Romeo y Julieta Duke EL 2009

[Colt45]

Construction: Rather light for it's size. Fairly firm with some spring at the foot.

Wrapper: Near colorado maduro in color. Relatively smooth to the touch with a very nice uniform sheen of oil.

Pre-light Aroma / Draw / Taste: Aroma of barnyard and dried urine. Overly easy draw with a taste of sweet tobacco.

Draw / Burn / Smoke: Loose draw, good burn, very good smoke volume.

Taste: First draws are green pepper spicy, a bit of leather, with some underlying earthiness. The spiciness slowly gives way to straightforward

earthy tobacco with a somewhat dry, woody core. The draw is very loose, and the girth..... just too much. A full inch or so in, most flavor has

disappeared. Slightly sweet on the tongue, a desolate mid palate - air mixed with a hint of tobacco - and a dirty finish.

Thin, arid, little or no body...... why am I smoking this? I'm trying my best to remain positive - it's relatively warm, bright sunshine..... What kind of

tobacco is this? Is it tobacco at all? Were this NC it would be bagged mercilessly.

At the halfway mark still no change, and with the cigar now thoroughly warmed, it's become apparent that this cigar is a bit under filled. This,

combined with the loose draw pretty much renders this a losing battle - but I smoke on.

Dear Habanos, you're going to owe me an hour or so of my life back. For producing this one cigar, I hope the new Swedish Match conglomerate

fights you over brand names.

Tastelessly generic. Think happy thoughts..... a recently smoked '07 San Cristobal Principe was flavorful, had very nice depth, and still had some

youthful sharpness on the tongue. A recently smoked Illusione CG4, while not my cup of tea, exhibited deep earthiness and very good density,

along with a typically dirty finish - at least both showed something.

If this were pot, it would be home grown skanky rag weed that wouldn't get a fly high. Were it booze, it would be the stuff brewed in a prison

toilet. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have tried it, and I realize it is just one cigar, and given that many members seem to enjoy it, probably

a bad one, but this is one of the most disappointing cigars I've ever smoked. Ever.

Score: n/a

[anacostiakat]

Prayers sent. . .

[android]

wow

[PigFish]

Man it is no wonder you never take up my offers for cigar samples! You need a better class of cigar donors amigo!!!

It is a ***** to review a **** cigar. Sorry Mate but thanks for the candor. -R

[Colt45]

I'm chuckling at myself a bit here. My "review" is truthful in that these were my thoughts as I smoked this one cigar. But as stated, it is but one

cigar, and in most cases, I probably would not bother to post regarding a "dud". But in this case...... it's 2009, it's an EL...... it's personally becoming

more and more difficult to accept this kind of inconsistency. And honestly, it's not as much anger as it is a kind of sadness.

Obviously, it does not reflect on the good friend who was kind enough to give me a cigar I more than likely would never had tried on my own. I truly

am happy to have had the opportunity. And Ray, thanks for the reminder - I'll get back to you soon

[bassman]

If it were pot, around here we'd call it "dirt weed".

[Tarks]

Or ditch weed!

Sorry about your experience. I hope it was a dud as I have a box that I haven't touched yet. Damn, I might have to fire one up this afternoon to find out first hand what the deal is with these.

[Jesuscookies]

This cigar has received a lot of positive reviews on the forum. I bought a box based on the praise, and recently smoked one. Pretty much the same experience as Colt. I chalked it up to only being in the humidor for a week.

I am hoping they will come around with a few months rest.

[ImTripN2]

Yeah, you would think a EL would be more consistent. I smoked one after a weeks rest, and it was great. Lots of rich creamy smoke, perfect burn and construction. So of course I ordered another box. Had another yesterday afer a 6 weeks rest and it was badly plugged. I poked, drilled, squeezed and pretty much treated it like grandma's rolling pin. Finally got it going better about the second half, but it was flat, much like the review. So dissapointing.

[PADDYWHACK121272]

Thats a ***** - i'v had a pretty positive experience from the first few from my (only) box (MSO Jun 09)...still i feel you pain an EL should, at the very least, be delivering consistently to be worthy of the label (not to mention the price premium)....

[brutusthebuckeye]

Just smoked my first one(LRE Aug 09)...i cut the cap and saw the "dimple" so i figured it would draw well.....and it did...

Little eratic burn at first but other than that a very good tasting cigar right now....but i will let the other 9 sit for a long while b4 i light another......

[Cubanface]

Too bad...I wouldn't want to be anywhere near a cigar which smell is that of a nursing home for the elderly.

[dicko]

THAT is how you give a good panning! Pretty interested in the Upmann 48's and i was going to get a couple of the dukes to try but may not bother (given size and chances of getting a dud).

Thanks Colt

[acidmase]

I smoked an 48 LE the other night and they need more time about a year or so!

[thechenman]

I've found that the Mag 48 LEs are great to smoke now. Almost three quarters of the way through a box already.