Cigar: Black Star Line Lalibela
Size: Toro
Smoke time: 1 hours, 25 minutes
Appearance & Aroma
I am smoking the Lalibela in my office. I am not pairing anything with the cigar as I want the full flavor and body of the cigar to have my complete attention. The cigar has a bold band with the colors of the Ethiopian Flag and a bold, all-caps font spelling out the name of the cigar (and the city for which its named). The Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper is rough to the touch, almost like fine grit sandpaper, showing few veins and seams. There is a triple cap with a pigtail and the wrapper is folded over the foot of the cigar covering the foot almost completely. The smell, and pre-light draw, provide an earthy flavor.
Light-Up & Draw
I straight-cut the cigar and used a single flame torch to toast the foot. The light and first draw provide a blast of pepper that I look forward to every time I smoke this cigar.
Early Profile
The first inch of the cigar is a peppery blast with notes of butterscotch and vanilla on the retrohale. After about an inch, the cigar settles in to a full-body balance of pepper on the tip of my tongue and vanilla sweetness (although you really have to look for it) at the back of my tongue. But I don’t smoke this cigar for the sweet smoothness; I smoke this because I want spices! The retro can be dangerous. This cigar is not for the faint of heart!
Middle Profile & Burn
The cigar has opened up and only requires the occasional “double puff” to keep it going. The smoke output is great and the draw is fantastic. My normal puff brings spice and earth, while a smaller puff seems to be sweeter with vanilla over an unidentified sweetness that I just can’t put a name to. Halfway into the cigar the bite has mellowed into a full-body smoke with a surprising smoothness after the initial “OH, MY” moments at the beginning.
Late Profile
As I’m winding down to the band the sweetness has turned drier with a dark powdered cocoa feel. The spice is still the front-and-center flavor. The Toro has opened up nicely. The construction was perfect and I had zero relights. I only touched it up once (probably would have righted itself if I had just kept smoking).
Overall Impression
I love full-body, spicy cigars and this one might be the fullest and spiciest in the shop. The construction is great with amazing consistency. I would caution novice smokers or people who aren’t quite into full-body cigars. If there is a top of the full-body line, this one is right there. And the strength didn’t waver through the length of the cigar. I love the entire Black Star lineup, but for full body, this one is the champion of the line. I would pair this with a smooth, small batch bourbon. Or maybe a creamy, double-oaked bourbon to use the bourbon to complement the spice of the cigar and the spice to complement the creaminess of the bourbon. Aric Bey hit a home run with this one! Shout out to Richard Bratton at Black Star Line for turning me on to this one!
– Review by Josh Malone, a tobacconist at Third Street Cigar in Waterville, Ohio.
This story first appeared in PCA The Magazine, Volume 1, 2025. To receive a copy of this magazine you must be a current member of PCA. Join or renew today at premiumcigars.org/membership.