Warped Companion
Warped Cigars, the boutique brand founded by Kyle Gellis, released Companion de Warped (often called Warped Companion) in December 2021 as a regular production line. It is the second Warped cigar made at Tabacalera La Isla in the Dominican Republic, following Chinchalle, and comes in a single 4½″ × 48 Rothschild vitola packaged in 25 count boxes.
The blend uses a Grade 1 Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, only the second time Gellis had employed that leaf for Warped, over a Dominican binder and a filler that is predominantly Dominican with a smaller Nicaraguan component. Gellis developed the cigar after encountering the wrapper during a tobacco sourcing trip in Santiago, deciding on the spot that it met the brand’s standards.
Stogie At A Glance
Review
First Third
Lots of earthy pepper on the light, savory notes, with a barnyard note as well. Dark chocolate notes and pepper coming out, lots of pepper on the retrohale and finish. Slight dark cherry nose coming out with still lots of pepper, cedar, and lighter chocolate notes. Aroma has a savory, floral note to it. Salinity is being added to the savory notes; almost like a salted peanut note, but not very nutty, more like salted meat that's covered in chocolate. Lots more cedar and pepper than chocolate. Lots of thick smoke, very enjoyable; wood and pepper are the main notes in the first third, with small notes of chocolate here and there. Getting near the end of the first third, cedar is coming out much more. Chocolate notes are mixing with the woody cedar notes. Lots of cedar.
Second Third
Starting the second third, the chocolate is starting to evolve into more of a chocolate pudding note, with some light cedar and spices on the finish. Cedar continues to get stronger from the first third. Black coffee is starting to come out more now, with a peppery note that has some fennel and paprika; great to finally be able to really taste what those spices and savory notes were from earlier. Pepper is coming back stronger, with stronger chocolate notes as well. Still a good amount of savory and spice notes on the finish. Getting to the end of the second third, lots of cedar is coming out again, with a good amount of earthy pepper on the palate and finish. Comes through as largely cedar and pepper, with some black coffee notes.
Final Third
Starting the final third, cedar is coming out very prominently, and the chocolate has become more consistent. Cedar and back coffee notes continue. The black coffee has added a little bit of creaminess to it; very slight, but present. Light chocolate, with a good amount of cedar and pepper on the finish. Pepper continues to build in the final third. Cedar and pepper on the palate and finish. The construction of this cigar is great, even burn, thick smoke the whole time. Wonderful and satisfying experience.
