Her Humidor

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It should be interesting to see which of the new cigars being introduced at this year’s IPCPR will be actually be worth the hype.  I think it would be safe to say that the El Centurion by Don Pepin Garcia, introduced at last year’s RTDA, has proven itself to be an absolute winner in looks and flavor.  It is the first limited edition cigar for DPG which uses the best leaves grown from Cuban seeds in Nicaragua and contains both Nicaraguan Criollo 98 and Corojo 99.  Only 850 boxes per three sizes were made.  The robusto size is called the “Guerrero” and measures 5 inches by 50 ring gauge.  I happened to get two free when I ordered some San Cristobal’s recently but they usually retail for about $11.95 a stick.

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The El Centurion is probably the most attractive cigar I have smoked so far, and I’ve smoked quite a few now.  The triple cap is just gorgeous and neatly applied.  The oily Nicaraguan Habano wrapper is a beautiful medium brown color with hardly any veins and smells of a wonderful sweet and spicy tobacco.  The cigars feel nicely packed but still cushiony.  Once lighting the cigar you get such a nice warm and spicy aroma that just adds to your smoking pleasure.

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The flavor of the El Centurion is unique and wonderfully complex.  I would call it elegant in the way it captures your attention with it’s smooth and well balanced flavors.  The cigar has just the right amount of honey sweetness to go along with it’s floral and woody tang.  Eventually the cigar develops a smooth coffee flavor along with some vanilla, cinnamon and white pepper spice.  The burn line was not as straight as I would have liked it but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this cigar.  Just be prepared to torch it to keep it under control.  The ash is nice and white and holds on pretty well.

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The second half of the cigar showed more creaminess with nuts and toasted sweet hay while still maintaining it’s spicy profile.  It still had some floral notes and some sharp cedar flavors as well.  The body of this cigar is mostly medium.  I anticipate it to be a sublime smoke with a little more aging.

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Overall, I would say this cigar is worth the $12 price tag.  This cigar is really presented well.  The tobacco used is all high quality and the cigar band is a true work of art. It also has unique and complex flavors not commonly found in other cigars.  The burn performance, on the other hand,  was not perfect or what you would expect for a premium smoke. The burn line was crooked and the wrapper did lift slightly at one point.  Plus, towards the end I had to re-light the cigar to get a better burn and more smoke.  Despite this, I would buy this cigar again just because I enjoyed it’s flavor and complexity so much.  When you smoke it you can feel the heart and soul that went into creating this blend.  We can only hope as cigar smokers that veteran blenders like DPG will continue to put out new brands that reflect their true passion for making cigars.  Otherwise, why bother crowding the market with another crappy cigar.

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If you have read the latest news on Cigar Aficionado’s website, then you are aware that Ashton is coming out with a new La Aroma de Cuba cigar which will be made in Nicaragua instead of Honduras.  This new cigar will be yet another collaboration with Don “Pepin” Garcia.  The new La Aroma de Cuba will have a Cuban-seed Ecuadorian wrapper grown by the Oliva Tobacco Co., along with a filler and binder from Nicaragua.  It will have strength and flavor but not as full bodied as the San Cristobal, according to the article.  Here is a picture of the new cigars:

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The cigars that I smoked for this review were the original La Aroma’s from Santa Rosa de Copan in Honduras.  These cigars were introduced in 2002 after a three year blend development period, according to Perelman’s Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars.  The original cigars have a dark Cuban-seed Honduran wrapper, a Honduran binder and a filler blend of Cuban-seed Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos.  The corona size that I smoked is 5 and 1/2 by 44 ring gauge.

