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Cigar Review: Karatoba

  • Writer: ChiTown Cigar
    ChiTown Cigar
  • Sep 9
  • 2 min read

Updated: Sep 17

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CTCP DEPT.


INCIDENT: CIGAR REVIEW

CASE NUMBER: CCR2025-09-05

DATE/TIME OF INCIDENT: 2015-09-05, 20:11 CDT

LOCATION OF INCIDENT: Cedar Room

REPORTED BY: Marty C


-I. INCIDENT TYPE: Product Assessment - Cigar


–II. PRODUCT INFORMATION:

  • PRODUCT NAME: Karatoba

  • BRAND: Oz Family Cigars

  • VITOLA: Toro 6.5 x 50

  • MANUFACTURING ORIGIN: Nicaragua @ NACSA

  • COMPONENTS:

    • WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Sumatra

    • BINDER: Nicaraguan

    • FILLER: Nicaraguan and Dominican

  • PRICE: $12.25 USD

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—III. NARRATIVE OF ASSESSMENT:

On the aforementioned date, this reviewer conducted an assessment of a cigar identified as the "Karatoba" by Oz Family Cigars. The assessment spanned approximately 95 minutes.


A. SENSORY EVALUATION (TASTE):

  • FIRST THIRD: Cigar opens with some molasses sweetness with some cinnamon spice and toasted oak

  • SECOND THIRD: Sweetness fades and toasted oak remains joined by leather

  • FINAL THIRD: toasted oak and leather remain and are joined by a nice mild pepper

  • COMPLEXITY: A nice transition from first to second third

  • STRENGTH: medium-full

  • RETROHALE: Earthy leather on the retrohale with a light spice on the tongue


B. PHYSICAL EVALUATION (CONSTRUCTION):

  • QUALITY: A nice soft box press with a chocolate brown wrapper. Smooth with a light sheen.

  • TACTILE SENSORY: firmness is typical of soft box press

  • PREPARATION: straight cut is clean


C. FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION (DRAW):

  • RESISTANCE: perfect draw

  • SMOKE PRODUCTION: moderate

  • CONSISTENCY: draw remained consistently good


D. VISUAL EVALUATION (APPEARANCE):

  • AESTHETICS: Cigar looks like a delicious chocolate bar

  • MARKINGS/BAND: Main band is Bronze with black background. Bronze is a mix of satin with glossy Oz symbol and Karatoba name. An all black footband tops it off

  • OVERALL PRESENTATION: The bronze stands out nicely and gives an elegant touch.


E. COMBUSTION EVALUATION (BURN):

  • CONSISTENCY: Burn is straight

  • RESIDUE (ASH): grey stacked dime ash hangs on in one inch chunks

  • INTERRUPTIONS: no touch-ups required

  • DURATION: 95 minutes


—-IV. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:

Karatoba is a mashup of the Kara - the Turkish word for dark, and Toba - a lake in a volcanic caldera in Indonesia. It pays homage to Oz Family Cigars founder Tim Ozgener’s Turkish heritage and the heritage of the sumatra seeds from Indonesia grown in Ecuador used in the dark wrapper. This is one of the fuller bodied sumatra cigars I have had the pleasure of smoking, and I really enjoyed this blend. The molasses sweetness, toasted oak, leather and mild spice were well balanced, the construction and burn were impeccable, and the presentation was refined and elegant. This is definitely a cigar you will want to try and should make some end of the year lists.


—--V. RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSIONS:

  • PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: Bourbon or root beer

  • RE-ASSESSMENT PROBABILITY: 5 pack

TOTAL SCORE: 90/100


  • FINAL OBSERVATIONS: With a medium-full strength profile, elegant branding, thoughtful naming, and flawless burn, this cigar is a testament to quality craftsmanship and blending. Whether paired with a robust bourbon or a crisp root beer, the Karatoba is poised to impress both seasoned aficionados and newcomers alike. It’s a must-try that earns its high score and a spot in any cigar enthusiast’s rotation.


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