Menu

Altadis

Blind Review: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Toro

, 0

The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Magnum is manufactured by Imperial Brands’ U.S. subsidiary Altadis U.S.A. in La Romana, Dominican Republic at the Tabacalera de Garcia factory. The Romeo y Julieta marque was established in Cuba in the year 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Manin García. It wasn’t until the brand was acquired by José “Pepin” Rodriguez Fernández, former head of the Cabañas factory in Havana, and his firm, Rodríguez, Argüelles y Cia, in 1903, that the company truly became world renowned.  Historically known as Sir Winston Churchills favorite cigar brand with its correlating Churchill vitola, the brand was actually more well known for their figurados (perfectos and piramides).

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Toro
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Dominican/ Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6 x 54

Blind Review Notes: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is hefty but packed loose. Almost soft and squishy. Could have been packed better. Its a Toro with a decent looking Connecticut Shade that looks like it was pasted on but has a nice granite striation throughout. The body and foot offer up notes of sweet hay, honey suckle, mint, and cedar.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cold draw is very loose with cocoa and powdered sugar on the breath.

First puff is spicy and nutty with some leather in the mix. The body of the smoke is creamy. There is a little saltiness on the backed of the experience. The smoke production is fair, but can be finicky at times. Ash build up is chunky. The cigar maintains good heat despite the loose draw. The retrohale is leathery.

Second third tastes like pencil shavings and the body of the smoke has transitioned to a chalkiness. Retrohale continues on with leather. The ash build up is brittle, and tumbles down. Better smoke productiion as we progress and no complaints coming from the burn line. The cigar even stayed lit during an extended pause.

Last third returns to a creamy smoke. Pepper dominates the flavor profile, with a nutty and leathery backend. The taste also has a metallic and toasty nuance to it especially on the retrohale. Still, no construction or heat issues. The finish is hot on the palate, but not smoldering or bitter.

Conclusion

In conclusion the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Magnum wasn’t a bad smoking experience. Its not my favorite Connecticut. I normally tend to gravitate towards the classic “1875” line when it come to Romeo and Juliet. The “1875 Nicaragua” with the white and orange label which is blended for them by Plasencia, is actually quite exceptional in the toro. The price point on the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Magnum doesn’t justify my final score, but that’s why we smoke blind here at FTNYC. I wouldn’t spend the $10 on this stick, but if your in love with this tried-and-true blend, and are weary about how it tastes in todays trending thicker ring gauge, feel free to have at it!

Final Score: 85

Blind Review: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story

0

The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story is manufactured by Imperial Brands’ U.S. subsidiary Altadis U.S.A. in La Romana, Dominican Republic at the Tabacalera de Garcia factory. The Romeo y Julieta marque was established in Cuba in the year 1875 by Inocencio Alvarez and Manin García. It wasn’t until the brand was acquired by José “Pepin” Rodriguez Fernández, former head of the Cabañas factory in Havana, and his firm, Rodríguez, Argüelles y Cia, in 1903, that the company truly became world renowned.  Historically known as Sir Winston Churchills favorite cigar brand with its correlating Churchill vitola, the brand was actually more well known for their figurados (perfectos and piramides). The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story is the company’s first barber poll cigar and is currently available in a perfecto and toro.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut/ Ecuador Habano
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua/ Dominican
  • Size: 4 1/4 x 46

Appearance & Construction

The cigar is a small barber poll perfecto with a salmon taper and a triple cap. It will remind you exactly of a pirouette cookie. It feels very awkward in hand and has a lightweight feel.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigars wrapper smells of hay/straw.  The foot is tapered into a nipple with not much aroma.

The cold draw is tight with a slight cedar on the breath.

One lick from a soft flame with a slight draw are enough to combust the tapered foot.

Because of the tight draw and tapered foot, there is not much of a first puff. Not much air flow at all.  As the burnline engulfs the wider ring gauge, I get a very flavorful coffee and cream flavor that is both sweet, nougaty, and cedary.  Also nuances of graham cracker and toasted almond ice cream bars.  As mentioned, the cigar is awkward, and I feel like a freaking cartoon character smoking this thing. As I’m knee deep in insecurities the cigar suddenly goes out.  Hmmm… Two licks from a soft flame with a little draw get the cigar lit again.  Other then this hiccup, the cigar holds heat well with “alright” smoke production.  The draw seemed to have opened up a bit, but not much.  Still tons of flavor. The darker wrapper ribbon, when in combustion, gives a little spice to the smoking experience and really adds to the complexity of smoke that tastes like a dessert.  There is a leather aroma in the air, and the retrohale is nougat and graham cracker.