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The original La Aroma cigars are budget friendly, with all vitolas priced under $5 a stick.  The new cigars, however, will be priced at around $6.50 to $8 a cigar, thanks to Mr. Pepin’s help.  For me, this is good and bad news because while the orginal version tasted great, it did have some construction issues.  One of the cigars I recently smoked seemed underpacked and it had a hole in the wrapper.  I also experienced problems with the burn, where the cigar needed to be re-lit and the burn line going un-even towards the end of the cigar. These and other flaws in construction would surely be improved under Don Pepin’s capable hands.  As far as the flavor goes, I was really satisfied with what I got for only $3.75 a (corona) cigar.  I personally could put up with a little burn issues and a slightly underpacked cigar as long as I was satisfied with the flavor.  In today’s tough economy I question Ashton’s move towards making this brand a more premium priced smoke.  Do they feel like their new bargain priced “Benchmade” line will make up for all the sales they may potentially lose with the new higher priced La Aroma’s?  Who knows?  Maybe “Don Pepin” cigars are recession proof.  But that remains to be seen.  Sorry for the rant.  Now on with the review…

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The original La Aroma de Cuba cigars are actually very much full of aroma.  You smell rich soil coming off the wrapper and a nice spicy and fruity aroma coming from the foot.  The cigar is a deep reddish brown color with a visible toothy appearance.  It feels like a fine sandpaper and you can feel the bumps under your fingertips.  It has a slight box press and looks really attractive with it’s beautiful vintage Cuban-style band.  I chose to punch this corona and got a nice slightly resisted but free draw.  The taste of the pre-light draw was like a yummy gingerbread.

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The cigar lit up easily with my torch lighter and my immediate impressions of the flavor was that it started off being very rich and full.  I tasted a nice rich dark mocha with a touch of spice.  Eventually the cigar developed a nice nutty flavor along with a touch of molassas sweetness left in the mouth.  The ash of the cigar was a little flaky but it held on until I chose to tap it off every inch or so.  The burn line was even up until the last third were it started to go astray.  The burn zone, if I was to compare it mascara, would be more like Courtney Love than Christie Brinkley, but not quite Tammy Faye.  The strength and body of the cigar is in the medium range, but the flavor is full.

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Eventually, I also tasted cinnamon and some pencil lead.  I don’t know if women “draw” on the cigars as forcefully as men do, but I noticed that if I take three puffs of this cigar I tasted a nuts, but on two I tasted pencil lead.  Just an observation.  The second third of this cigar was when I experienced some burning issues.  I had to re-light the cigar a couple of times because it went out.  These were normal rest periods and not like I left to change my daughter’s diaper or something and came back to a cold cigar.  The flavors were pretty smooth but you do get some burn to the back of the throat from the spice.  Water really helped with that.  The flavors of the second third eventually developed a richer leather flavor along with a more creamy nut flavor which was really nice.  It also developed more spiciness and became more tangy.  Another bad construction issue was that the cigar was starting to get really soft and squishy which was not good.  The final third of the cigar stayed pretty consistent, and if it wasn’t for the cigar getting soft, I probably would have nubbed it.

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In conclusion, I would highly recommend that people try this corona.  For the low price of this cigar, you get tons of great flavor.  You could almost forgive it’s construction flaws, because the taste is so rich and yummy.  I’m sure these cigars will be readily available until they are finally replaced by the new and pricier Nicaraguan version.  But just in case, I think I’m going to stock up on some if and when I see them at my local tobacco shop.  You all may want to do the same.

Update (7/16/08):  I just found out from Cigar Aficionado’s website that Ashton will not be discontinuing the original La Aroma de Cuba.  The new blend was created as an addition to this brand.  This is good news indeed.

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Just in time for the summer Olympics, we have cigars made in the gold medal cigar manufacturing mecca, Little Havana, Miami Florida.  The El Titan de Bronze Cigar company which used to sell exclusively from their location in Florida is now making their cigars available to the general public via selected retail tobacco outlets.  Established since 1995, the factory employs all “level 9″ rollers who make cigars in the traditional Cuban style of tubing the filler (entubado) and then finishing off with a triple cap.  The cigars are then inspected by a master roller/blender to ensure a high standard of quality.  Their website also states that they only produce in small quantities to ensure quality and consistency of their product.

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I would have to agree that the cigars made from El Titan de Bronze are quite attractive.  The cigar band adorning their Gold line of Connecticut shade wrapper is a stunning design using red and white with gold accents.  The band even states, “Handmade, Little Havana, Miami”.  The cigar itself would do all Americans proud with it’s quality construction.  The Connecticut shade wrapper is pretty much vein free and smooth to the touch.  There were no noticable imperfections on this creamy tan colored gem. 

