I have had my eye on the subject of this review for a while now.  Sadly, I couldn't find them in my area until recently.  Needless to say, I was excited to find it and even more excited to smoke it.  Remember when you were a kid and there was a specific toy you were looking for?  Remember that feeling when you finally found it at the store?  Well, that was how I felt.  The Corto by Warped Cigars is, by all accounts, a powerful little cigar.  Each year they change the size.  Last year was a 4.5x50 this year a 4.5x46.  Oddly enough, I was attracted to this cigar at first glance because of the Italian look of the band and the use of the Italian word for short - (which, I know, is also the Spanish word for " short" as well).  Anyway, so, enough chatter....Let's get smoking....

Construction: This is a beautiful little cigar.  Not even including the band, which I will cover in my final thoughts.  Nice deep chocolate brown and red wrapper.  No seams or veins.  Just perfect.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: Tons of natural tobacco....That's what I get under the nose with this little guy.  Leather and some hits of earth and molasses are in there too.

Light and Burn: Spot on perfect from start to finish.  Nice clingy ask with no touch ups needed.

Tasting: Right off the bat, the Corto hits with black coffee and black pepper.  Hard.  After the first few puffs it levels out and just turns into a wicked little flavor bomb.  Rich flavors of cocoa, coffee, and pepper, wrap around a dense sweet oak core.  Magnificent start.  The aftertaste is tobacco and milk chocolate - very unique. Strength is towards the low end of full so far.

Into the second third now and I get some honey sweetness that mixes with the cocoa, pepper, and oak.  It's a very rich cigar.  The only thing I can liken it to is the Tatuaje Noella Reserva, which is one of the richest cigars I can recall smoking. The strength ramps up to full tilt at the midway point too.

The final third ramps up the pepper and sweetness of the oak.  Overall, I am more than a little impressed with this little beauty.  It has such depth and complexity.  The aroma of the smoke is amazing...like salty soft pretzels baking.  Just incredible.

Value: This is the only downside to such an epic little cigar.  At about $9 it is pricey for a small - hour long smoke, but for my money, it is worth every red cent.

Final Thoughts: First of all, the answer to the main question - yes, the Corto was worth the wait.  Incredible little cigar with a unique flavor profile, tons of complexity, and an aroma that is stellar.  I can say, without hesitation, that this is the best cigar I have had in months.  My highest recommendation.

I wanted to take a second to explain that, from a design standpoint, the Warped catalog is one of the best looking anywhere.  The bands feel like they were designed by one person and they all fit together, which makes them stand out on the shelf.  Genius.

Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Strength: Full

Size: 4.5 x 46

A closer look at that gorgeous band design.  Very Italian.  Click for a bigger version.

Tiny little thing.  Should have a banana in there for scale....