On the second third, the draw is still tighter then I prefer, yet the smoke production is thick.  I have to touch up a little bit of wrapper leaf detachment, but its no big deal.  The aroma now reminds me of a pipe tobacco or hot cocoa.  There is strawberry hard candy and leather on the tongue with a lingering sweetness. The cigar really reminds me of many of the Romeo y Julieta Churchill’s that I came up in the game smoking.  Ash build up was solid up until now, but it is becoming increasingly flaky.

Last third, required a lot of babysitting.  The draw has only tightened even more, and the smoke is hot, ruining the flavors somewhat.  The sweet coffee with cream are still present but with a harsher charred backdrop.  A little bit of a tongue singing experience, but the sweetness keeps you coming back for more. I am still enjoying the smoking experience. As long as I am patient in the last leg of this cigar, the heat maintenance stays cool and I can still enjoy the toasted almond extasy.

Conclusion

What do you know?! I was right! I was smoking a Romeo y Julieta. The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story is soon to be a fan favorite to anyone looking for a light creamy smoke with sweetness and complexity.  A lot of the construction issues I ran into with the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story, were easily ignored because of the array of flavors which provided an indulgent smoking experience.  For those of you who fell in love with the Romeo y Julieta brand during the last cigar boom, and miss how a Romeo y Julieta Ecuador Connecticut shade wrapper used to taste, it seems they were able to recreate it somehow.  I smoke a Romeo y Julieta Connecticut Churchill once a year for old times sake, and though the sweetness is still there, the complexity can be lacking.  The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Twisted Love Story was truly a sight for sore eyes.  Did I mention I hate barber poll cigars? Enjoy!

Final Score: 89

Blind Review: H. Upmann Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage Toro

, , , 1

Master blender AJ Fernandez released his second interpretation of the H.Upamnn line, this time utilizing a dark Brazilian mata fina wrapper with Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. I’ve had many blends from AJ, and I’m always impressed that he can create such distinct and varied profiles.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: H. Upmann Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage Toro
  • Wrapper: Brazilian
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6” x 54 (Toro)

Blind Cigar Review: H. Upmann Nicaragua AJ Fernandez Heritage Toro

Appearance and Construction

This cigar has an extremely dark somewhat molted wrapper. It is very hard in its roll and there is no give when I put pressure on it. I notice the filler tobacco is much lighter than the wrapper which creates a contrast in color. There are some slight veins and the foot smells charry without much else to offer.

Taste and Smoking Characteristics

I make a precise cut with my guillotine blade and the cold draw delivers an overwhelming blast of red pepper. As I toast the cigar and take a puff I am hit with full flavors of earth and pencil lead upfront. A dark wrapper on a cigar does not always mean that it will be strong however this blend is doing just that. Taking a more cautious draw, there’s cocoa, raisin, and a barnyard finish. The retrohale on this toro stings my nostrils a bit with red pepper flakes, cumin, and earth.  The burn line is razor sharp and the quality in the construction is evident.  Chocolate begins to intermingle with oak leaving a short woody finish. The body is in the full range from the start.

The toro begins its journey midway with salt and leather toning down some of the more direct and intense flavors than previously. There’s gingersnap, coffee, and charred oak on the back end. The billow of smoke clouds in front of me as it burns is creating a dense setting. Another retrohale and the fullness returns with wood and earth dominating the flavor profile and leaves a bitter finish. I’ve picked up some more raisinated notes again which become more pronounced which each puff. Leather, oak, and cumin proceed with a slow draw that ends bitter. The short finishes seem to be commonplace with this toro.

The burn line remains even on the final third which is a nod to the construction of the cigar. There are more charry notes along with salt and oak that remains pervasive throughout. I’m picking up leather and burnt espresso bean which is intense and bitter. The retrohale has hay, toast, and an acidic finish. Spice adds to the profile picking a stronger end to the toro. The flame go es out on its own and I’m putting the cigar to rest.

