Mbombay Gaaja

Band/Packaging: 

Intricate design using gold, teal, red, and blue

Wrapper: 

Light golden hue, some veins

Construction: 

Nice box press, firm

Cold draw: 

Bready, slight woodiness

THE REVIEW

First third: 

White pepper, toast, woody, citrus sweetness

Retro:

Woody, citrus

Second third: 

Woody, black pepper, slight fruit note, tartness, creamy, milk chocolate

Burn: 

A bit wavy but no major issues

Smoke: 

Large amounts of wispy smoke

Final third: 

Milk chocolate, cream, slight coffee, slight fruit, slight pepper

Retro: 

Coffee, slight milk chocolate, slight pepper

Duration:

1 hour 33 minutes

Conclusion: 

This is the first MBombay I have smoked so I had very little expectations, but I tend to enjoy blends that come out of Costa Rica. This one just didn’t do it for me. I wouldn’t say it was bad, I just didn’t enjoy the flavor profile. The notes were light and short lasting on the palate, and the first half seemed very bland to me. Once the milk chocolate and creaminess kicked in the flavor profile certainly picked up and I started to enjoy, but as the final third progressed, the flavors became very bland again and left a stale taste to the palate. Overall this is one to try but only just a single to start.