The Hornet by Black Works Studio: The Candela Boldness
Black Works Studio
The Hornet
Robusto
By now, you are most likely familiar with the creations of
James & Angela Brown. James is renowned for his Black Label brand, famous
for its powerful vitolas with bold flavor profiles. But alongside that, he
wanted to break traditional cigar conventions by combining high-precision
artisanal rolling, intricate visual details on the wrapper, and intense tobacco
blends.
It is almost as if Black Works Studio (BWS) were an
experimental laboratory—a place where every cigar has a story to tell.
Today, I am re-tasting the Hornet Robusto and sharing my
impressions with you.
Packaging-wise, the spirit is quite close to the Killer Bee
line: it features that intricate geometric design of fine gold lines on a matte
black background. The overall look evokes a modern, technical aesthetic—almost
like a printed circuit board—which perfectly embodies Black Works Studio's
philosophy. A stylized hornet logo completes the look, directly echoing the
name of the vitola.
Let's get straight to the heart of the matter: the tasting.
I remove the cigar from its cellophane to take a closer look
at the wrapper. Visually, it brings to mind the body of a hornet: a dark
wrapper striped with green accents, brought by Candela tobacco located mainly
at the foot and head of the cigar.
Cutting it is effortless. However, testing the cold draw is
out of the question here, as the foot is completely covered by Candela leaf
(that quickly cured leaf that retains its bright green color).
Just as a hornet strikes fiercely to defend its nest, the
lighting is striking: as soon as the foot catches fire, I am overcome by a wave
of fern, white pepper, and cinnamon notes, highlighted by a touch of clove.
James Brown delivers a true aromatic "sting" through his blend!
At this stage, I can already tell the draw is going to be
spot on.
Tanned leather makes its entrance, followed by dark
chocolate, while a touch of damp earth and candied orange peel complete the
picture. It only takes a few puffs for the intensity to border on medium.
My tasting continues "nice and easy," and it is a
most enjoyable moment. The flavors harmonize like a beautifully balanced rock
opera while David Gilmour's voice flows from the speakers.
My vitola shifts between chocolate, citrus, red pepper, and
earth… Every swirl of smoke leaves a long, peppered, and roasted finish.
In fact, it's been a while since the strength crossed into
medium-full territory, and it maintains its course without wavering.
Well now, here is a flavor note I rarely encounter during my
tastings—perhaps because I ate some last week or because Aurora used some to
repel another insect: I'm talking about lemongrass. It is quite rare for me to
pick up this kind of aroma during a cigar session, and it adds a genuine extra
dimension to the hedonistic side of this vitola.
Technical Specifications
Tests were conducted on two samples of this Robusto (12.7 cm
/ 5", ring gauge 48):
- Wrapper:
Maduro & Candela (Ecuador)
- Binder:
Nicaragua
- Filler:
Nicaragua
Conclusion
It has been a long time since I felt this satisfied with a
Robusto. The perfectly balanced flavor palette, the intensity, and the long
finish blew me away. This is a cigar that will regularly find a place in one of
my humidors.
As usual, I encourage you to visit your favorite tobacconist
to pick one up and form your own impression!
Price in Belgium at the time of writing: €16.40