Conclusion

AJ Fernandez has created an expansive profile of cigars and blends. This Heritage toro came on strong with pepper which was a little much to start off. There was some nice notes of cumin, earth, oak and hay although the finish remained consistently short not allowing a lot of lingering on the palate. The chariness also became acidic which left bitter taste on my tongue. I would suggest trying another of AJ’s blends however if you want a full-bodied cigar, A spirit pairing would help to round out this smokes rougher edges.

Final Rating: 88

Blind Review: H. Upmann Classic 1844 Robusto

, 0

The H. Upmann Classic 1844 Robusto is manufactured by Altadis SA at the Flor de Copan factory in Honduras. Historically a Cuban brand – founded and manufactured in Havana in 1844 by Herman Upmann – the company has gone through many revamps post-revolution and is still counted among one of the world’s oldest cigars brands available to date.  With a rich history of espionage involvement, world banking systems, and also being credited as the first manufacturer to offer cigars in a cedar box- if you haven’t smoked at least one H. Upmann cigar up until this point- DO SO NOW!

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: H. Upmann 1844 Classic Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
  • Binder: Honduran Broadleaf
  • Filler: Honduran Cuban-Seed
  • Size: 52 x 5

Blind Review Notes: H. Upmann 1844 Classic Robusto

Appearance & Construction

There comes a point in every man’s life where he just has to move on with things.  As he sets out on his journey for personal meaning and bad-assery, he often finds himself in darker times of impulse and crazy ideas. In other words: I am going to attempt living in a tent on my own front lawn.  As I sit back and ponder how to pull this off without my neighbors calling the cops or me freezing to death in the winter, it is nice to curl up with a cigar and pour some rich nicotine on my anxieties. This rustic light caramel beauty comes complete with a simple single cap and a delicate but heavily striated wrapper.  Its also a robusto, so it gets my immediate approval in the vitola department. It is packed well with an even weight in my hand.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The cigar has got a familiar corojo smell I know all too well with some faint cedar mixed in.  I apply a clean cross-cut and dig into a very spicy cold draw.  I go with my single flame torch and the cigar actually takes some time to toast.  A little more than usual.  It also takes some time to combust.  This sparks my curiosity as to what primings actually made it into the filler, or even what the binder leaf could be?  Maybe asbestos?!  A welding jacket, perhaps?! Anyway, once I achieve an even light on the cigar and it’s producing smoke, the familiar aroma of cedar fills the air.  Now that’s more like it!

The first third is a beautiful combination of green bell peppers, strawberry hard candy, and a chilli kick on the finsh. The expeience is very reminiscent of the many Corojo 99 blends you may come across on the market. The retrohale is sour and leafy like a lettuce sandwich.  “Lettuce Sandwich?!,” you ask. Yes, I indeed worked with a gentleman who ate one of these a week in our construction shanty during lunch time.  I guess that’s how he got his veggies in…?

The second third is even more interesting. Depending on how you draw on it- deep or shallow- you can pick up notes of a hazy IPA or just plain cumin and hazelnuts.  I like to call cigars that offer an experience like this a, “choose-your-fate-cigar.”  You dont get many of these on the market all the time, but when you do, they succeed at getting an old dusty boring smoker like myself excited without the use of a tiny blue pill. I’m totally digging the smoke.  Even the retrohale reminds me of beer hops. The cigar keeps a nice cool temperature throughout, so you can puff away as much as you like.

The last third gets a little funky.  I get flashbacks of X-girlfriends.  Have you ever dated a girl who loves air-conditioning no matter what time of year it is?  That same air-conditioner also adds to maybe a musty mold issue in the wall-to-wall carpeting that covers her living room floors? That same air-condioned home and musty carpeting is also bathed in ages of hair spray droplets that failed to land on her dyed blonde hair?  It’s actually a great smell!  And the two women who I knew, but who didnt know each other, but who should have known each other, manifest in the notes of this cigar.  Sorry to anyone who can’t realate- but trust me- there’s plenty of fish in the sea and not every cigar on the market can bring back the ghosts of two X-girlfriends- BUT I LOVE IT WHEN THEY DO! The only thing that snaps my palate back into reality is the taste of nail polish remover.  It’s even present on the retro.  Yeah, that reminds me of the X-girlfriend I didnt want to remember. Alright, so it burned a little hot towards the end. So what! This was a great stick.

