Black Works Studio Boondock Limited Edition
Black Works Studio Boondock Limited Edition is a bold, Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapped cigar handcrafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua, by James Brown’s BLK WKS team. It builds on the original Boondock Saint’s reputation as a rich, complex, broadleaf-driven smoke, now offered in a limited edition release across three vitolas that give smokers a full range of ring gauges and lengths to explore what this dark, powerful blend can do.
- Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper in a dark, oily, espresso-toned maduro shade that delivers immediate visual impact and sets the tone for a full-bodied experience.
- Nicaraguan binder provides structure, spice, and the earthy backbone that anchors the blend through every phase of the smoke.
- Filler of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf tobaccos creates a double broadleaf presence that amplifies the rich, dark, sweet, and earthy character from the inside out.
- Three vitolas are offered: Robusto (5.25 x 50), Corona Larga (6.25 x 46), and Lancero (7 x 42), each presenting a different balance of wrapper to filler ratio and burn pace.
- Limited production in small batch runs is consistent with the BLK WKS philosophy of producing cigars in restricted quantities that reward the hunt.
- Handcrafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua, the boutique factory owned by James and Angela Brown operates more like an artist’s studio than a production facility.
- Flavor profile centered on espresso, dark chocolate, earth, leather, anise, dark fruit, clove, cream, and black pepper with a refined, lingering finish.
The Black Works Studio story
James Brown launched Black Works Studio in 2015 as a creative outlet within the Black Label Trading Company ecosystem. Where Black Label Trading Company represents the core brand, BLK WKS exists as a playground for experimentation, small batch production, and artisanal blending that pushes Nicaraguan and American tobaccos into unexpected territory. Every line in the BLK WKS portfolio is produced in limited vitolas and small batch runs, often in quantities as low as 100 boxes, which makes each release a genuine limited edition rather than a marketing exercise.
The cigars are rolled at Fabrica Oveja Negra, the Browns’ own factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. The facility was designed intentionally to look and feel like an art studio rather than a conventional cigar factory, reflecting James Brown’s background as a visual artist and his belief that cigar making is a creative discipline. Brown designs all of the artwork and bands himself, and the factory handles production not only for Black Label and BLK WKS but also for partner brands like Dissident Cigars and Emilio Cigars. That combination of artistic vision and hands-on factory control gives every BLK WKS release a distinctive identity that collectors and boutique cigar fans have come to seek out.
Blend and construction
The Boondock Limited Edition puts Pennsylvania Broadleaf in two critical positions, both as the wrapper and as a filler component, creating a double broadleaf signature that defines the cigar’s personality. Pennsylvania Broadleaf is one of the most distinctive wrapper tobaccos in the American cigar landscape, grown in the Lancaster Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania, air cured in barns, and prized for its dark color, oily texture, natural sweetness, and earthy depth. By using it in the filler as well, the Boondock amplifies the broadleaf character throughout the entire blend rather than relying on the wrapper alone to carry that flavor.
The Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan filler components bring the structural spine, adding peppery spice, soil driven earthiness, and a leathery quality that gives the cigar its backbone. The interplay between the sweet, dark, fruit tinged broadleaf and the spicy, earthy Nicaraguan leaf is the engine that drives the Boondock’s complexity. James Brown described the original Boondock Saint blend as “both strong and refined, with a very elegant finish,” and that balance between power and polish remains the defining characteristic of the Boondock in limited edition form.
Vitola breakdown
| Vitola | Size | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Robusto | 5.25 x 50 | The thickest ring gauge delivers maximum wrapper and binder influence, amplifying dark chocolate, espresso, and earth from the start. A compact format that concentrates the blend’s power into a 45 to 60 minute session. |
| Corona Larga | 6.25 x 46 | The longer, slightly thinner format shifts the filler to wrapper ratio, letting the Nicaraguan and Broadleaf fillers assert themselves more clearly. Expect a longer smoking window with more gradual flavor transitions and a slightly spicier, more nuanced progression. |
| Lancero | 7 x 42 | The thinnest ring gauge puts the Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper in the lead role, with the filler playing a supporting part. This is where the blend shows its most refined, elegant side, with concentrated wrapper flavor, pronounced sweetness, and a longer, slower development that rewards a patient cadence. |
Smoking experience
From the first puffs, the Boondock announces itself with deep espresso bean flavor, unsweetened cocoa, and a surge of black pepper through the retrohale. Earth and a rich, almost bittersweet dark chocolate quality sit underneath the pepper, creating an immediate impression of density and purpose. The broadleaf wrapper’s natural sweetness begins to emerge after the initial spice settles, bringing a brown sugar and dried fruit quality that tempers the pepper and adds balance.
