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Hoyo
de Monterrey Rothschilds Maduro
made in: Cofradia, Honduras
size : 4 1/2 x 50
wrapper: Conn Broadleaf
filler : DR, Honduras, and Nicaragua
binder : Honduras
price : $2.50
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Mary said - Smooth dark brown wrapper with a nice oily sheen
- some evidence of tooth, rich earthy aroma,
feels very good.
Penny said - Large veins, light sheen.
Donna said - Nice wrapper, even, smooth.
Judith said - Deep rich maduro color with a pleasing size and
feel.
Kandi said - Absolutely *beautiful* color -- like semi-sweet
chocolate.
Kathryn said - This smoke had a chocolaty dark maduro wrapper
with distinct veining. Maduros always are a
little rough looking in my experience, and this
one looked typical for the type.
Melody said - I thought it was well wrapped - liked the dark
wrapper and the veining.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Mary said - Nice give when pressed, no hard or soft spots,
very good feel in the hand. Nice burst of aroma
when clipped - tempted to just sit and sniff it!
Penny said - Wrapper separating, tight fill, no soft spots.
Donna said - No soft spots, nice and tight from end to end.
Judith said - The cap is rather evident and does not mesh well
into the body of the cigar.
Kandi said - [no comment]
Kathryn said - Lightly filled with a few soft spots.
Melody said - I thought the construction was good. However,
while smoking the wrapper peeled slightly.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Mary :
Penny :
Donna :
Judith : [None reported by any taster.]
Kandi :
Kathryn:
Melody :
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx --------- xx
Melody : xx ------ xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Mary : xx ---- xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx ---- xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Taste =
Mary said - The first few puffs were strong with a slight
bitterness - reminded me of an ERH - then it
smoothed out until about the halfway point. The
second half was much more full bodied with a
somewhat peppery finish. Very tasty and created
an interesting "stinging" sensation in the nose.
Penny said - Slight sweetness to the wrapper, slight
harshness, chocolate, leather, gets richer
midway thru - (strange "chemical" taste in the
beginning).
Donna said - Variety of flavor throughout the smoke,
leathery, woodsy taste.
Judith said - Straight tobacco. No discernable flavors. Turned
somewhat harsh.
Kandi Said - It started okay. I didn't pick up any distinct
flavor until about half way through when it
developed a slightly waxy aftertaste. It was
like eating while wearing lipstick, only I
wasn't wearing any.
Kathryn said - The cigar was a good maduro, not too complex,
but flavorful.
Melody said - The taste was not that strong, yet it had a real
richness to it. Somewhat earthy, interesting
taste.
Overall Impression =
Mary said - Great - would definitely smoke more of these...
Not an early morning cigar - would go well with
a peaty single malt.
Penny said - Generally a nice smoke - this was a good end of
the day with a nice scotch cigar.
Donna said - Enjoyable cigar - great way to start off the
taste test!
Judith said - I was disappointed. Turned out not to be my type
of cigar. It looked better than it tasted.
Kandi said - It's a bimbo -- it looks great, but there is no
substance.
Kathryn said - Good, but uninspiring.
Melody said - I think I expected more because of the dark
wrapper and its sheen. It was good & I'd smoke
it again, but have had better.
Would you recommend this cigar
as one to try based on your
blind taste???
(Editors Note - remember these gals don't have a clue what cigar
they just smoked or what it costs.)
Mary said - yes
Penny said - yes
Donna said - yes
Judith said - no
Kandi said - no
Kathryn said - yes
Melody said - yes
Hoyo
de Monterrey Rothschilds Maduro
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Mary
Good Cigar <--- Penny, Donna, & Melody
Decent/Worthy <--- Kathryn
Ho-Hum
Blah... <--- Judith & Kandi
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - The Hoyo de Monterrey Rothschilds
Maduro is a mainstay of this venerable Honduran cigar line. It
is manufactured by the Villazon factory which is famous for it
medium to full body blends. These cigars are sold without rings
and packed in 50 count dress boxes.
