Saint Luis Rey Churchill

[rahko]

Good construction, pretty nondescript cold draw, slightly nutty, firm.

Peppery start, long white pepper aftertaste on back palate, light medium body, pronounced saltiness through the nose.

Pepper quickly gives way to cocoa beans and white pepper lightly salted, hints of vanilla entering the mix towards the end of last third.

Wrapper is silky and oily, at least some of the precieved saltiness is the oils on the lips, althogh it does seem salted throgh the nose as well.

2nd third vanilla becomes really pronounced. I like smelling the wrapper near the end between puffs, this has a very distinct dark chocolate aroma.

To me this is akin to the Esplendido in a way, only the beaniness is less rich, and it's salty instead of grassy.

Last third pepper is coming back, but then the cigar gets muted and burn goes horribly wrong. I got this as a single in late 06, so no box code. Quite obvious that I rushed it, pretty interesting cigar nonetheless. Certainly has it's own thing which is always great, but for cigars of this size I like them to be more.. merciless.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Nice review!

Did the Churchill come without a band, or did you just remove it before smoking? That would determine if it was from a 50 cab or 25 box.

I just purchased an HQ box of these to help start off my Czar Cigar Locker collection. Mine was a DIC 06 box, so at just over 3 years old, I will wait at least a couple years before touching those babies, especially if yours felt rushed after at least 4 years!

Another cigar to be discontinued this year...that deserved better.

[Ken Gargett]

had one of my last ones from a box from 97 the other day. fair at best. rob and i were discussing them on the weekend. my problem is the massive inconsistency. this box alone has had a few dogs, a range of fair to good and a couple of stunners. a real pig in a poke. so much so that i would not buy another box.

[El Presidente]

Talking with ken about these. Schizophrenic cigar. Each box contains roughly 5 brilliant cigars, 5 good cigars, 5 so so, 5 shithouse and 5 that don't draw.

Has improved in recent years but still not a top tier Churchill.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Prez and Ken agreeing on something? Boy, now I feel stupid for picking up that box, even if it was HQ!

I guess I'll find out the result in a few years. I've liked the singles I've smoked in the past, found them true to the SLR marca, which I enjoy. Perhaps I'll get lucky! In any case, better to have gotten them now before the're gone forever, if they turn out to be real winners.

Lucky I enjoy a worthwhile gamble.....

[rahko]

Did the Churchill come without a band, or did you just remove it before smoking? That would determine if it was from a 50 cab or 25 box.

I just purchased an HQ box of these to help start off my Czar Cigar Locker collection. Mine was a DIC 06 box, so at just over 3 years old, I will wait at least a couple years before touching those babies, especially if yours felt rushed after at least 4 years!

Came with band. I actually had two, the other one smoked in 07, and there was no taste. At all. Not to discourage anything, there's really not much information value to be had from these two that I smoked too early, especially concerning your HQ box

They have a unique flavor, that's always a good thing.

[Buch0]

Prez and Ken agreeing on something? Boy, now I feel stupid for picking up that box, even if it was HQ!

I guess I'll find out the result in a few years. I've liked the singles I've smoked in the past, found them true to the SLR marca, which I enjoy. Perhaps I'll get lucky! In any case, better to have gotten them now before the're gone forever, if they turn out to be real winners.

Lucky I enjoy a worthwhile gamble.....

I like your attitude my friend, I hope you have one of the better boxes!

[Kangaroo495]

Smoked this last night. I guess I was pretty lucky, because it delivered an excellent smoking experience!

Fully agree with atonal's original review - pepper in the nose from the outset, cocoa, coffee bean, hints of vanilla.

Towards the last third, I was getting a bit of wateriness and slight sourness.

Burn was farily bad, but did not detract from the overall taste. Construction and draw both awesome

Absolute pleasure.

93