Through the middle third, the profile opens and widens. Anise and clove appear as secondary spice notes that weave between the espresso and earth. Dark fruit, often described as plum or raisin, becomes more distinct, and a buttery creaminess enters the smoke that smooths out the texture and adds richness. Leather develops on the finish, and the retrohale shifts from sharp pepper to a smoother, earthier warmth with a sweet undertone. Body sits firmly in the medium full to full range, while strength tracks close behind, making this a cigar that demands attention without becoming aggressive.
The final third tends to deepen the earthy, leathery elements while maintaining the espresso and dark chocolate core. Cherry wood, cream, and a lingering sweetness carry the cigar to its finish, which is clean, refined, and longer lasting than the bold opening might suggest. Construction across the vitolas is consistent with the Oveja Negra standard, delivering an open, effortless draw, steady burn, firm ash, and generous smoke output that fills the air with a rich, aromatic presence.
Who this cigar is for
The Boondock Limited Edition speaks to experienced smokers who appreciate full-bodied, broadleaf-driven blends with complexity and balance. Fans of the original Boondock Saint will find familiar ground here with the added dimension that a limited edition release brings. The three vitola spread gives you options: the Robusto for a concentrated, powerful session, the Corona Larga for a longer, more gradual exploration, and the Lancero for the most refined, wrapper forward expression of the blend. Collectors of BLK WKS limited editions will recognize this as part of the brand’s tradition of small batch releases that reward the hunt and rarely return to production once they sell through.
| Brand | Black Works Studio (BLK WKS) |
|---|---|
| Line | Boondock Limited Edition |
| Country of Origin | Nicaragua |
| Factory | Fábrica Oveja Negra, EstelÃ, Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Pennsylvania Broadleaf |
| Binder | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan, Pennsylvania Broadleaf |
| Vitolas | Robusto (5.25 x 50), Corona Larga (6.25 x 46), Lancero (7 x 42) |
| Strength | Medium full to full |
| Body | Full |
| Production | Limited edition, small batch |
| Core Flavor Elements | Espresso, dark chocolate, earth, leather, anise, clove, dark fruit, black pepper, cream, cherry wood |
| Blender | James Brown |
Summary
- Box Count: Limited small batch
- Region: Nicaragua (Fabrica Oveja Negra, Esteli)
- Strength: Medium full to full
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
- Filler: Nicaraguan, Pennsylvania Broadleaf
What is Black Works Studio Boondock Limited Edition?
It is a limited edition, Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapped cigar handcrafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua, offered in three vitolas: Robusto (5.25 x 50), Corona Larga (6.25 x 46), and Lancero (7 x 42).
What does the Boondock Limited Edition taste like?
The flavor profile centers on espresso, dark chocolate, earth, leather, anise, clove, dark fruit, black pepper, and cream, with a refined, lingering finish that balances power with elegance.
What makes the blend unique?
Pennsylvania Broadleaf appears in both the wrapper and filler, creating a double broadleaf presence that amplifies the rich, dark, sweet, and earthy character throughout the entire cigar rather than relying on the wrapper alone.
Who is James Brown, and what is Fabrica Oveja Negra?
James Brown is the creator of Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studio, and a partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra, the boutique cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, that he and Angela Brown own and operate as a creative studio for artisanal cigar production.
How do the three vitolas differ?
The Robusto (5.25 x 50) concentrates power and broadleaf intensity, the Corona Larga (6.25 x 46) offers a longer, more gradual flavor development, and the Lancero (7 x 42) puts the wrapper in the lead for the most refined, elegant expression of the blend.
Is Boondock Limited Edition suitable for newer cigar smokers?
Its medium full to full body and rich, complex profile make it best suited for experienced smokers who enjoy bold, broadleaf driven cigars, though the blend’s balance and refined finish keep it from becoming overwhelming.
How limited is this release?
Black Works Studio produces all lines in small batch runs, often as few as 100 boxes, consistent with the brand’s philosophy of restricted quantities that reward the hunt and rarely return to production.
What other cigars are in the Black Works Studio portfolio?
BLK WKS releases have included Killer Bee, S and R, Hyena, Sindustry, Paper Crane, and Intergalactic, all produced in limited vitolas and small batches at Fabrica Oveja Negra alongside the core Black Label Trading Company lineup.





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