News: Camacho Factory Unleashed 3

In the realm of cigars, where tradition often reigns supreme, there are blends that dare to challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of flavor. They emerge as rebellious spirits, unapologetically defying conventions and offering hobbyists a new level of smoking experience. The Camacho Factory Unleashed 3 stands as the latest installment to make this claim.

The Factory Unleashed line by Camacho has a history deeply rooted in the brand’s legacy and commitment to innovation. Founded in 1961 by Simon Camacho in Miami, Florida, Camacho gained a reputation for producing high-quality cigars with a distinct flavor profile. Over the years, Camacho became known for their bold and robust cigars, catering to enthusiasts seeking a full-bodied smoking experience. The brand’s dedication to craftsmanship and willingness to experiment led them to create the Factory Unleashed line.

The series was introduced as a limited edition in 2021, showcasing Camacho’s ability to push boundaries and explore new flavor profiles, while maintaining a surprisingly affordable price point. Building upon the success of the Corojo-wrapped initial release, Camacho continued to innovate and expand the Factory Unleashed line, which is now in its third chapter with the Factory Unleashed 3.

It was recently stated by Eddy Guerra, senior brand manager of Davidoff, on an episode of Smoke Night LIVE, that the third volume will be the last Factory Unleashed to be released for the time being. He made reference that, with this release, Camacho has now brought the three most popular wrapper styles to the market under the line, and it was time to “let [the series] breathe.”

Camacho Factory Unleashed 3 Breakdown

Appearance

The banding of the Factory Unleashed 3 stays true to form, with the white, silver, black, and red design that appeared on its predecessor (looking more like the Factory Unleashed 2 than the original), with the number “3” being its defining change. The toro itself is distinctly different, on the other hand. A soft milk chocolate-hued wrapper announces proudly its independence from its predecessors. Rolling the cigar between my fingers, a fine-grit sandpaper feel is noticed, as well as the many little veins on the wrapper. It’s not a lumpy roll, but it definitely has extra texture.

Big barnyard notes hit me as I smell the wrapper, being followed by a pencil lead aroma that’s similar to the smell of a refill container for a mechanical pencil. I take another deep breath, trying to catch more of these scents, and a sharp black pepper hits my nose so strongly that it actually makes me sneeze! It brings me pause, as this is the first time this has ever happened to me. I wonder if it’s foreshadowing of the pepper in the smoke—we’ll see. The foot of the cigar displays the signature shaggy foot present on all versions of the Factory Unleashed, and semi-sweet chocolate mixed with tangy fermented tobacco are the aromas I get off of this worn out paintbrush-looking end of the cigar.

Smoking Experience

If you’ve followed my reviews, you’ll have gathered by now that, unless it’s not possible, I straight-cut all cigars; and this time is no different. The draw is great—easy with just a slight resistance. I get a very light molasses sweetness alongside a tangy spice on the cold draw. After a solid toasting of the foot, I take a couple of deep draws and set the cigar alight. The smoke is very dry and earthy on my palate. Cocoa powder and white pepper are the main flavors I get. I’m impressed with the fact that the retrohale is easy. I expected a stinging pepper, but I get none.

Moving past first-light impressions, the cigar has kept its dry profile. Dusty barn is dominant, with more of the dry cocoa powder lingering behind. A new flavor is starting to come in on the finish. I can only describe it as old books. Imagine walking into a library, and the smell that greets you. It’s tangy, pungent, and not unpleasant (like an old friend texting you unexpectedly). I like it. The flavor is medium-plus, body is medium-plus, and strength is medium. The draw has stayed constant at 8/10.

I rather quickly find myself halfway through the smoking experience. The cigar hasn’t presented a whole lot of new experiences to pass on to you. Dusty barn, cocoa powder, and the same old library aroma is all that I get. I will say that the retrohale has remained surprisingly easy. I usually pass about 10 to 20 percent of each puff I take through my nose, but I find that I can retrohale the entire draw with little trouble. Doing so greatly increases the smoking experience of this cigar, allowing me to get more definition on the flavors available. Not that it’s lacking, but the level medium/medium-plus of the profile does get a little monotonous.

Popping the band on this third version of the Factory Unleashed may be the most exciting part of this section. The same flavors of cocoa, barnyard, and old library have become stagnant, with only a rich, oily texture to the smoke coming in. The burn has stayed straight and true throughout the smoke, and flavor, body, and strength have settled to an even medium.

The closing puffs of the Factory Unleashed 3 have a big pepper ramp up. I would have expected this flavor to have been more present throughout, and frankly, it would have been more inviting to add some complexity to the second half of the toro.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

Is this going to be a constant in my rotation? No. But I find great value in a consistent performer at a great price, and this fits the bill. It’s a steady smoke that is consistent from start to finish. Combine that with a $9.00 MSRP for a toro, and I’m in. This is a great cigar when you’re hanging out with friends and are more into the conversation than the smoke, or when you want to not think about the transitions, just the stick itself. For that, I will definitely smoke the Factory Unleashed 3 again.

Factory Unleashed (Corojo wrapper) – released in 2021.
Factory Unleashed 2 (Connecticut wrapper) – released in 2022.
Factory Unleashed 3 (Mexican San Andrés wrapper) – released in spring 2023.
Both the original Factory Unleashed and Factory Unleashed 2 cigars were awarded the Value-Priced Cigar of the Year from Cigar Dojo, awarded in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Like former releases, the cigars were released in 10-count bundles (for online sales) and 100-count crates (for brick and mortar). There were 1,000 crates made for B&Ms, while 2,500 bundles were reserved for eCommerce.
This release raised the price from $8 (with the 2022 release) to $9 per cigar.
The Camacho Factory Unleashed 3 currently sits at a “97% Smokable” rating on Dojoverse, being ranked 787/4.8k cigars on the overall leaderboard.

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Originally posted on June 30, 2023 @ 6:17 am