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The aroma of the cigar wrapper was a sweet, earthy scent, while the foot smelled strongly of raisins.  After clipping the cap easily with my Palio cutter and testing the draw, I found the draw to be free and clear.  The pre-light flavor was reminiscent of graham crackers.  The cigar itself feels spongy yet packed full of tobacco.  I took great care lighting the foot to avoid burning too much of the wrapper to start.  The amount of smoke you get when you draw on the cigar was nice and heavy.  You definitely should not smoke this around anyone who is bothered by cigar smoke because the smoke aroma is pretty smelly and thick.

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The flavors start out pretty mild with just a slight tingle of spice on the tongue.  You get a woody tang along with some vanilla-like sharpness.  The finish is clean and dry.  I also picked up a slight dried straw flavor.  At about the one inch point, the flavors start to smooth out a little.  The burn line was sharp yet angled, but not enough to make me touch it up with my torch.  I was bothered by the dry finish though.  It feels like you’re smoking dessicant beads in your cigar because it leaves your mouth void of saliva.

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The second third of the cigar started off by tasting like vanilla laced paper with a slight bite of leather.  You also get a little pepper scratch to the back of your throat.  Eventually the cigar develops a more rich leather flavor but the finish remains short and dry.  At one point I thought I tasted some nuts, but it never came back so maybe I was “nuts” thinking it was there in the first place.  The last third of the cigar moves up in scale to the medium range.  The rich leather flavor is front and center with not a whole lot else going on around it.  The strength of this cigar is mild and should be tolerated easily by a novice cigar smoker.

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Overall, the cigar burned fairly well with no touch ups required.  It stayed nice and cool to the end, although you probably won’t want to nub this cigar.  It does get a little harsh at the end, so I would recommend stopping at the band.  The flavors aren’t very complex and for $4.72 a cigar, I would say that the price is right for this American made cigar.  I would probably recommend it to a beginner cigar smoker but not to a more experienced one.  I find that the Perdomo Champagne and the Devil’s weed cigars are much better choices for mild smokes.  But, if you’re like me, a person who tries to support family run American businesses, you should give this cigar a try.  If not this cigar, then try their “Redemption” line of cigars.  This cigar was reviewed by Cigar Jack as well as the Stogie Review.  I finally want to thank Silo cigars for providing me with free samples of the Gold and Redemption cigars.  I look forward to smoking and reviewing the El Titan de Bronze Redemption corona very soon.

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I find it interesting that if you go to the Esteban Carreras website you get a bunch of high profile cigar names thrown about except a description of the person that your company and cigar is named for.  What it will tell you is that the El Paraiso factory in Danli, Honduras where some of their cigars are manufactured is owned by Nestor Plasentia and managed by Rocky Patel, Jesus Fuego, Conrado Plasentia and Craig Cunningham.  Craig Cunningham is the president and CEO of Esteban Carreras Cigar Co.  Who Esteban Carreras is or what the significance of the year 1961 is, does not seem important enough to warrant an explanation on their website.  They would much rather tell you that this cigar is rolled and blended in the La Aurora Factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic where Guillermo Leon Jimenez is executive V.P. and Jose Blanco is sales director.  Now that you are as thoroughly impressed as I am (reeking of sarcasm), let’s get on with the review.

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The cigar blend contains tobaccos which I personally adore:  a long aged Cameroon wrapper, an Ecuadorian Sumatra seed binder and a filler blend of tobaccos from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and San Andres.  The corona vitola is 5 and 1/2 by 42 ring gauge and costs about $6.50 a single.  The cigar is medium brown in color, with a slight oily sheen and bumpy appearance.  The wrapper is nice and tight and comes with a rounded layered cap.  You will find that the cigars are nicely packed with enough room to allow for a pleasant draw.