The dark broadleaf wrapper and less-than-perfect finishing
give this cigar a somewhat coarse appearance. Solid construction,
good draw, and an even burn are the norm with this vitola. It
is full of earthy Honduran flavor with nuances of chocolate and
a slight sweetness. The aroma may be a bit heavy to some, but
to cigar lovers it is perfect. Overall it is a medium-bodied
cigar that whatever it lacks in beauty it more than makes up
for in taste.
Five of the seven panelists recommended this cigar based
on its flavor alone not knowing the cost. Factor in the less
than $3.00 price tag and this cigar becomes as exceptional value.
The Hoyo de Monterrey Rothschilds Maduro is highly recommended
to lovers of maduro cigars and/or the premium cigar smoker who
is budget conscious.
Habana
Punch Punch
made in: Habanos SA, FPG
size : 5 5/8 x 46
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $8.75
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx --- xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Mary said - Nice box pressed shape, slight sheen... looks
well rolled.
Penny said - Wrapper coming loose.
Donna said - [no comment]
Judith said - There were three distinct light colored spots on
the wrapper. Have I seen my first cigar mold???
Other than that, very handsome.
Kandi said - There was a little damage at the foot, but
otherwise extremely nice looking.
Kathryn said - From one side the cigar appeared perfect: smooth
wrapper, slight veining, uniform shape, yet from
the other side it appeared rough and slightly
crooked. I just closed one eye and it was
beautiful.
Melody said - Nothing outstanding.
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Mary said - Rough at foot, wrinkles in the somewhat veiny
wrapper, soft in the middle.
Penny said - [no comment]
Donna said - [no comment]
Judith said - More square than round, very Henry Clay-ish.
Kandi said - I thought it was really neat that I couldn't
find the seams. (It's the simple things...)
Kathryn said - On first inspection the cigar seemed loosely
rolled, but it experienced no burn problems
because of it.
Melody said - [no comment]
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Mary : xx xx xx xx
Penny :
Donna : xx
Judith :
Kandi :
Kathryn:
Melody :
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Mary : xx ---- xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx ---- xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx ---- xx
Melody : xx
Taste =
Mary said - Burned hot at first, bland flavor which
developed somewhat but was "sour" during the
second third... I thought the "finish" was
unpleasant and managing the burn problems was
tedious.
Penny said - Fairly smooth, cocoa, leather, light spice.
Donna said - Harsh bitter, terrible aftertaste. Couldn't get
past the 1/2way point.
Judith said - Very smooth, very rich. Got stronger and
stronger. Packed a heavy-duty punch near the
end.
Kandi said - There was a pleasant flavor to this cigar that I
just couldn't seem to put my finger on-- soft,
but not fluffy. Reminiscent of fenugreek.
Kathryn said - This cigar had an interesting complexity: from a
powerful first puff with great billows of tasty
smoke, the flavor mellowed to a smooth
leathery-ness the middle section, and finished
off in a blaze of fully rich spice. The final
third of the cigar was a bit spongy, but the
intense flavor of the stick outweighed any
tactile deficiencies.
Melody said - An ok cigar, nothing spectacular.
Overall Impression =
Mary said - Too much work for not much taste.
Penny said - Not a bad smoke!
Donna said - Did not like this cigar at all.
Judith said - Right from the start, this was an excellent
smoke. It did not disappoint.
Kandi said - A solid smoke.
Kathryn said - An excellent smoke. Please give me more.
Melody said - [no comment]
Would you recommend this cigar
as one to try based on your
blind taste???
(Editors Note - remember these gals don't have a clue what cigar
they just smoked or what it costs.)
