If today’s great minds of science ever need to test whether great cigar making is in the genes, then the Psyko 7 Nicaragua cigar could prove to be a very dependent variable.
The Psyko 7 Nicaragua is a first-time collaboration between Ventura Cigar Company and Indiana Ortez - the daughter of renowned cigar maker Omar Ortez. It's rolled entirely with home-grown tobaccos from the Ortez family farm.
Although she will have undoubtedly learned many valuable lessons from her father, Indiana is an intuitive blender in her own right, as illustrated by the family-orientated and limited-edition ‘Archetype Fathers, Friends & Fire’ smokes, released back in 2016.
Indiana’s passion for her Nicaraguan roots, her family’s proud tobacco heritage, and her place within the new generation of Nicaraguan tobacco growers are what fill my soul (and imminent smoke) with excitement.
Let’s see whether this three-vitola line really does evoke the spirit, uncompromising craftsmanship, and light ‘em up culture that the “land of lakes and volcanoes” is known for in our Psyko Seven review.
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Medium
- Wrapper: Nicaragua (Connecticut)
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Smoke Time: 100-110 minutes
- Sizes Available:
- Toro (6 x 50)
What is the construction like?
The first thing you notice about this particular cigar is the large prescription style band that you would expect to find on a medicine bottle. It reveals some details about how the Psyko 7 Nicaragua came to fruition and also features Indiana Ortez’s signature.
The scribbled style and stencil font combination of the ‘Psyko Seven’ text itself reminds me of urban graffiti art, which wouldn’t look out of place on a band t-shirt. It gives the cigar a modern edge to create intrigue.
For those of you that haven’t lived and breathed cigars to the extent of the Ortez clan, you’ll find some instructions on how to remove the band prior to lighting. This unveils a 2007-vintage, exquisitely tanned Nicaraguan Connecticut desflorado wrapper.
Desflorado may sound eloquent, but it is actually the Spanish word for ‘deflowered’, reflecting the deflowering process that’s designed to direct more nutrients to the leaf itself for a stronger, more pronounced flavor.
The all-Nicaraguan affair continues with a native binder, and fillers coming from the Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa regions. The aroma of the wrapper is creamy leather, while the foot brings a light cereal note.
This tightly packed cigar is fairly firm. Given that it sports a delicate and fragile Connecticut wrapper, I sway on the side of caution when it comes to squeezing the stick.
I’m now itching to bring my cigar to life, but first, let’s see where the cold draw transports me to.
What I thought about the cold draw
Prior to releasing smoke from my stogie, the ambiance the pre-light draw conjured up was the warmth and coziness of a fireplace. I picked up toasted wood notes, with the unmistakable scent of pine. There is also a subtle golden-hay flavor that smells gloriously sweet, parallel to rolling in a lush meadow.
Flavors enjoyed from the Psyko Seven
Contrasting notes of earth, peppery spices, caramel, and creamy leather offered a richness and depth of flavor that showcased Ortez’s blending style. Her approach is to focus on tantalizing the palate of the smoker by constantly evolving those rich, nuanced flavors throughout the smoking experience while avoiding unnecessary strength.
By delivering a well-balanced flavor profile that is a little meeker in the body than a typical Nicaraguan, the Psyko 7 Nicaragua makes for an enjoyable lighter cigar.
First Third
There was something very provocative about the first few puffs. They started out with a little more pizazz than a traditional Connecticut Shade, with black pepper and spicy cedar injecting the venom. Additionally, a fuller presence of the black pepper unveiled itself in the post draw, alongside some dry cocoa.
As I progress past the initial stages, the pepper takes shelter and allows a subtle creaminess to emerge. The strength and body at this point are sitting just below medium.
Second Third
It felt to me like the second third was all about the cigar trying to locate that sweet spot jackpot, in terms of bringing all the flavors to undivided bliss. It’s as if someone has infused my cigar with vanilla extract over layers of nuttiness, charred wood, and burnt butter. Those classic Nicaraguan puro touches of earth also settle into the middle of the profile.
The retrohale carries smooth and silky cocoa, but the black pepper that was so prominent in the first third had chosen to burn out, rather than fade away.
Final Third
As I approach the finish line, there’s still a decent level of creaminess setting the foundation for the flavor. I detected some butterscotch, velvety caramel, and leather, although the interesting changes of paces kept coming, notably in the second half of the final third.
A retrohale suggests that the black pepper’s disappearing act was only temporary, while full-bodied flavors of earth and char build until they reach a climax.
How strong is the cigar?
Billed as medium-body in strength, the Psyko 7 Nicaragua never came across overly strong at any point of my smoking journey. I thought the cumulative effect of the flavors kept getting smoother and more complex as I worked my way down the stick.
Final Thoughts
The cigar performed remarkably well, with its slow burn and pleasant draw consistent throughout. Its creamy profile makes it perfect for coffee drinkers, especially those partial to a frothy cappuccino.
The Psyko 7 Nicaragua offers a unique, affordable alternative to the other blends in the Psyko 7 line, so make sure you check out this savory Nicaraguan pure blend that pays homage to the time Ortez’s father invested in her development and rising talent.