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The cigar gives off an earthy aroma with a touch of fruitiness at the foot.  Pre-light draw flavors give me the “all too generic” prune taste.  This corona is easy to light and burns fairly evenly producing a firm light gray ash.  It’s medium bodied and medium flavored and should be easily tolerated by all levels of smokers.  The initial flavors are sharp yet enjoyable.  You get notes of vanilla, dark coffee, cinnamon and a touch of sweetness on the finish.  Eventually some spiciness begins to develop at the one inch mark.  The second third of the cigar stays pretty consistent and one-dimensional but I do notice a slight bitterness coming through but certainly not over the top.  I can also taste some leather and a dry tobacco flavor.  The final third of the cigar adds some nice nutty flavors to the mix, all the while maintaining some spiciness in the background.

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Overall, I would say that this is a mediocre smoke.  The cigar is pleasant tasting to smoke to the nub. However, I wouldn’t say that this cigar was to the level of a Bolivar petit corona (Cuba) in taste or even better than a Carlos Torano 1916 Cameroon corona.  Considering all the high profile names associated with this cigar, I would say that it was disappointingly average at best.  And with the market so full of many choices out there, who wants to settle for average.

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I hope everyone had a nice 4th of July, ours was rainy but we still enjoyed it nevertheless.  While I should review the CAO America which I have in my humidor in honor of Independence Day,  I decided instead to review the CAO L’Anniversaire Cameroon robusto since as an American, I reserve the right to exert my own independence.  The anniversary line was created to celebrate CAO’s thirty years in the cigar business from 1968 to 1998.  The Cameroon version was introduced in 1999.  This cigar is made in Esteli, Nicaragua using a Grade One African Cameroon wrapper along with a Nicaraguan filler and binder.

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The robustos I smoked had a severe box-press shape similar to Padron anniversaries.  The size is 5 inches by 50 ring gauge and retail for about $115.99 for a box of 20.  I found them for just over $3 a stick on Cigarbid.  The aroma of these cigars is just to die for.  I seriously smelled chocolate fudge frosting on the wrapper and even on the pre-light draw.  Thank goodness I wasn’t blindfolded, otherwise I would’ve taken a bite out of this cigar for sure.  The wrapper had the usually characteristics of an African Cameroon, light brown with a slight greenish tint, along with dark brown mottling.  It feels coarse to the touch and has visible tooth.  CAO did a wonderful job in rolling this cigar.  The cap is nicely formed and the wrapper had no visible imperfections.  When I squeezed the cigar it felt “pillow” soft.

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Once lighting the cigar, I tasted the usual charred wood which then transitioned into a nice dark chocolate flavor.  Eventually some creaminess develops along with hints of cinnamon.  The finish shows touches of sweetness which is really nice.  The burn line was sharp and relatively even.  No touch ups were necessary.  The cigar picks up a spicier profile in the second half as well as a leathery and vanilla spice base flavor.  I had some ice water on hand to quell the heat to the back of my throat.  The cigar also shows some nuttiness to go along with the aged leather flavor.  These same characteristics continue on into the last third of the cigar but eventually the leather takes on a slight bitter note.  The resting smoke is pungent and sharp enough to split your nose hairs.  I probably wouldn’t smoke it around those easily offended by smoke because this cigar generates volumes of light gray smoke with each draw.

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Overall, I found this to be a nice medium bodied cigar with medium to full flavors.  I would probably let it rest in my humidor for as long as possible to try to take the edge off it’s heat but even if I didn’t, it still isn’t in the range of a Pepin scotch bonnet scorcher.  It’s not a beginners smoke so I wouldn’t recommend it to a newbie.  For everyone else, I would recommend this cigar, especially if you can find it at bargain prices on an auction site.  Don’t hesitate to pick some up because they are definitely worth it.