Mary said - no
Penny said - yes
Donna said - no
Judith said - yes
Kandi said - yes
Kathryn said - yes, unquestionably
Melody said - no
Habana
Punch Punch
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Judith & Kathryn
Good Cigar <--- Penny & Kandi
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum <--- Melody
Blah... <--- Mary & Donna
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - The Cuban Punch Punch is regarded
as "the classic cigar" within the Habana Corona Gorda
size. Its 5 5/8 x 46 dimension has just the right amount of heft
in the hand, and a wide enough ring to allow for a complex blend,
but not so large that it makes the smoke too mild or takes too
long to be enjoyed. It is available box pressed and ringed in
25 count dress boxes or unbanded in 50 count cabinets left as
rounds.
Construction and burn are typically good, but the appearance
can vary from being picture perfect to average. However they
can always be counted on to deliver in the flavor department.
The Punch Punch is a smooth, yet medium-full bodied smoke of
earthy Havana leaf. Notes of leather and spice tickle the senses
throughout the entire cigar. Kathryn had a real handle on this
tasting describing the intensely satisfying spicy finish that
this cigar imparts on the smoker's palate. When young this cigar
can pack a wallop, but after a few years they become more creamy
and subtle.
I find this cigar to be excellent regardless of when I
smoke it - a zesty morning smoke to compliment my espresso, an
afternoon smoke to help me through my desk labor, or as dessert
to conclude a huge robust meal of Angus beef. Simply said, I
love Punch Punch and regard it as a quintessential Cuban cigar
that always seems to satisfy.
Por
Larranaga Petite Cetro
made in: La Romana, Dominican Republic
size : 5 x 38
wrapper: USA/Conn
filler : Dominican Republic
binder : Dominican Republic
price : $4.50
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Mary said - Wrapper has too many veins, and looks and feels
dry - otherwise fine.
Penny said - Finely veined, uneven down length, not
straight!?!
Donna said - Nicely wrapped, not too veiny.
Judith said - Slightly veiny.
Kandi said - A couple of large veins. Very interesting color
-- maybe a tinge of green.
Kathryn said - Nice wrapper, very smooth with little veining.
Melody said - This cigar was really dry and it looked it!
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx ----- xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Mary said - Feels too loosely rolled - when clipped, a
hollow area appeared which looks to be quite
deep!
Penny said - Soft spots, wrapper lifting away in places.
Donna said - [no comment]
Judith said - [no comment]
Kandi said - [no comment]
Kathryn said - The cigar was a little soft, but held up well
during the smoke. Nice cap.
Melody said - Soft in some spots. When I clipped it, about 1
1/2" unraveled. Could be due to dryness, but I
have had other dry cigars that had not done
that. Oops! As I am smoking, the whole wrapper
came off.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Mary : xx
Penny : xx ----- xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx ----- xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Mary : xx
Penny :
Donna :
Judith :
Kandi :
Kathryn:
Melody : xx
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Mary :
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Mary : xx --- xx
Penny : xx ---- xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Taste =
Mary said - Smelled like flowers and tasted very grassy with
a slightly herbal finish. Large volume of smoke
for a cigar of this size. The flavor became
sweeter and reminded me a little of Benedictine
but mild. The second half was a disaster -
mushy, bland, hot spots, wouldn't stay lit
<sigh>.
Penny said - Smooth, slight bitterness, leather, slight
chocolate note which gives it a rich quality
(but not a full bodied richness) the last 1/3 of
cigar became harsh and a little hot.
Donna said - Some hints of spicy, but mostly unremarkable.
Judith said - Taste almost didn't matter - this cigar smelled
so good! Complex flavor, although I couldn't
pick out one specific highlighted flavor over
another.
Kandi said - Bit me on the first draw (ow!), but it smoothed
out quickly. It had a sharpness that hovered
near bitter, but was not really unpleasant.
Kathryn said - Easy draw with lots of smoke, A satisfying cigar
to puff on. This cigar reminded me of a Juan
Clemente. It started out with a smooth leathery
taste and got a little stronger toward the end.
It had a nice peppery finish.
Melody said - The taste was good, but lacked a blend of
flavors. Good, but not complex.
Overall Impression =
Mary said - Started out very promising, but an unhappy
ending.
