RyJ Exhibicon #4: No Code: RyJ Comp 2016

[Hurltim]

Picked this up as part of my Hobbits and Giants Singles Extravaganza.

Aroma at Cold: Barnyard with a nice, sweet tobacco smell.

Cold Draw: Sweet cedar and maybe a bit of dried fruit. Draw was nice just a touch towards the firm side.

1st 3rd: Almost immediately I got a nice milk chocolate and dried cherry hit. WOW! If is stays like this...look out!

Quick blasts of black pepper followed by nice hints of dried cherry and cedar. I am picking up a bit of nuttiness in the aroma. Body is about a quarter to medium-thirty.

2nd 3rd: The 2nd 3rd transitions into a more steady espresso, cherry and cocoa trifecta with a gentle white pepper left on the palate. The cherry comes and goes unfortunately. Really wish it was a little more prominent.

Final 3rd: The cherry drops away and leaves an espresso, leather and cocoa nuance party. The cigar threatens to go mongrel so I slow down a bit to let it cool. Not a bad smoke. Body is right at or a few minutes before Medium thirty.

Overall impressions: If the cherry stood out a bit more and hung on, I think this would be a much better smoke. All of the flavors were a bit ADHD: "Hi! How ya doin I was just...SQUIRREL!!!"

Draw was great and the burn and ash were spot on until halfway through the 2nd third. Things got a little wonky after that.

I have no idea if the flavors delineate more over time. If they do and the cherry picks up in intensity, it would be a 90+ cigar. As it stands now, its an 88-89.

Not a bad smoke it just didn't blow my skirt up.

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[MahDooRow]

Nice review.  My experience with this cigar is in line with your assessment.  Excellent flavors, but the cherry tends to play "peek a boo".  That being said, the Ex #4 is a solid smoke at a good value.

[JohnS]

Nice review. You've made me want to light up one of my few remaining POU Jun 13 Exhibicion No.4 'wonderbombs'!

[Hurltim]

I would LOVE to try one of those '13's. Smoking a RyJ Wide Churchill now as I type this. Cherry in SPADES. Wonderful smoke. I hear the '13's were similar cherry bombs.

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[TheMonk]

Nicely done! I agree, they've been a bit underwhelming for me as well.

[subport]

Good one, thanks. I am planning to smoke one tonight. 

[Smoke6]

These are great with some age as I recall.  When I was in Italy for 3 years, was able to score an EMS box that was almost 10 years old at the time.  Truly marvelous smokes, wish I had another box of them.  Great review!