The Bloodline Needs a Transfusion

Cigar store owners have a good perspective on what is popular, at least in their territory, and a few brave store owners invest in developing their own cigar brand. Micah Johnson owns Cigars Limited in Fresno and in 2013 he introduced his Bloodline O.P.A. series of cigars. Bloodline refers to 3 famous Cuban tobacco families from which Micah drew the seeds for his blend – hence the name Bloodline and the O.P.A. are the first letters of the Cuban family names. To further differentiate his cigars, Micah uses a “soft crush fermentation” process that reportedly “sweats out” bitterness for a more pleasant flavor profile. Bloodline cigars are made by Esteban Carreras Cigars at their Estelí, Nicaragua factory in 2 series – Blonde (Connecticut wrapper) and Habano (Habano Rosdao wrapper), each with 5 different vitolas. I met with Bloodline at the 2014 IPCPR and they gave me a Habano Lineage (5 X 50 robusto) to sample review.

Bloodlines are box pressed and the Lineage was square at the foot and round at the cap. The blood red and orange coloring was interesting and the band protecting the foot was ribbon, not paper. Appearance is about average. The cigar was firm but I found the draw to be a little tough. The Habano series cigars are 75% ligero, a tobacco leaf at the top of the plant known for potent flavoring. This suggests a strong, full bodied flavor is coming unless the soft crush process is successful. The initial flavor is very mild and not flavorful with only hints of cedar and rose. The soft crush removed the bitterness but perhaps also some of the flavor. The flavor intensity increased by the halfway point but only to the medium bodied level and it was not complex – simply cedar and rose or grass/straw. The smoke volume was good, the ash was normal and it took 35 minutes to smoke. At an SRP of $8.50 to $9 I feel the Lineage is overpriced for an average cigar. I rate the Lineage a 2.5 out of 5.