Samples Provided by Emilio Cigars
Format: Box Pressed Torpedo
Size: 6 ½ by 52
Wrapper: Country Unknown (Maduro Sun-Grown)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Pairing: Water
Smoke Time: 1 hour 27 minutes

* The 1502 Ruby reviewed last week was the torpedo measuring in at 6 ½ by 52, not the 6 by 50 (which is the toro) stated in the review.  My sincerest apologies.

Pre-light

The band on the Black Gold is identical to the Ruby other than the band being primarily black and, of course, containing the words “Black Gold” instead of “Ruby”.  As I remove the cellophane, I am greeted with a very acidic, pungent smell off the wrapper much like vinegar.   Laying behind the scenes are common maduro aromas of barnyard, black pepper, and a chocolatey sweetness. The wrapper is very dark, almost oscuro.  Not only do the oils on the wrapper come to life in the light, they are easily noticed on the touch.  Two prominent veins run down the entire side of the cigar and the wrapper seam is easily noticed.

To the touch, the cigar feels firmly packed, giving just slightly.  Like the 1502 Ruby, the wrapper hangs over the foot of the cigar.  Enrique Sanchez, owner of 1502 Cigars, informed me that they named this style of foot “The Cigar Lock”.  Stay on the lookout for a video explaining why and how it is made.  The foot highlights black tea with a touch of sweetness.  The cold draw brings out rich tobacco notes with a nice spice on the tongue.  Between the cold draw and the aromas off the wrapper,  I am really excited to give this bad boy a try.

First Third

The maduro richness is coming right through with notes of molasses, cocoa, pepper, yeast, and spice that rolls across the entire palette.  Going back to the vinegar off the wrapper, the spice is much like a pickled jalapeno.  Very enjoyable.  As I pass the smoke through my nasal passage, the pepper and woodsy notes are highlighted. However, the spice is a little much for me on the retrohale.  Each 1502 cigar I have smoked has had an almost perfect, if not perfect, draw and this cigar is no different.  The ash held strong for just over an inch before dropping in  the ashtray (that is extremely rare).    As the cigar burns, you can easily see how thick the wrapper is on the 1502 Black Gold, which is perfect for this winter like weather we have been experiencing in the 915.  As I conclude the first third, the flavors and strength are both on the high side of medium.

Middle Third

The flavors really begin to mesh and balance out as I enter into the second third.  My wife gifted me a french press coffee maker a few years back that I am absolutely in love with, and the profile is much like a french pressed Columbian roast.  Dark coffee notes balanced with a chocolate sweetness.  The smoke coats my mouth, leaving an oily texture across my palette.  Flavors have been jumping back in forth from the coffee and sweetness to the pepper and spice hit.  Coming to the end of this third, I have come across a black tea flavor that is very refreshing.  Smoke is creamy and full-bodied providing a depth of flavors.  The burn has stayed wavy up to this point requiring a few  touchups.

Final Third

I made a mighty entrance into the final third by dropping the ash on my lap. Did I mention how extremely rare it is for me to make it into the ashtray?  The filler tobacco is burning much quicker than the wrapper leaf.  The thickness of the sun-grown maduro wrapper leaf could be the contributing factor to this.  I am picking up toasty, bread-like notes.  Also, a flavor I picked up in the middle third, but was unable to identify, has come to the front.  Very car oil like.  The chocolate and spice are hanging in the background with a dusty chocolate on the finish. The cigar has shifted to the next level. The savoriness and richness of the Black Gold is intense. I am loving the oily texture the smoke is leaving in my mouth.  As I put this cigar to a close, I am feeling a nicotine buzz but it is not overwhelming.  The hearty dinner I ate (rib eye and mashed potatoes) has offset the nicotine I would normally be feeling at this point.  The burn line has corrected itself, leaving me with an ash just over an inch and half.

Wrap-up

First off, I want to give a big “Thank You” to Gary Griffith for providing the 1502 samples.  1502 Cigars really has something going for themselves with this stick.   The flavor profile and strength of this cigar was right up my alley.  The sweetness that pulled through made this cigar an excellent dessert right after a great dinner.  The 1502 Black Gold is a rich, savory smoke that I could see myself revisiting often.   The only issue I see is trying to find this cigar in the El Paso area. But hey, you never know.