A bit of backstory to this one… me and this cigar do not get along. Back when the website first started, this was one of the first sticks I reviewed, and I gave it a 1 out of 10. Maybe a bit harsh, but times do change, people grow, and palates do develop. I have grown as a reviewer, and the rating system has grown as well, so that leaves one question unanswered…was I too harsh? Let’s find out.
Let’s not sugarcoat it when a name like Buffalo Trace is stamped on a cigar band, expectations aren’t just high, they’re barrel-proof. It’s one of the most recognizable bourbon labels in the country, and pairing that legacy with a cigar? Sounds like a no-brainer. So, how does it work out?
Well… let’s just say, this stick isn’t winning any double golds.
Looks Aren’t Everything But Still,
Construction: 2/5
Wrapper Quality: 1/5
Right from the jump, the Buffalo Trace cigar feels rushed. You can see it. The roll’s lumpy, the seams are obvious, and there’s a soft spot near the foot that practically begs for a relight. The wrapper’s dry, veiny, and just plain sad-looking, think more “gas station tan” than “rich, oily Connecticut Habano,” this stick is straight from the local B&M so I trust it was kept to the best of their abilities.
Honestly, it reminds me of when you grab a cigar out of a sampler pack and immediately know it’s the one you’ll save for your least favorite drinking buddy. You know the one.
Appearance Total: 3/10
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The Aroma Game Is… Mid at Best
Pre-light Aroma: 2/5
Burn Aroma: 3/5
Pre-light, the nose gives you some faint barnyard and toasted cereal, but it’s far from captivating. You want richness, you want complexity, you want a story. Instead, it smells like someone telling you the idea of a story, then wandering off halfway through.
Once lit, the burn aroma does a little better. It’s got that charred oak and dry earth kind of vibe that almost reminds you of a whiskey barrel, but just doesn’t quite commit.
Aroma Total: 5/10
Let’s Talk Draw: Actually Not Terrible
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Resistance: 4/5
Consistency: 4/5
Here’s the one area where things kinda… work. The draw’s not perfect, but it’s pretty solid. Slight resistance, good airflow. No sudden changes, no tunnel drama. It’s the kind of draw you hope for in a budget smoke one that doesn’t make you fight for every puff.
Draw Total: 8/10
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Flavor: Like Buffalo Trace, But Watered Down… and Burnt
Initial Flavors: 1/5
Mid-Smoke Flavors: 5/10
Finish: 3/5
Here’s the thing: there are moments when you want this cigar to be good. You can almost taste that whiskey barrel influence. But then it gets buried under flat tobacco and bitter char. The first few puffs are bland, almost like lighting cardboard. Midway through, you pick up some nutty bitterness, maybe a hint of oak or cocoa powder, but it never fully lands. The finish lingers more than you’d like and not in a satisfying way. It’s dry, slightly tannic, and kind of sour.
If this were a whiskey, it’d be the one you politely sip and then “accidentally” forget at your cousin’s house.
Flavor Total: 9/20
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Burn: Wobbly from the Start
Evenness: 1/5
Ash: 2/5
We’ve all had that cigar that insists on canoeing no matter how many touchups you throw at it. This is that cigar. From the first third, the burn line went rogue, with a flaky, salt-and-pepper ash that barely held through two draws.
Put it this way: if you’re smoking this on a breezy patio, bring a lighter. And maybe a backup cigar.
Burn Total: 3/10
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Strength: Middle of the Road… If That Road Is Unpaved
Body: 3/5
Nicotine Strength: 3/5
There’s a modest kick here, but not much more than your average mild-to-medium cigar. You’d expect more punch from something co-branded with Buffalo Trace, right? It’s like ordering barrel proof bourbon and getting something that tastes like it was cut with ice water.
Strength Total: 6/10
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Complexity: All Setup, No Payoff
Flavor Evolution: 3/5
Balance: 2/5
Does it evolve? A little. The flavors shift from boring to slightly bitter to dry but that’s not development, that’s just deterioration. It’s unbalanced, with no real arc to the experience. Think of it like a movie with a great trailer and a terrible third act. You’re left thinking, “Wait, that’s it?”
Complexity Total: 5/10
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Value: Budget Stick Energy
Price vs. Experience: 4/5
Enjoyment: 2/5
Here’s where things get tricky. Is it affordable? Yeah. But does that make it worth smoking? Only if you’re determined to cross it off your whiskey-themed bucket list. Otherwise, there are better $7 smokes out there. Like, way better.
You might enjoy the novelty once. But twice? Not unless you’re pairing it with actual Buffalo Trace and trying really hard to make it work.
Value Total: 6/10
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Verdict: A solid “meh.”
If you’re chasing a great whiskey-themed cigar experience, this ain’t the one. It’s like drinking bourbon out of a paper cup, you’re getting the label, not the legacy.
But hey, points for effort.
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Yes, I was too harsh on this cigar I was such a fan of the brand that I wanted the cigar to be perfect, and that gave it a reputation it couldn’t possibly live up to. At the end of the day, it’s a budget cigar, and it’ll behave like a budget cigar. This isn’t going to be your special occasion cigar, but it does have a place in the humidor… that’s the part I’m still figuring out myself.
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Final Score: 45/90
