RyJ Cazadore Comparison- 2001 VS 2012

[bassman]

RyJ Cazadore is a cigar that I love, but it used to be painfully strong when fresh & needed a couple years to be approachable. Just smoked a 2012 gifted by Bart. A very nice cigar with good strength, but incredibly smooth for a Cazzie. Great for smoking now but I wonder how they will hold up in 10 years.

Yesterday I smoked one from my REC OCT 01 box. Just opened this box several months ago, with surprising results. The first third was full bodied, but mellow- dare I say refined for a Cazzie. Going into the second third the strength started pouring on. By the halfway point it was stronger than the 2012, and the final third was simply killer strong.

So the question is, will the 2012s be strong in 2023 or will they have faded. Guess I'll have to buy a box and see. And a special thanks to Bart!

[olotti]

Of the cazzies I've had from the last couple years compared to one I smoked from 01 last year I'd say the more recent years are alot more approacheable when young. The 01' still had a great body to it but it was as u said smoother and richer throughout. I could see the newer cazzies having a 10 yr ceiling while the older bolder version literally have decades.

[finecigar]

Thanks for sharing your comparison! I've had pretty good luck with 11 and 12 cazzies with not as strong profiles. Very enjoyable and flavorful smokes.

[mazolaman]

Never had any properly aged cazadores, but the boxes I've smoked, from 08 onwards, have all been strong enough, but never "I need a lie down" strong....perhaps they don't make em as strong these days!

[CanuckSARTech]

Never had any properly aged cazadores, but the boxes I've smoked, from 08 onwards, have all been strong enough, but never "I need a lie down" strong....perhaps they don't make em as strong these days!

Same here. I've only had just a few Cazzies ever (most were unmemorable), but most have been from '08 and onwards as well. Never had a well-aged pre-2001 sample, though I've been offered them before - just not overly my cuppa tea.

[Colt45]

Great for smoking now but I wonder how they will hold up in 10 years.

I guess my question would be if they taste great now, why hold them for ten years? Whenever I've read commentary about these, inevitably the talk turns to how strong they are / can be. For me it makes it sound like these cigars are out of balance, I don't know - perhaps like a dish that has been excessively spiced.....

Thanks for the comparison.

[bassman]

I guess my question would be if they taste great now, why hold them for ten years? Whenever I've read commentary about these, inevitably the talk turns to how strong they are / can be. For me it makes it sound like these cigars are out of balance, I don't know - perhaps like a dish that has been excessively spiced.....

Thanks for the comparison.

You're absolutely right. Just ordered a box from 2012 to smoke while my still painfully strong 09s mellow. I like strong, but not harsh. Running low on the 01s.

[Bartolomeo]

Cazzies have always kicked my butt, looking forward to the 01, thanks bro!

[Torbotekusa]

I have an 03 Cazadores that i just sampled this week and man... it probably is the best of the aged cigars in my collection! I have mostly 99-06 before I put smoking on the side until now...

[Torbotekusa]

So to follow up on this, Cazadores of the current are not as strong as the older Cazadores? DId the flavor profile change as well? Thanks!