Conclusion

The cigar in question was the H. Upmann 1844 Classic Robusto.  The light Ecuadorian shade wrapper covertly snuck in a Honduran broadleaf binder, and most definetley some Honduran corojo filler to the party. I’m a fan!  I normally wont touch any Ecuadorian wrapper with a 10-foot pole. I know it when I taste it! Or should I say, “I KNOW IT WHEN I DONT TASTE IT!”? In my opinion the cloud cover in Ecuador really steals from the marriage of terrior and sun in a tobacco leaf.  However, we know from experience that Ecuadorian leaves burn and combust great and are there to compliment the experience, without necerssarily adding to it half the time.  For a lifelong enemy of cloud covered tobacco in all varieties, this was the rare case where I saw a shade wrapper successfully support the unique and unorthodox flavors that Honduran tobaccos still produce to this day.  This H. Upmann 1844 Classic Robusto was also a redeeming smoke for me because I did not fancy the Nicaraguan blend AJ Fernandez manufactured for H. Upmann. If you’re revisting the H. Upmann line this year or finally trying them out for the first time, I would highly recommend this cigar.  ENJOY!

Final Score: 88

 

 

Blind Cigar Review:Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 2 Toro

, , , 0

Trinidad Espiritu No 2 Review

In 2021, two master blenders Rafael Nodal and AJ Fernandez combined their skills to honor the Trinidad cigar brand and the nation of Brazil with the Trinidad Espiritu No. 2. The cigar uses Brazilian and Nicaraguan leaf to capture what they feel is the “spirit” of Brazil. The Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper really stands out with its dark maduro color and bold appearance. Read on to see how this cigar fared in blind review.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 2 Toro
  • Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan and Brazilian
  • Size:6”x 54 (Toro)
Trinidad Espiritu No 2 Review
Trinidad Espiritu No 2 Review

Blind Review: Trinidad Espiritu No. 2

Appearance and Construction

This toro sports a molted dark maduro wrapper with a few distinct veins along the side. There are some soft spots at the foot and in the middle of the cigar as I give it a squeeze. The foot of the smoke is semi closed with some wrapper leaf covering most though not all of it. Not sure if this was intentional or a quality control issue. While I give it a smell and coax out some flavors there’s faint traces of oak, wine barrel and leather with nothing too pungent lingering.

Taste and Smoke Characteristics

I slice the toro with my Xikar and despite the clean cut a bit of filler tobacco appears loose from the binder. Taking a cold draw there’s oak notes along with pieces of tobacco I must take out of my mouth. With that, I take a torch to the foot of the covered piece and the wrapper takes flame with a gritty start. There’s an intense charred oak flavor that’s overwhelming with earth notes and a short finish. Taking a retrohale I’m getting white pepper and a noticeable minerality that builds in intensity. Despite the flavors coming on strong the cigar is in the medium range at present. Another puff delivers wet stone and earth followed by a sharp finish. There’s a sufficient amount of smoke billowing from the cigar giving off a slight aroma of cocoa with a gray ash and straight burn line.

Working on the midpoint of the smoke I take a long draw that is full of milk chocolate backed by leather and a gritty end on the back palate. There’s a raisinated sweetness that develops with bakers’ chocolate providing a bite on my tongue as swirl the smoke around.  The retrohale is grassy with stale wine attacking my nostrils as the smoke rolls out. The strength is appearing to fade from medium to milder as the flavors get lighter in taste and less distinct. Taking a long draw leather and minerality grips the sides of my mouth which leave it dry. As I release the smoke there’s cedar and white pepper wafting out. The burn line continues to be razor sharp as the wrapper holds on strong.

The cigar is burning faster than before as I am at the final third of the smoke. I’m getting coffee and spice while I take another draw. There’s a rawness on the retrohale that stings my sinus and as I exhale there’s a lingering bitterness.  The medium body that has been prevalent has turned to a fuller profile with a chewy, dense mouthfeel. Taking another puff earth and oak preside with a short mineral finish. The draw has become tighter and there’s a peppery note then ends the cigar as it goes out on its own.

