The founders behind this cigar originally started their journey with a factory: Tobacco NicaSueno in Nicaragua. Shortly after starting up, they issued their first in house blend, which they called the CroMagnon. It was a quick hit, instantly starting them off with a reputation for spot-on blending. Three Nicaraguan tobaccos formed the long-filler blend, and the team then put a Cameroon binder and a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper over it.

The verdict? 93 points. The #15 cigar of 2016. It was a highly enjoyable smoke with earth, cocoa, and nuts making for a rich tobacco feast.

Now comes the Roma Craft L.E. CroMagnon Black Irish, which offers a fun take on the company’s flagship smoke.

This one is just packed with flavor, just like the original. The difference is that a stripe of candela leaf has been added for a visual accent and for a small tweak to the flavor profile. You won’t find it coming out super strong. In general, candela offers a mild, tealike flavor. Here, it adds a barely-there accent of herbal taste. The core flavor is still earthy and spicy, but there are hints of mint and evergreen that sort of peek out and say hello every now and then like a leprechaun dancing in and out of the bushes.

Undoubtedly, these are a good Saint Patrick’s Day cigar. Instead of going overboard on the green, you get a great blend that stays true to its formula, while offering something a little different than you usually get. We admire a little restraint if it’s in the service of making a really high-quality smoking experience come together, and the Roma Craft Black Irish definitely hits the mark.

And by the way, the term “black Irish” traditionally refers to Irish folks with dark-colored features like black hair and dark eyes, not black folks who happen to be Irish.

The more you know.

This Roma Craft Limited Edition Cromagnon Black Irish cigar is made in Nicaragua. Outside, you'll find a Connecticut Broadleaf, Candela Barber Pole wrapper. Inside, the binder is Cameroon, and the filler is Nicaraguan, Dominican. The Roma Craft Limited Edition Cromagnon Black Irish is a Full-Bodied Robusto-Extra shaped cigar with a length of 5.00 and a ring gauge of 56.