Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Toro

For one of its new, limited edition releases this past summer, Black Label Trading Co. decided to pay tribute to the 10th anniversary of Fábrica Oveja Negra, the factory in Estelí, Nicaragua that is home to Black Label and Black Works Studio, along with a handful of other brands.

The line is called Eletto, which the company says means “chosen one” in Italian.

The blend features a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, an Ecuadorian habano binder, and a Nicaraguan filler, with the blend selected to be a representation of both Black Label Trading Co. and the big, bold, Nicaraguan tobacco that the factory is known for.

“As the name implies, it is destined to be an instant classic,” said James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Co. and partner at Fábrica Oveja Negra. In a press release, the company added that the profile is marked by an intense retrohale and layers of complexity, with notes of dark fruit, spice and star anise.

Eletto is offered in three sizes:

• Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Corona Gorda (5 1/4 x 46) — $12.40 (Box of 20, $248)
• Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Short Robusto (4 1/2 x 52) — $12.90 (Box of 20, $258)
• Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Toro (6 x 50) — $13.90 (Box of 20, $278)

The company produced 800 boxes of the robusto and toro vitolas, but only 400 boxes of the corona gorda, all of which began shipping in late June.

• Cigar Reviewed: Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Toro
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Fábrica Oveja Negra
• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
• Binder: Ecuador (Habano)
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Shape: Round
• MSRP: $13.90 (Box of 20, $278)
• Release Date: June 2025
• Number of Cigars Released: 800 Boxes of 20 Cigars (16,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Two things stand out about the Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Toro at first glance: the little twist of tobacco at the top and that it takes me a second to make out the name of the cigar on the band. The Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Toro wears a dark brown wrapper, somewhat veiny, a bit dry to the touch, with just the slightest hint of some remnant oiliness. The first cigar’s density varies from firm above the midpoint to a bit softer below it, while the second’s is more consistently firm head to foot, and the third kind of varies from spot to spot. As I’m checking the cigar’s firmness, I notice what feels like the ridges of a box press on the second cigar, even though the cigars don’t explicitly have a press. I almost wonder if the binder might have some thicker veins sticking out, or if something about the process of being in the molds at the factory resulted in these ridges. The feet of the first two cigars have aromas of toast, black pepper, and a bit of high-proof Scotch. The third cigar is notably different, with some peach replacing the Scotch, almost reminiscent of the nose of a Cuban rum, minus the alcohol. The cold draw on the first cigar is smooth and easy, not quite loose but with minimal resistance. The second cigar is a tick better because there is just a touch of resistance, while the third falls somewhere in between, a matter of splitting hairs as to which I prefer. The flavor is dry at first before picking up some subtle creaminess and a soggy graham cracker. While there is some pepper in the flavor, it is pretty restrained, but I get a good amount of peppery tingle on my lips from the wrapper.

As soon as I get the Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Toro lit enough to start putting off some smoke, I get a warm aroma that combines barnyard and warm root beer, making for a rich ambient aroma before I even get a puff in. The first puffs are earthy with a peppery sensation targeted for the tip of my tongue, with retrohales adding a touch of hearty pepper to the profile. A slightly mouth-drying sensation emerges on the finish, pulling just enough of the moisture out of my lips and the part of my mouth just behind them to be noticeable. Even with that, creaminess fights its way into the flavor, offering some dairy richness and smoothness. That creaminess allows for some sweetness to come in, the first sensation reminding me of a waffle cone. While I await others, pepper comes back into the equation and pushes the cigar into its second third. Flavor is medium-plus, body is medium-plus and strength is mild. Neither construction nor combustion presents any issues, as the cigar smokes very easily.

A retrohale at the start of the second third of the Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Toro shows that the cigar is shifting to a fuller, more peppery profile, as now my nostrils get a sharper pepper than what was offered in the first third. The transition doesn’t quite make it to the flavor, as I’m surprised to find it staying a bit softer, with some soft dough notes setting the stage for a more slowly building pepper sensation, with some earth building behind that. Around the midpoint, I get an aroma of burnt orange peel for a few moments, which really makes for a unique encounter with the Eletto. From there, the cigar begins to turn more robust, with the final puffs of this section leaving an earthy, peppery finish on my taste buds. Flavor ranges from medium to medium-full in this section, body is a more consistent medium, with strength still mild, which I find somewhat surprising given Black Label Trading Co.’s reputation for fuller-strength cigars. Construction hits its first struggles in this section, as I need a touch-up to fix the burn line in one cigar. The draw and smoke production remain very good.

The final third of the Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Toro sees the profile really come alive: pepper wakes up and starts really stimulating my palate, while retrohales and even the ambient smoke tingle my nostrils. The flavor continues to get thicker and more complex; while earthiness leads the profile, it brings along some toast, a little bit of dry wood, and some mouth-drying Scotch. Flavor finishes medium-full, body is medium-plus, and strength peaks at medium-minus. The draw is great, the burn line is good but not perfect, and combustion begins to struggle a bit, necessitating some relights.

Final Notes

• None of the three cigars hit me with much nicotine strength; I thought this would have had a bit more strength, but it stayed pretty tame.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.

• The company lists these as a 6 x 50 toro. The numbers above are the measurements we found for the three cigars used for this review.
• Final smoking time was two hours and 30 minutes on average.
• Site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., Cigars Direct, Fox Cigar, and JR Cigars carry the Black Label Trading Co. Eletto Toro.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the G-League’s Valley Suns. I was previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League, and Goodyear Ballpark, spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I’m a voiceover artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.