Black Label Trading Company Morphine 2020
Posted on February 24 2021
Vitola: 4.5x50 | Smoking Time: 74 min | Cigars Smoked: 3 | Body: Full | MSRP: $10.50
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés & Ecuador Maduro | Binder: Nicaraguan Habano | Filler: Nicaraguan
Black Label Trading Company is a boutique line out of Oveja Negra in Nicaragua. Morphine 2020 is its 7th annual release, featuring a redesigned band and dual wrapper. "The dual wrappers work together to make this vintage very unique and one of the best so far," said owner James Brown.
Visual Inspection: Dual wrapper creates a unique look — Mexican San Andrés and Ecuadorian Maduro are similar in color so it looks rustic rather than a true barber pole. Rough to the touch with visible seams. Foot: dark chocolate, earth, leather. Cold draw: fig, black coffee, and marzipan.
First Third: Immediately powerful — blasted by pepper and spice, then mellowing into black cherry, espresso, and black walnut. Retrohale brings pepper screaming back. Burn self-corrected from a brief canoe. Dry earth, cinnamon, and pepper on the retrohale closing out this third.
Second Third: Dark chocolate, cherry, cinnamon, and earth are the main contenders. Pepper stays very strong on the retrohale but also brings cherry sweetness. Rolling complexity from the dual-wrapper combination. Final retrohale: huge pepper and bitter chocolate.
Final Third: A huge punch in the chest — caramel arrives, met by pepper, dry earth, cinnamon, and walnut. Finish: pepper, black coffee, and cherry wrapping up an amazing experience.
Final Thoughts: BLTC is always a wild ride — I haven’t had a boring stick from them yet. If you’re looking to try one, I’d suggest picking up the vitola you’re least likely to smoke regularly and broaden your horizons.
-Sam
Frequently asked questions
What makes the Black Label Trading Company Morphine unique?
The Morphine uses a dual-wrapper construction — Mexican San Andrés and Ecuadorian Maduro — creating a visually distinctive cigar with complex layered flavor. BLTC is known for bold, boundary-pushing blends, and the Morphine lives up to that reputation.
How does the Morphine Robusto compare to the Lancero?
The reviewer has smoked both and finds the Robusto delivers a more intense, concentrated experience than the Lancero. Interestingly, the Robusto proved stronger despite the thicker ring gauge — the blend seems to express itself better in this format.
Is BLTC a consistent brand?
Yes — the reviewer notes they haven’t had a boring cigar from BLTC yet. The brand commits to full-body, complex blends across their entire lineup, making them a reliable choice for experienced smokers who want bold flavors.