Short Cuts: CroMagnon Firecracker 2018 from RoMa Craft Tobac and Two Guys Smoke Shop

September 11, 2018 |

Author Toar Campbell

CroMagnon Firecracker 2018 from RoMa Craft Tobac and Two Guys Smoke Shop

On May 19, 2007, Two Guys Smoke Shop owner David Garofalo asked Jose “Don” Pepin Garcia to roll him a short cigar and to put a long pig tail on it. And so the birth of the firecracker came from an idea.

The cigar has seen versions made by My Father Cigars, Jose Dominguez, Iconic Leaf and La Flor Dominicana as well as a slightly larger version called the M80 from Tatuaje.

Skip Martin Half owner of RoMa Craft Tobac said “I’m not sure if it is the ambient humidity, size or the closed nature of the CroMagnon Firecracker, but this is probably the most raw cigar we have ever produced out of the factory. It just seems to be getting stronger instead of more balanced. It definitely lives up to the name.”

Back in 2016 we asked Skip Martin about the project, he told CIGAR SMOKE “We get approached to do projects like this fairly frequently, and we say no a lot. However, when it is a well thought out project for a good customer executed over multiple years like Cigar Dojo/Famous, Stogies and Two Guys have done, it’s easy to say yes.

When we approach one of these projects, we want to stay consistent to the theme, but also not stray too far from our own brand identity. That can be tough. You also want to make sure you stand out among those that have come before you.

With the firecracker, we were competing against a few greats like DPG and LFD that had done this project in the previous years“.

APPEARANCE

The Re-Released 2018 CroMagnon firecracker has the same recipe of explosive tobacco as the offering released 2 years ago from Two Guys Smoke Shop. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is coffee bean in color with areas of a reddish hue in the outdoor sunlight.

Short and explosive it’s rolled in the “Firecracker” format at 3.5 x 50 with a rounded cap containing an extra long pigtail fuse glistening with oil.

Toothy with some vein it’s almost seamless, on closer inspection are barely visible remnants of vegetable glue near the cap portion of the fuse that keeps the smaller format intact.

A single band sits on the RoMaCracker, a thin black and white label with a recognizable RoMa Craft logo rounds out the band, this ones a bit easier to slip off as it’s raised on one portion to keep the pigtail fuse in place.

Pre-light aroma had notes of
chocolate, barnyard and sweet dried fruit. Slight resistance on the cold draw producing flavors of black tea leaves, leather spice and sangria.

FIRST LIGHT

Orange Peel/Char
Leather
Espresso
Black Licorice
Raw Walnuts
Burnt Caramel
Throat Punch of Black Pepper/FULL
Heavy White Pepper on the Retro

CRUISE CONTROL BURN

Black Licorice
Leather/Cream
Roasted Walnuts
Espresso/Cuban Coffee
Black Pepper/FULL Balanced
Thick White Pepper on the retro

FINAL THIRD

Dark Chocolate
Cocoa Bean
Coffee/Black
Fennel Seeds/Anise
Molasses/Thick
Pepper/Black MED/FULL
White Pepper on the retro evolving into sweet flavors of Burnt Caramel/Charred Toffee

CONSTRUCTION/STRENGTH

• CONSTRUCTION: SOLID! Compact with zero soft spots. Rustic looking, zero cracks or wrapper issues.

• BURN: Razor sharp with a thick black carbon line.

• ASH: Dark grayish/Black compact Ash that would have burned past the label. Tapped off with ease.

• CUT: V CUT with a XIKAR VX metal v cutter. I keep the fuse on to see if it burns with the wrapper.

• DRAW: Minimal resistance at first light due to the covered foot. Once the wrapper burns off it transitions to a wide open draw.

• RE LIGHTS: Zero

• FIRE: JetLine Grenade triple torch lighter.

• STRENGTH: UPPER FULL BODIED

CONCLUSION

The Re-Release of the CroMagnon firecracker was met with anticipation and excitement! Droves of “Degenerate Weasels” set their alarms to be ready to snatch up the 2 Box limit from Two Guys Smoke Shop’s release of the seasonal cigar.

Selling out lightning fast even with the restricted purchase limit. I stopped counting how many of these I’ve smoked as it’s always a great companion with morning coffee, GO BIG OR GO HOME.

Upper FULL bodied in strength there is little transition to the cigar as it is explosive from first light to final third. However, it’s balanced with core flavors throughout each smoking duration. What I found interesting was the Mi Querida firecracker released back in June, is essentially the same format. The difference being, it burned extremely hot and had to be put down and cooled off.

I just find it interesting how differently certain tobaccos burn in the same format. The Mi Querida was a great cigar as a firecracker, but it showed the differences in characteristics of blends within the same format from the two companies.

The cigar community is fickle (yours truly included) we all sit in anticipation of what’s next? Just as fast as these things get released we’re already waiting for the announcement of next years seasonal offering.

I have my own favorites I’d like to see in the smaller format, but ultimately it’s already been decided and under as much guard as the envelopes announcing who’s winning best movie at this years Oscars.