Carbon.  The building block of all life.  Cigars as a way of life for many of us, so maybe the name has a deeper meaning?  Foundry Cigars has put some of the coolest and strangest ideas into their cigars over the past couple of years.  The steampunk series was unusual though plagued with wrapper explosions, and the Laboratories series West Orange was terrific.  The elements line is a rotating line based on the periodic table.  Thankfully, after reading this review you will agree, the Carbon is one of the full time releases they intend.  I have almost tried the Plutonium but the big 7 x 70 is a bit much for me.  The Carbon is just right at 60 and seeing as this was the first cigar I smoked in 2014, I figured I better review one.  Here we go....

Construction: A dark brown wrapper leaf covers the rather husky Carbon.  Some veins are present but they are fairly small.  No other blemishes in sight.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: Out of the cellophane, the Carbon gives off an incredibly sweet cocoa and tobacco note.  I caught a little manure and spice at the foot. I used my Lotus double blade cutter - one of the ones you squeeze like a Xikar, It cuts easily and the draw is perfect. 

Light and Burn: It took me four matches in my garden shed to light this big puppy.  If you haven't read my other reviews, the wind in my yard is annoying.  The burn started out a little rough but it evens out and stays laser perfect.

Tasting: A little bit of lemon zest and black pepper start this big cigar off right.  As the first third begins, I get a nice sweet cocoa, some black pepper, and a mild earthy tone underneath.  To be honest, being named after an element associated with coal and the like, I was expecting a charred and burnt note somewhere.  This is the fifth of these big monsters I have had since January, which should give you some indication as to how this review is going to turn out, and every time, I have been astounded at how tasty they are.  More citrus shows up as the first third ends.  The pepper is gone now and a very nice cocoa sweetness takes over.  Medium body at the start.

The middle third gains some earthiness at the core.  Cocoa sweetness still prevails as the main note.  I get some heavy tobacco notes, a tad of roasted nuts and some minerals are in the mix too.  Again, a tasty cigar.  Still in the medium range too.

The final third warms up a bit on the smoke.  A deep rich bittersweet chocolate and earth still continue to dominate but the complexity still continues with hints of vanilla, black cherry, and a nice toasty flavor appear too.  More of that awesome citrus shows up as I nub this big cigar into the ashtray.   It stays cool to the touch and doesn't go soft.  Strength increases a tad towards medium-full and the nicotine content might make your head spin a little.  I found a couple of minor wrapper spits but nothing worth worrying over.  The wrapper is fairly delicate but the Carbon burns past them as if they weren't there.

Value: Herein lays the Carbon's true value, folks. $4.99....yes, you read that right.  For so much top quality and unique tobacco you would be hard pressed to find a better go-to smoke.

Final Thoughts: I must be a bit ciche here....but this is a Diamond in the rough.  I never in a million years thought this cigar would be so good.  I have read some reviews of the Argon and H2O and they get spotty reviews....but every review I have seen of the Carbon has shown it to be the best of the bunch.  Sweet, complex, and well crafted make this a cigar I c

Wrapper: Unknown....maybe some maduro Habano?
Binder: Unknown
Filler: Unknown

Strength: Medium to medium-full

Size: 5.5 x 60

A big chunk of Carbon

Love the presentation.

So cool!

They come in a huge chest of 77 cigars...look at all of them!