Penny said - A very pleasant smoke for the 1st part of the
cigar - finally stopped with about <1/3 left -
harsh. Had with my Sunday morning coffee - good
choice.
Donna said - A good cigar, but nothing special.
Judith said - Luscious. Very enjoyable. I can't wait to find
out what this one was. It was definitely my
favorite of the test.
Kandi said - I could see that some people might like this,
but I wouldn't choose it for myself.
Kathryn said - A good solid cigar, and, depending on the price,
one I would buy for the humidor.
Melody said - Good, but the difficulties with the wrapper made
it unpleasant.
Would you recommend this cigar
as one to try based on your
blind taste???
(Editors Note - remember these gals don't have a clue what cigar
they just smoked or what it costs.)
Mary said - no
Penny said - yes
Donna said - yes
Judith said - yes
Kandi said - no
Kathryn said - yes
Melody said - yes
Por
Larranaga Petite Cetro
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Judith
Good Cigar <--- Penny, Donna, & Kathryn
Decent/Worthy <--- Melody
Ho-Hum <--- Kandi
Blah... <--- Mary
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - The smallest of the Dominican-made
Por Larranagas, the Petite Cetro measures in at only 5 x 38.
Though the brand is named after the long established Havana cigars
which inspired Rudyard Kipling to pen, "A woman is only
a woman, but a good cigar is a Smoke," that is where the
similarity ends. The Dominican version of this cigar is made
with a very light shade wrapper and is blended to be a mild cigar
and does not exhibit any of the musky scent for which the Habana
Por Larranagas are noted.
This small panatela comes wrapped in a cedar sleeve which
imparts a nice pre-light bouquet and a slightly spiced flavor
to the wrapper. Sadly the construction is only so-so on these
cigars, but in its defense that is a common trait amongst most
small ring gauge smokes. The smoke is very thin, pale and unfulfilling
with a slightly acrid flavor that lacks any depth. Worse than
its blandness though is the herbal aftertaste it leaves on your
palate. This cigar burns far too hot to be enjoyed.
Typically I recommend the Por Larranaga as an excellent
brand to try if you're looking for a mild cigar that is rich
and satisfying. The Nacionales and the Fabulosos are both excellent
mild smokes, however the Petite Cetro is not, and should be avoided
in my opinion.
Tamboril
Robusto
made in: Tamboril, Dominican Republic
size : 5 x 52
wrapper: USA/Conn
filler : Dominican Republic
binder : Dominican Republic
price : $5.80
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Mary said - Smooth wrapper, even shape, good unlit aroma.
Penny said - A hard stem spot (under wrapper), top of wrapper
torn and breaking away.
Donna said - Very nice looking crown, claro wrapper.
Judith said - [no comment]
Kandi said - Color is like coffee with too much cream.
Wrapper is soft to the touch.
Kathryn said - [no comment]
Melody said - Nice and veiny. Good sheen!
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx ------ xx
Mary said - Well rolled - no wrinkles or soft spots - good
feel.
Penny said - A little loose.
Donna said - Wrapper very veiny and peeling.
Judith said - [no comment]
Kandi said - A little spot near the head that seems a tad
loose, but it held together fine.
Kathryn said - [no comment]
Melody said - After the fiasco with cigar #3, I put the
remaining 'gars in my humidor. Yes Steve, I
should have done that at the start as
discussed. This one held up very well.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Mary :
Penny :
Donna :
Judith : [none reported by any taster]
Kandi :
Kathryn:
Melody :
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx ------ xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx -------- xx
Melody : xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx --- xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx ---- xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Taste =
Mary said - Mild with a grassy/vegetal taste.
Penny said - A little too sharp and harsh for me.
Donna said - Smooth to the nub, no bitterness or afterbite.
Oak flavor.
Judith said - You could just tell this was a fine cigar.
Smooth flavor. Maybe slightly nutty??? This
would be a great introduction cigar for a
beginner. Not too intense, but definitely rich.
