Holiday Cigar #1: RyJ Short Churchill

[Not A Nice Person]

Five of these magnificent tubos mysteriously arrived on my doorstep yesterday, and being tubos, were in perfect working order and rH for instantaneous ignition. Within just a few hours I had, of course, set fire to one. Hey . . . I just couldn't help myself.

A lot of us have talked about special smokes we have set aside for the holidays this year---what we'll be smoking on Yule, or Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, or New Year's Eve. I've decided to review each of mine, so there will be a few more of these coming before I have to head back to the salt mines.

Size/Vitola: 124mm X 50, robusto

MSRP: rumor has it they're about $11.

Construction & Appearance: flawless, beautifully presented tubo with a nut-brown, slightly toothy wrapper. Triple-capped, firmly and evenly rolled with no soft or hard spots. In general, representative of the best workmanship of that very special island.

Pre-Light Aroma: Dried fruit, toasted nuts, and "twang."

Burn/Draw: Burn was absolutely sharp as a razor down to the very nub, with only a few minor touchups to the nub needed, as the stick got down to the last inch. It was also noticeably slow---while only a robusto, this cigar lasted for most of Casino Royale. Ash held for about an inch and a half and flaked off cleanly and evenly. The slow burn kept draw firm but not unpleasant, and smoke volume on the medium side, but the smoke itself was so pleasant--sweet and almost floral---that it made up for there not being billowing clouds of it.

Taste: Smooth and creamy, with delicious notes of sweet leather (a new one on me), dried fruit and subtle spice. Over the course of the smoke, flavors gradually deepened, becoming earthier and "twangier," but never lost their creaminess or that amazing, intoxicating "sweet leather" taste. Fabulous cigar! Possibly my new favorite Habanos.

Final thoughts: Just a beautiful smoking experience, start to finish. The tubo itself is gorgeously done, with a sliding cap instead of a screwtop, and the cigar inside lives up to the impression it creates. Flawless.

NANP™
[cigar]

[US_Tank]

Another excellent review.  I too love this cigar although not my favorite Habano.  Its damn good though and worth obtaining if one can get them.

[Stands and Looks Back]

these are awesome cigars

great review NANP

[tafdom]

AWESOME job on the hit and the review.