Conclusion

The Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 2 Toro started off gritty with notes of charred oak then settled into an earthy, peppery cigar with a sharp minerality. At its best the smoke delivered milk chocolate and a raisinated sweetness that finished with leather and cedar. It maintained a medium body only sparingly switching to a fuller chewy quality. The short finish left me wanting more from this cigar as it delivered some pleasing flavors–they were simply too short in supply. This is not the best from AJ and Raphael however it was a concept I was happy to checkout. This is worth of try if you find it, just nothing I would seek out.

Final Rating: 87

Blind Review: Romeo y Julieta Eternal

, 0

Romeo y Julieta Eternal Blind Review

Altadis U.S.A released a limited-edition Nicaraguan cigar beginning this year under the Romeo y Julieta trademark named Eternal in celebration of the 145th year of the Romeo y Julieta brand. 

Through the collaboration between Plasencia and Rafael Nodal, the Eternal is built to be a masterpiece. This Nicaraguan puro cigar only utilizes tobacco from the Plasencia family. It is safe to say that there were plentiful options of tobacco for them to choose from, and per Nodal, the wrapper leaf he had chosen was fermented twice as long and aged for 26 months.  

The packaging for the Eternal is unique. A box contains 11 cigars, where 1 out of the 11 has a gold ring band on it with gold background with red lettering, while the rest are black backgrounds with red lettering. 

According to Nodal:

“Eternal’s gold ring symbolize the strong bond between the Aficionados and Romeo y Julieta… It is a love that has proven to be eternal.”

Romeo y Julieta Eternal Blind Review
Romeo y Julieta Eternal Blind Review

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Romeo y Julieta Eternal
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: Toro (6″ x 54)

Blind Review: Romeo y Julieta Eternal

Appearance & Construction

The cardboard box-colored cigar feels almost weightless between my fingers. The wrapper is thin enough for me to feel the lumpiness of the filler tobacco. Visually, there are a few minor veins scattered throughout the cigar, but I can’t feel any by touch. 

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper has a faint fruity smell, and it becomes more prominent as I get closer to the foot. Due to the thinness of the wrapper, I decide to use my Colibri SV cutter and give the cap a shallow v-cut. With just the right amount chipped off, I take a few puffs of cold draws and taste a hint of sweet hay without any fruitiness from the scent. Unfortunately, tragedy hits early with this cigar. The wrapper is so thin it sticks to my lips as I pull the cigar away from me, and part of the wrapper rips off from the cap. Thank God the cigar is still intact! And to prevent any more wrapper sticking to my lips, I reluctantly over dampened the cigar.

Knowing how thin the wrapper is, I begin toasting the foot with long matches instead of a torch lighter. As soon as I take my first puff, I notice my mouth dries out immediately, followed by a tingling sensation on my lips; assuming pepper spice from the wrapper but not on my palate. Pulling smoke, I taste butter toast, lightly roasted coffee, and a sweetness that carries into the long finish. I found all the missing spices from the palate in the retrohale, with white pepper flooding my nasal passage. Once my senses come to, I am greeted with a cup of morning coffee (light and sweet) and cedarwood at the back end. 

Arriving at the second third, the cigar is smoking well, but the ash can’t hold itself for more than half an inch. The burn line is even, and there are no draw issues, and the smoke is plentiful and becomes creamier. I get the taste of black tea with milk, milk chocolate, hay, and light leather. The pepper still resides in the retrohale, along with cedarwood and medium roast coffee.

As I approach the final third, there’s a small canoeing on one side of the cigar but it fixes itself after a few puffs. The flavor profile evolves even further, as it fully transforms into a cup of afternoon tea with milk with added sugar, along with toasted peanuts and cedarwood. When I finally get to the nub, the finish becomes very tart, as if someone squeezed a lemon wedge into my mouth. Ultimately, I take that as a signal to put down the cigar. 

Conclusion

Not sure whether it is a common characteristic with this type of wrapper, or because of the extra time it received during the fermentation stage, the thinness of the wrapper leaf almost ruined the whole experience right out the gate. However, looking past that, I tremendously enjoy the evolution of flavors the Romeo y Julieta Eternal offers. Not only is it complex, but the flavors are balanced. It paints a complete picture of afternoon tea time with flavors of milk tea with freshly baked bread. Regrettably, the conclusion of my experience was not a good one. Almost as if this cigar didn’t finish etiquette school and added lemon to a cup of tea with milk and sugar already in it.