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I got tired of looking at it.  The plain jane cigar amongst all the cool kids in the humidor playground.  Dressed in a drab colored band lacking more regal adornments, it was begging for a chance to prove itself.  I decided today was the day to put it out of it’s misery.  Not expecting much, I was pleasantly surprised by it’s rich flavor and smooth medium body.  There was actually some complexity beneath it’s “paperbag” colored wrapper.  Initial woodiness turned into a “minty” cafe au lait with nice touches of spicy cinnamon and vanilla.  I could almost forgive it’s “tunneling” burn line.  The final third was equally tasty with rich leather and roasted nuts on the palate.  My ever lasting lesson:  Don’t be a cigar snob.

photocredit:  ShowMeYourAsh.com

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I wouldn’t say that I experienced any delirium from smoking this Delirium from J. Fuego,  but I know that I was cuckoo for cocoa puffs for wanting to toothpick nub this tasty cigar at the end.  But let me not get ahead of myself…

This cigar was recommended to me by Kevin over at Silo cigars.  I can’t say enough good things about the wonderful service you get when you order from them.  Not only are they very knowledgable and stock the best cigars, but they really know how to take care of their customers.  Even the little things like making sure there is a humidipak to preserve your cigars and a free bag of salty pretzels and a red hot candy with each order make you feel really special and want to order from them again.  (Which I do)  I highly recommend that you check them out and tell them that Lisa at Her Humidor sent you.

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I first heard about J. Fuego cigars when Walt from the Stogie Review talked about them on his video review.  The Fuego family has been in the cigar business for 130 years and five generations starting in Cuba so I am really not surprised that the cigars they put out are high quality and very flavorful.  The Delirium is their latest creation.  It is a nice medium to full bodied cigar with a dark Brazilian Maduro wrapper made in Honduras.  You should start seeing more of these cigars soon if you haven’t already discovered them.

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The rest of the cigar contains a Costa Rican Corojo binder and a filler blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan Corojo.  I would say that right up until the last third the cigar is medium bodied then at the end it kicks up into the full range.  The wrapper looks veiny the way a Brazilian maduro normally does and has a toothy appearance.  There was a small hole in the wrapper on one of my cigars which probably occured naturally.  There was no lifting or any problems with the burn at all.  In fact, the cigar burned evenly and formed an attractive tightly compact white ash which matched the white color on the cigar band perfectly.

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The cigar starts out with a really nice dark coffee flavor, some hickory and slight fruity twang  which transitions immediately to a nice bittersweet chocolate flavor.  The cigar puts out a thick volume of fragrant white smoke which is sharp but pleasant and spicy.  The flavors are really smooth with no harsh bitterness.  If you really like maduros you will really enjoy this cigar.  There are some notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and tangy fruit which play around with your taste buds.  The finish has a nice honey-like sweetness which is not cloying but helps to round out the dark chocolate.

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I noticed that my J. Fuego cigars are tightly rolled (as evident by it’s strongly held ash) which can prolong the smoke time.  I was lulled into thinking that this cigar is pretty one-dimensional in flavor.  But, by the middle of the second third, the spice level went up and continued going up and some nuttiness started to creep in as well.  I also detected a little bit of leather.  The sweetness gradually dissipated but the flavors remaining took on a really nice rounded profile.  Roasted nuts, dark chocolate, leather and spice all combined for a terrific medley of flavors.  Break out the toothpick, because you will really want to nub this cigar.

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Overall,  I would say that I enjoyed this $7.00 cigar.  It starts off a little slow but ends in a bang.  You get to experience all the flavors in this four country blend, you just have to take your time and let it develop.  It may not be something a beginner would enjoy, but definitely put it on your list because you won’t be a beginner forever.  Trust me, it didn’t take me long to develop a taste for fuller bodied cigars.  I plan on smoking and reviewing other J. Fuego cigars in the near future.  So far, I have not been disappointed.

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Hey!  Why doesn’t my vitola have a mystical name like “Illusion”, “Wizard” or “Sorcerer”?  Maybe the makers of Ashton VSG will consider the names “Warlock”, “Voodoo” or “Magician” for the 5 and 3/4 inch by 46 Corona Gorda.  Fortunately for us they did not skimp on the blending of this cigar.  This Carlos Fuente Jr. creation uses the finest Dominican tobacco which was aged 4 to 5 years with extra ligero leaf added for maximum flavor.   The show-stopping wrapper is an exclusive sun-grown Ecuadorian tobacco leaf grown by the Oliva family for Ashton VSG.   The Ashton website states, “the leaf is taken from the higher primings and matures slowly by sunlight filtered through the region’s natural cloud covering”.  All I know is, this cigar makes me want to dress up in a sexy black dress with long black stilleto pumps. 