Kandi said - This one seems more complex than the others. A
little nutty maybe with a hint of something
coffee-ish. (nothing like being specific). It
also has a tangy aftertaste that I've come to
associate with Partagas.
Kathryn said - A bitter start progressing to a flat boring
middle. Horrendous aftertaste lingers in your
mouth despite Colgate, Listerine, and Altoids.
Melody said - Good complex flavor - but not so rich and full
as I would like it to be.
Overall Impression =
Mary said - I'd be tempted to give this cigar another try -
very consistent.
Penny said - Needed a little aging or... not the cigar for
me.
Donna said - Really enjoyed this cigar! Surprisingly
enjoyable for a light wrapper.
Judith said - I just kept thinking "Macanudo Hampton Court"
throughout.
Kandi said - It was okay. Not particularly special, but
definitely worth smoking.
Kathryn said - Totally unmemorable cigar. I was in a bad mood
all day from wasting a smoke on this cigar.
Melody said - Nothing spectacular, but very decent.
Would you recommend this cigar
as one to try based on your
blind taste???
(Editors Note - remember these gals don't have a clue what cigar
they just smoked or what it costs.)
Mary said - yes
Penny said - no
Donna said - yes
Judith said - yes
Kandi said - yes
Kathryn said - no
Melody said - yes
Tamboril
Robusto
SCALE
YOWZA!!!
Great Smoke <--- Donna & Judith
Good Cigar
Decent/Worthy <--- Kandi & Melody
Ho-Hum <--- Mary
Blah... <--- Penny
Dog Rocket! <--- Kathryn
Editor's
2 Cents - The Tamboril Robusto is one of
the seven sizes offered in this relatively new cigar line. They
are very well constructed with Dominican Cuban seed filler and
an olor binder encased in a light golden Connecticut shade wrapper.
According to the manufacturer white wine is used to treat the
wrapper leaves during the fermentation stage.
These cigars were aged about a year when shared with our
tasters and were definitely mild in body. Well constructed, these
robustos typically deliver an easy draw and an even burn to the
smoker. Flavorwise they are single dimensional with a slight
grassy flavor. The finish is almost non-existent, but the aftertaste
can turn bitter if smoked too fast.
Overall the Tamboril is a rather boring mild cigar that
smokes well. If you are a fan of light smokes and are looking
for an alternative to Macanudo this is one worthy of trying,
but it will leave most cigar smokers asking, "Where's the
smoke?"
Habana
Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No. 4
made in: Habanos SA, BM
size : 5 x 48
wrapper: Cuba
filler : Cuba
binder : Cuba
price : $12.00
Appearance = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Mary said - Smooth wrapper - good feel and terrific unlit
aroma.
Penny said - Water spots, cracks.
Donna said - A lot of veins, wrapper color inconsistent.
Almost looks moldy in spots.
Judith said - Very aesthetically pleasing. A rich, dark,
chocolaty look, which is a bonus!
Kandi said - Nice color. Feels like silk. *Note*: The
magnetic plate in our humidor came loose and the
humidifier fell onto our cigars. I think this
cigar was still damp in spots (I had trouble
keeping it lit), but I didn't know about the
accident until I had started.
Kathryn said - Smooth wrapper.
Melody said - [no comment]
Construction = poor fair good outstanding perfect
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Mary said - Nice give when pressed, no hard or soft spots,
very good feel in the hand.
Penny said - Large soft spots.
Donna said - Initially it appeared outstanding but halfway
through it started peeling and falling apart.
Judith said - Seamless and smooth; a superiorly rolled cigar.
It looked like someone took their time making
sure this one was perfect.
Kandi said - [no comment]
Kathryn said - Nice wrapper, no soft spots before lighting, got
a little spongy when smoked.
Melody said - Again as in #3, the whole wrapper came off and
the tobacco itself started to unravel.