Final Rating: 88

Blind Cigar Review: Montecristo Epic Vintage 12 Toro

, 0

The latest in Altadis’ large portfolio of Montecristo products is the Epic Vintage 12. The “12” refers to the 2012 tobacco crop that produced some of the tobacco in this cigar . With an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Dominican binder, and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers, the three-country cigar certainly sounds appealing. But this was a blind review – so all of that branding and marketing made no difference in my assessment.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Montecristo Epic Vintage 12 Toro
  • Montecristo Epic Vintage 12 Toro
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
  • Binder: Dominican
  • Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican
  • Size: 6” x 52 (Toro)

Appearance and Construction

This toro sports a dark, oily wrapper that is silky smooth to the touch. In hand the roll is excellent as it glides across my palm. When I squeeze the cigar, it is firmly packed with tobacco and in total the construction is very good. As I smell the foot there are notes of barnyard and forest floor emanating distinctly from it.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Utilizing my Xikar cutter I clip a straight cut. Taking a dry draw, I get salt and spice on the lips and fresh tobacco in the back of my throat. The draw is a bit airy and upon lighting there’s a rush of leather almost covering my entire mouth. The saltiness surrounds my lips and the tip of my tongue while the sides of my palate linger with leather as I take another puff. Notes of nuts and spice develop as I savor another draw. I take a retrohale and white pepper resonates through the nostrils and exhaling brings hay and oak. While I take a slow draw, I get a zippy taste of cinnamon that comes on rather strong. The body of the cigar is medium at this point.

The ash is white and flaky midway with a wavy burn line. Lots of toast and brioche surround my tongue as I take in an ample amount of smoke from the cigar. The retrohale delivers more toast along with oak and graham cracker on the exhale. There’s a subtle sweetness coming through with cocoa in tandem with those wood notes. The medium body seems to maintain itself as the toro appears to struggle maintaining smoke from the foot. Giving a few longer puffs I manage to bring the cigar back to life and I’m rewarded with charred oak and a bit of spice.

The toast continues in the last third followed by a creaminess that lingers on my palate. Leather returns with vanilla and a surprisingly short finish. The ash and burn line straighten out a bit although it remains flaky rather than firm. I take a retrohale and the white pepper I initially picked up returns and awakens my senses followed by Spanish cedar. With a slow draw, I pickup chocolate and spice that appears sweet with a finish of toasted oak. The wood and leather seem to be dominant and as the cigar comes to its end a final puff sends it off with a balance of sweet and savory followed by a medium finish.

A consistently flavorful cigar from beginning to end.

Conclusion

This cigar began with distinct notes of salt and leather, followed by white pepper as it developed. Midway, the graham cracker, wood, and sweetness created a nice balance to this toro. Rounding out the final third leather, cocoa and spice gave this cigar a solid medium bodied experience. Finding out this was the new Montecristo Epic 12 was good news. I’m always interested in how they will represent the brand in a new line. I’d say this fits in the Altadis Montecristo portfolio as a flavorful medium bodied cigar that will not disappoint.

If you enjoy this range of strength, you can pick up a box and be assured it will deliver what you seek.

Final Rating: 91

Blind Review: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua

, , 2

Altadis USA boasts an enormous array of brands, with many lines within each. In fact, the company overseas so many cigar lines that it can be a challenge for each cigar to stand out among the rest. To make the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua released earlier this year, Rafael Nodal enlisted the talents of master blender/grower AJ Fernandez to create a Nicaraguan puro using tobaccos from AJ’s farm.  

These two men have crafted many wonderful cigars that have received numerous accolades in the industry. Having smoked this blind I was not surprised to find out that they were at the helm. The quality was evident.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size 6″ × 54 (toro)

Appearance and Construction

The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua toro is covered in an oily wrapper with some accented veins. When I squeeze the cigar, I feel a little give, but there aren’t any soft spots and the filler tobaccos seem sufficient to the touch. The foot smelled of leather and slight barnyard notes.

Flavor & Smoking Characteristics

The cap on the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua clips perfectly. The cold draw is loose, airy and has a some must to the taste. Using a cigar taper I gently toast the stick and the first puffs deliver salt and cedar. The Reserva Real Nicaragua has a medium body to start and with a retrohale raisin and oak waft through the sinuses. The smoke intensifies, with rich tobacco notes that become sweet with cinnamon toast on the finish. The body at this point is medium and the burn line is a bit crooked.