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The cigar itself looks very flavorful.  The oily dark brown mottled wrapper has a very aromatic earthy aroma along with some white pepper detected at the foot.  The wrapper feels smooth and looks well constructed with a nicely formed layered cap.  This chunky corona has a spongy feel which makes me certain I’ll be getting a nice clear draw.  The cigar, which I bought as singles out of the box,  did not come encased in cello.  It retailed for about $9.95 at my local B&M and was recommended to me by the shop owner as a corona to try.  I was somewhat familiar with this highly rated and rare cigar that I had no problems accepting his choice.

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The cigar lives up to it’s reputation immediately when you light it up.  The aroma is wonderfully fragrant with sweet and spicy plumes of thick smoke that swirl around magically in the air.  The initial flavors start off woody then earthy and you taste nice dark chocolate with warm spices across your palate.  This cigar has elegant complex flavors which meld together unlike lesser smokes with their easy to pinpoint oil and vinegar separation of flavors.  This cigar needs to be enjoyed with time and patience so you can appreciate it’s nuances.  You can swear you get a touch of cedar, a touch of cloves, and a touch of cinnamon followed by pure vanilla extract mixed in with it’s strong leathery body.  It’s the same rich leather you find at the end of some cigars when they are trying to build to an impressive cresendo.  The VSG gives you that rich chewy leather early on, letting you know this is not an average smoke.  The finish is bittersweet chocolate with a touch of red wine dryness.  That extra ligero thrown in does show itself as a little pepper tickle to the back of your throat.  It’s not overwhelming and it doesn’t interfere with any of the other flavors.

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I would not call this a beginner cigar, although anybody can appreciate it’s full body and full flavor.  The cigar burns fairly well with maybe a few occasional touch-ups for those as anal as I am when it comes to wanting an even burn.  The ash is compact and dirty gray.  I would definitely smoke these cigars again and even purchase a whole box if I can find them for a decent price.  I can hear you laughing, but I’ve seen big price gaps among retailers for hard to find cigars. 

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The Ashton VSG is a must have for the cigar connoisseur.  It’s the type of cigar you would want to smoke after an elegant night out on the town along with a fine red wine or a nice aged liqueur, whether it be scotch, whiskey or rum.  I highly recommend it and with my birthday around the corner, I hope my family and friends are reading this because it would make an excellent gift.  Hello?

(so elegant and refined, I had to break out the red nail polish…)

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La Riqueza, the new cigar by Tatuaje’s Pete Johnson, translates to “the riches”.  This is an appropriate name for this richly flavored cigar made with the very flavorful Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.  To appreciate the dynamite flavor associated with wrapper you have to look beyond it’s rough appearance.  Expect some variation in looks.  Of the few cigars I purchased, one was mostly smooth with very little rough veins and the other looked like “Frankenstein” with ugly veins and wrinkles that looked like scars.  There was also some variation in the way they were rolled.  One cigar was so firmly packed that no amount of “plumbing” with a draw correction tool would open it up.  The best draw seemed to come from those cigars that had some soft spots present. 

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Clipping and lighting the cigar was very easy.  I didn’t even have to draw on the cigar to get a perfect even lighting.  The burn line was sharp but wavering as expected for a broadleaf wrapper.  The cigar is medium bodied, medium strength, and full flavored.  The initial flavors were rich, earthy and spicy, with a tangy fruitiness.  Don’t expect a refined elegant approach with La Riqueza, this cigar is all about the flavor even if it means chewing on some sweet “grit” in the process.  The aroma of the cigar is sharp and pungent and may be too much for those not enjoying the cigar themselves.  Like Walt of the Stogie Review once said, “sometimes the stinkiest cigars are the best tasting”.