Burn = very uneven uneven even very even
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Problems = runners tunneling got soft split/unraveled
Mary :
Penny : xx xx xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi :
Kathryn:
Melody : xx
Ash Color = black dark grey light grey white
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Ash Structure = flaky typical very solid
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Draw = too easy easy perfect tight plugged
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Aroma = rank! poor fair good great
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Smoked to = left>=1/2 1/3 to band <band nub
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx
Melody : xx
Strength = bland mild medium full powerful
Mary : xx
Penny : xx
Donna : xx
Judith : xx
Kandi : xx
Kathryn: xx ---- xx
Melody : xx
Taste =
Mary said - Spicy, earthy flavor, slightly sweet wrapper,
MELLOW, with a very nice lingering finish. Large
volume of smoke. The flavor reminded me of
roasted nuts, and increased in depth and
strength during the second half. A little hot at
the end.
Penny said - Kinda boring. Wasn't the worst tasting cigar
I've had.
Donna said - Very mild but flavorful, smooth.
Judith said - A rich blend of many flavors. A complex palate
with only a slight harsh taste near the end.
Kandi said - Like unsweetened cream (insert lip-smacking
noises). The taste lingers lovingly in the
mouth. Actually this one tastes suspiciously
like one I mooched off another ASCer, and I'm
certain he'll recognize the description. I'm
very anxious to know what this one is.
Kathryn said - A good but one-dimensional smoke: nice flavor
without being overwhelming. No distinct flavor
change beginning to end.
Melody said - Great cigar. Wonderful woodsy taste.
Overall Impression =
Mary said - Very interesting cigar - definitely a keeper,
but not very strong.
Penny said - Kept going out - couldn't come up with anything
to describe the flavor.
Donna said - Very enjoyable smoke except for construction.
Needed to be relit twice.
Judith said - I'd make lots of friends if I had more of these
to pass out!
Kandi said - Geez, Wally!! If this cigar is this yummy as is,
think how great it might have been if it hadn't
been involved in that unfortunate humidor
accident. Granted, I still consider myself a
novice -- but I can only remember having two
better.
Kathryn said - A good Saturday smoke.
Melody said - This was the best!
Would you recommend this cigar
as one to try based on your
blind taste???
(Editors Note - remember these gals don't have a clue what cigar
they just smoked or what it costs.)
Mary said - yes
Penny said - no
Donna said - yes
Judith said - yes
Kandi said - yes
Kathryn said - yes
Melody said - yes
Habana
Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No. 4
SCALE
YOWZA!!! <--- Kandi
Great Smoke <--- Donna, Judith, & Melody
Good Cigar <--- Mary & Kathryn
Decent/Worthy
Ho-Hum <--- Penny
Blah...
Dog Rocket!
Editor's
2 Cents - Made in the famed Briones Montoto
factory, formerly known as Romeo y Julieta, the Exhibicion No.
4 is regarded as an elegant robusto. Not many Hermosos No. 4
sized cigars can make that claim, but the lighter wrapper, fine
finishing details, and milder blending of this cigar have allowed
it to maintain that image with connoisseurs worldwide.
In both appearance and flavor, it is essentially a shortened
version of the infamous RyJ Churchill. A slight box press and
a very silky smooth wrapper give this robusto a nice feel between
the fingers. However, construction-wise this cigar does not meet
the standard set by the benchmark - it is not uncommon for the
Exhibicion No. 4 to have soft spots. In turn, an easy draw is
almost always assured with this smoke, as is a hotter than desirable
finish. This is a creamy medium-bodied Havana with a nice depth
of flavor with nuances of nut, spice, and earth. Mary said it
best with her choice of the word: "Mellow."
The RyJ Exhibicion No. 4 is typically regarded a as good
cigar, but not one of Cuba's very best, and this mirrors my own
assessment of this smoke. It is far better than many of the domestically
available robustos, however given a choice I would opt for a
Ramon Allones Specially Selected or a Partagas Series D No. 4
every time over this cigar. Though very good and essentially
the same blend, it just doesn't live up to the standard set by
the RyJ Churchill.
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