Thankfully by midway the burn line has corrected itself. Almond and spice become the dominated flavors, with secondary cashew and oak notes. I take another retrohale and find a sweeter touch as well as raisinated flavors. Construction wise, the ash is white and flaky, falling off in small pieces as I taking draws from the cigar. From oak to cedar, the wood notes on the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua come on strong as the cigar progresses.

As I reach the last third of the cigar, leather and spice intertwine with a drying sensation on the mouthfeel. The body continues to be in a solid medium range, never reaching anything fuller. The woodiness in the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua is really oaky, like the smell of fresh cut wood. What began as raisinated flavors are now more dark plum along with spice finishing with leather.

The final puffs of the Reserva Real Nicaragua deliver a vanilla sweetness that ends with hay and freshly tanned leather.  

Conclusion

The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua is another fine example of the talents of AJ Fernandez and Rafael Nodal. The tobaccos are well processed and offer lots of wood, toast and sweetness while maintaining a steady medium bodied profile. The nuttiness that developed along with raisins and spice added to the balance of the cigar. This would be a great midday smoke when perhaps your palate is fresher to appreciate the flavors as well as build your way up to a fuller cigar later on.

With a catalog as large as Altadis USA has, it’s nice to see a smoke that stands out in its quality and profile. I would recommend picking up a few as they’d be a pleasant addition to the novice and aficionado alike.

Final Rating: 89

Blind Review: H. Upmann Herman’s Batch

, , 0

The H. Upmann Herman’s Batch is an additional line in Altadis U.S.A.’s profile paying tribute to the German banker Hermann Upmann who created the H. Upmann brand in Cuba in 1844. This is not the Cuban incarnation as it uses an Ecuadorian wrapper and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers, but this is still an homage to the man by way of a collaboration between Rafael Nodal and the Grupo de Maestros at Tabacalera de Garcia in La Romana.

Visually I like the look of the Herman’s Batch, but of course with blind smoking the proof is in the puffing!

Blend Specifics

Appearance and Construction

The H. Upmann Herman’s Batch is draped in a dark and oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The cap has an elongated piece of wrapper that looks like a fuse running along the side of the cigar. The foot smells of barnyard and oolong tea. 

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

My Xikar cutter gives a sharp straight clip and I take a dry draw that is slightly firm with raisins, hay and barnyard notes. As I use my single flame Xikar EX and take a puff, I’m hit with full bodied ligero and a blast of pepper. The intensity soon subsides and a more toasty and woody profile emerges. On the retrohale rich black coffee and and spices come through with an oaky finish.

At midway the H. Upmann Herman’s Batch introduces leather, coffee and honeyed notes that remain on the palate for a bit. The razor sharp burn line and white ash show the admirable construction of the cigar. A few puffs later, lead and a vanilla bean sweetness emerge while the profile hovers at a medium strength. Another retrohale delivers wood with cinnamon tingling the nostrils.

As the final third of the cigar comes around, the smoke develops cereal notes surrounded by an earthy quality. The medium profile continues along with chocolate, toast and graphite on the finish. The draw then seems to open up as the cigar burns down and ample amounts of smoke flourish through the air. The coffee comes back–more like cafe au lait than rich espresso–along with toast that creates a fine finish to the medium bodied cigar. An easy smoking toro.

Conclusion

The H. Upmann Herman’s Batch shows the true highlights of a Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. When done like it is here, I very much enjoy it. Although the full bodied ligero blast of tobacco was a bit much to start, the cigar segued into toast and coffee which was excellent. The leather and honeyed notes showed a tasty evolution and the toasty finish enhanced its medium profile.

This was the first H. Upmann Herman’s Batch I’ve smoked and I can say Rafael’s assistance in the blend made it more memorable for me and once again shows the craftsmanship he puts into everything he does. I would seek this size out and a box purchase would be a sound investment.

Final Rating: 90

Montecristo Nicaragua Series Robusto Review

, 0

Montecristo Nicaragua Series Robusto Review

Up for review today is the newest from Montecristo (Altadis)—the Montecristo Nicaragua Series. The cigar was originally released in 2018, and we had the luck of hosting the New York launch of that event at The Carnegie Club (more about that event here).

