Archetype Sage Advice is the second cigar in Chapter 1 of Ventura Cigar's Archetype Cigars story. This ongoing saga began back in 2016 at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) trade show in Las Vegas.
It's a collaboration between Ventura general manager Michael Giannini and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr, and is produced at Carrillo's Tabacalera La Alianza factory in the Dominican Republic.
Sage Advice blend and flavor profile
Sage Advice contains a mystery blend of aged long filler tobaccos from several different countries. The resultant flavor profile combines coffee, spices and dried fruit, and has the complexity you'd expect from a premium cigar.
Body is at the upper end of medium, while strength is medium-full. It's the second cigar in the story but it's a great introduction to the Archetype Cigars line, if you're looking for somewhere to start.
The Design of Sage Advice Cigars
Archetype Sage Advice cigars feature a medium-brown Cuban-seed Habano wrapper. This contrasts well with the royal blue color scheme of the Archetype logo band on the footer and the all-seeing eye motif on the band. Each Archetype cigar has its own bold color, so whether you choose one or buy the whole range, they'll look great in your humidor.
Our Archetype Sage Advice Cigar review
In this Archetype Sage Advice review we'll take a closer look at the construction and flavor profile of the cigar, breaking it down into the cold draw and the three thirds you can expect to experience once lit. We'll round off with our final thoughts about this intriguing instalment in the Archetype Cigars saga.
What is the construction of the cigar like?
Sage Advice is a handmade cigar with a multinational blend of aged long fillers, a Dominican Republic binder and a Cuban-seed Habano wrapper. It's available in three vitolas: Gordo (6 x 60), Toro (6 x 52) and Robusto (5.12 x 54). Each stick features the Archetype Cigars logo at the foot and the Sage Advice eye motif on the band.
What I got from the cold draw
Once clipped, savor the cold draw from the freshly exposed tobacco. You can expect an earthy base with hints of barnyard hay. If you're feeling playful, try to predict the flavors you'll get from smoking Sage Advice, based on what you can detect in the cold draw. You might be surprised at the result.
Flavors I experienced from the Sage Advice
Sage Advice has a flavor profile that builds steadily from start to finish. That means a subtle start but a strong finale, making it a memorable smoke. A persistent burn means you can put it down when you need a break and most likely will not need to relight on your return.
First third
Look out for an espresso coffee hit right off the bat. Don't miss it, as it doesn't stick around for long. After that there's white pepper and floral spices, with herbal notes present in the retrohales. The strength may be subtle after that first espresso shot, but be ready for a continual build over the life of the stick.
Second third
The middle third of Sage Advice is a dance of bitterness and sweetness, with flavors including molasses, sweet fruit and spices such as ginger and allspice. The retrohales are light and sweet, with aromas of nougat, and bring a playful top layer to the experience.
Final third
Ginger and allspice stick around for the final third, where they are joined by a bloom of cedarwood. This is where the strength peaks, so put your 'do not disturb' sign on the door and settle back to enjoy the grand finale of Sage Advice.
What was the strength like?
The continuous build of strength and flavor gives Sage Advice an unusual profile. Some elements, including the spices, are present throughout, and it's the increase in intensity that gives this cigar its profile, rather than a notable change in taste from one third to the next.
But it never gets boring, as there's enough complexity and the shifting balance between sweetness and bitterness to keep things interesting.
Closing thoughts
Archetype Cigars aim to tell the universal story of a hero's progress, and Sage Advice is only the second page in Chapter 1.
The swell of flavors gives a real sense of a developing story arc that has not yet peaked, but this is still a premium cigar that can hold its own as a single. Buy a box of 20 or stock up on the other Archetype Cigars for a colorful humidor with plenty of variety.
If you want to know a little more about Archetype Cigars, check out our introductory guide.