The “Scorpion Project” started a few years back when Christian Eiroa, president of Camacho Cigars, got together with a with a private cigar club from North Carolina and decided to make a cigar that would age in the Camacho factory for over a year. The cigar was named the Camacho Scorpion and Camacho produced just over 12,000 of them.

The cigar is similar to the Camacho Diploma and 11/18 “Limited” blends in that it uses tobacco from the upper primings of the plant. In fact, the band on the cigar has the words, “Quinto Corte,” which refers to the 5th priming, or the top of the plant. The leaves at the top of the plant are thicker and contain more resin (thus more flavor,) as these leaves are exposed to more sun and wind and other elements.

But what really makes this cigar special is that it has been aging in the factory for over 4 years. It is unusual for a cigar to have a lot of factory aging and I am eager to see how this affects the flavor and burn of the tobacco.

The Scorpion is a gorgeous perfecto, displaying classic tapering at both ends. The wrapper is one of the nicest you’ll ever lay eyes upon. It’s silky smooth and chestnut colored with nary a vein that stands out on the leaf.

After a quick clip and a slow light, I am rewarded with a bit of hay-like characters, which quickly progress to notes of aromatic wood and roasted nuts.

Through the first third, I am reminded, both in look and flavor, of the Davidoff 100th Anniversary Diademas Finas. There is a lot of complex flavor and a long finish. But the comparison ended at that point as the classic body and flavor of Camacho’s well-aged Corojo kicked in.

The cigar began to display rich tobacco flavors and a strength that I could feel in my esophagus and stomach: like the warmth of an aged spirit.

The only problem I experienced in the first half of the smoke was a wayward burn that wouldn’t self-correct. I was forced to touch up the problem area with my torch lighter.

The second half of the smoke brought deep tobacco sweetness and left a spicy tingle on my tongue.

This cigar is a winner: it’s a powerhouse and yet is refined and complex.

I would match this cigar with a well aged Scotch or Cognac.

~Doc