If “Nicaragua Series” sounds familiar, there’s a reason for it. Many traditionally DR-focused brands have released “Nicaragua” blends in the last couple of years, including Davidoff, Aging Room, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, and a slew of others. It’s a transparent attempt to capitalize on Nicaragua’s growing reputation as the new epicenter of flavor and quality in the cigar world. Not all attempts have been successful (I don’t care for the Davidoff Nicaragua, for example), but I appreciate all of the attempts. Mainly because I love Nicaraguan tobacco.

In any case, the Montecristo Nicaragua Series is offered in four sizes, including:

  • Montecristo Nicaragua Robusto (5 x 54)
  • Montecristo Nicaragua Toro (6 x 54)
  • Montecristo Nicaragua No. 2 (6 1/8 x 52)
  • Montecristo Nicaragua Churchill (7 x 56)

Let’s see how this cigar smokes.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Montecristo Nicaragua Series Robusto
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
  • Binder: Corojo 98
  • Filler: Criollo 98 / Dominican piloto cubano
  • Size: 5 x 54 robusto

Montecristo Nicaragua Series Review

Appearance & Construction

I’ve got to say, looking at the Montecristo Nicaragua Series, it’s definitely a step above many of the previous Montecristo USA blends in terms of how it’s branded. Instead of being a bit gaudy as other blends like the Espada Guard or the Pilotico which has a massive mid-cigar band, it’s got striking but conservative black, gold and red branding. It gives the cigar a sturdy look, makes it stand out, all without calling to much attention to itself. So props to the Montecristo branding team on this one.

The outer Eucadorian Habano wrapper is nearly seamless, with just a few small veins and an otherwise flawless appearance. When squeezed, the cigar has a fair amount of give and seems to be packed consistently the length of the cigar. Off of the foot is a nice array of aromas: where spice is the first aroma to meet the nose, it is followed by sweet cedar, hay, and salt and pepper and coffee. Nothing remarkable, but well balanced. The cold draw is a bit less expressive, but generally mirrors the aromas off of the foot.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Montecristo Nicaragua Series opens with medium-plus bodied smoke. It’s got a lot of what I expect from Montecristo: earth, almonds, and cedar balanced by some creaminess. There’s also a bit of chocolate which edges in on the nose. Smoke production is a touch above average, meaning I’m not having to work too hard to product smoke and I’m getting the flavors as intended. The retrohale is a bit unwieldy, with a bit too much earth which compromises the smoothness of the smoke.

First impression: this is similar to Montecristo’s other core products, but with additional heft from the Nicaraguan tobaccos. It’s actually quite complex, with the earth being the only note that sometimes dominates too much.

At an inch in, the Montecristo Nicaragua Series has a razor sharp burn that’s still holding strong. I’m finding at this point that my favorite part of this smoke is actually the aroma. The scents are sweet but complex, with notes of almonds, floral and light milk chocolate. The almond note on the palate is fully in charge, though a rough textured earth elbows out many of the more subtle notes (cocoa, cedar, and baking spices). Translation: good complexity, but could use a bit more balance.

 

This continues up until a few puffs into the second third, where the Montecristo Nicaragua Series Robusto begins to come more into focus and more into balance. The heavy earth and spice on the retrohale mellows a bit, and the impressions on the palate are balanced between bitter, sweet, and spicy. The flavors themselves haven’t moved much, but the increased balance amplifies the enjoyment of the smoke.

In the final third, the Montecristo Nicaragua Series edges above medium in terms of body and strength. Sweetened almonds, cedar and burnt espresso are center stage, with baking spices and salt on the tip of tongue. It’s a pleasant enough profile, but it’s clear at this point that the cigar could benefit from more movements in flavor. Thankfully, the cigar manages to avoid the burst of harshness at the end that many fall prey to, providing for a nice close to the experience.

Conclusion

While the Montecristo Nicaragua Series doesn’t fly high in terms of balance, it does offer a nice take on the more traditional profiles of Dominican Montecristo cigars. It’s also a lot more elegant of a cigar than many other Nicaraguan blends that focus exclusively on producing high powered smokes. That being said, I’m still very particular to other Montecristo blends like the Espada, New York Series, and others.

Final Score: 87

1 2