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The cigar progresses nicely to a rich bittersweet chocolate, spicy cinnamon, followed by a  tannic finish.  The ash compactness can vary depending on how packed the cigar is but overall it is mostly white with thin layers of darkness.  Eventually the flavors became more nutty with the chocolate overtones turning to vanilla and rich leather.  It had a nice chewiness and spiciness to it that was really enjoyable.  You definitely want to nurse this cigar so that it doesn’t get too hot and bitter.  I took time with mine and was rewarded with a very nubbable smoke.

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Overall, I would recommend trying this cigar but the price does seem a bit steep at $9 a stick for the 5 by 48 robusto.  While not as pretty as the  Connecticut shade wrapper, the broadleaf does take more work to cure, ferment and sort through to find usable tobacco.  This plus the fact that it’s Pepin and Pete Johnson may be the reason for it’s priciness.  I was able to find this box-pressed cigar on-line, sold by the singles as well as in boxes of 25.  I’m curious to hear what others think of this smoke.

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The Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve Grand Corona is one of the corona sized cigars recommended to me by my local tobacco retailer.  This cigar was introduced by Altadis USA in the middle of 2007 and is the first time since the early 1990’s that R and J has manufactured a cigar from Honduras.  This nicely rolled plump corona measures 45 ring gauge by 5 and 5/8 inches.  It sports a thick Nicaraguan wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and a long filler of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. 

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The medium brown wrapper on my cigar appeared somewhat dry and veiny.  I felt two tiny specks of hard stems on the coarse wrapper.  The cap was well formed with two even seams.  I chose to do a punch cut and ended up with a very firm draw.  No surprise since the cigar did feel firmly packed with tobacco.  The aroma on the wrapper and at the foot was pretty faint.  It smelled like compost on the wrapper surface and had a faint aroma of sweet tobacco at the foot.  Pre-light draw flavor was another story as you get a strong fruity and spicy tobacco taste.  Spicy as in spices, not pepper.  Lighting the cigar was easy and the burn was even with an even burn zone.

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The cigar starts out with charred woody flavors with a slight coffee earthiness.  The finish is clean and dry.  I detected no pepper or sweetness.  The body felt medium and the flavors were still weak but developing.  Eventually I began tasting “pencil lead” up front, coffee, vanilla, maybe some cinnamon, along with a toasty finish.  I had this cigar with a lite beer and found it to be the perfect accompaniment to this somewhat salty cigar.  The cigar burned perfectly with an even burn line throughout forming a compact gray ash.  When I tapped off the ash after the first one inch plus, I was surprised to find no ligero.  Second ash, no ligero, third ash, no ligero…you get the picture.  I think the roller forgot to grab some to put in the filler of this cigar.  Unfortunately, I still have yet to smoke the second cigar I have in my humidor.  I will probably let it rest and get a little more humidity since this first cigar looked so dry.

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The second third showed more dark coffee taste and a richer earthiness than the first.  While not harsh, I found the flavors to be more sharp and acidic.  I had to slow down a bit to keep the cigar from becoming too bitter.  The sharp leather taste was not the kind I usually enjoy.  The beer I drank really came in handy and seemed to go well with the dry crisp flavors of this cigar.  The home stretch of this cigar was disappointing.  I tasted nice leather and tobacco but it was really ho-hum.  I really don’t think I hit the sweet spot at all with this cigar because it just didn’t have one.  To be fair, I will eventually smoke the second cigar and update this posting if this just happened to be a fluke out of the box or not.  We shall see.  I wouldn’t try nubbing this smoke because I did get some harshness at the end.  It’s really hard to nurse this cigar and keep it from burning hot when the flavors are not that complex.

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Overall, I will hold off saying whether I would smoke it again or not, depending on how that second cigar goes.  I will say that it does have excellent burn qualities with decent one dimensional flavors.  It maybe a good cigar to smoke while watching a game on t.v. or when drinking beer with some friends.  I would recommend trying a bigger ring gauge of this cigar.  You may get more complexity.  Some cigar makers may prefer a robusto size to better showcase their blend.  This just may be the case with the Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve.

Check out other reviews done on this brand:

Cigar Jack smokes the Belicoso size.

Cigar Command also smokes the torpedo or belicoso size.