First Experience with 24:24 and RyJ Ex. NO.4 Review

[Tommy_Tao]

This is my first time shopping with FOH and grabbed a clearance RyJ EX. NO.4 from 24:24. My phone number was filled in wrong so the box stayed in the customs and post office for respectively extra 15 days. Today I finally retrieved the parcel and thought I'd try if there's any luck for smoking them young and fresh.

 

Box code is ABO JUL 19, not a typical "good box code" in my memory. Opening up the lid, I was stunned by the neat looking of layer of Cuban chocolates. I don't have previous experience of FOH's grading system but this image to me, in my cigar shopping experience from all over the world, is definitely "HQ", at least. It's not oily and appears to be a little bit dry feeling, but the wrapper is smooth and consistent. Nice box pressed shape btw. I do like it anyway.

 

Too eager to try out, so I forgot to sniff on them and now don't know how to describe the aroma.

 

Cut up and lit up.  Draw is on the tight side, but I prefer some resistance indeed. No spice or harshness right off the bat. Woody and floral flavors came in directly.

 

English isn't my mother tongue so describing flavor profiles is a difficult exam for me. In short, flavors are classic RyJ profiles and transit all the way through as fruity and chocolatary taste showing up in the second half.

 

What surprised me most is the burn. With no rest time, with no aging, it burns perfectly. I nubbed it without a single touch up. This vitola, flavor and burn reminds me a lot of Arturo Fuente Rosado series. (Sorry, because I smoke more NC than CC, that's how I express my impression.)

 

Overall a very pleasant try, especially in such unfavorable conditions. I'd give it a 90+ rating, not crazy high but good enough for a regular production. I may not let them age too long before burning down the entire box. Thanks to @El Presidente and @WarriorPrincess !

[Connoisseur Kim]

I also bought 6er RyJ Ex No. 4 ABO JUL 19 (PSP HQ Mixed) before price increase. Mine look like between PSP and HQ (more to PSP IMHO) in terms of wrapper shade. Based on your review, I'm really excited to see how will they perform ?!

Note. Had some plume/white mold on caps but managed to remove them without issue ?.

[JohnS]

Min Ron Nee in his magnificent opus, "An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post Revolution Havana Cigars" from 2003, mentions that 'Saint Luis Rey is not a marca for everyone'. Fast forward to 2020 and I feel confident in saying that one can apply the same maxim to the Romeo y Julieta marca. In regards to the Exhibicion No.4, it doesn't tend to be as strong in chocolate/cocoa as say the RyJ Short Churchill, in other words, it's a little on the softer side. However, for what they are and when they are "on", they can be a wonderful example of the Romeo y Julieta marca if you connect with it.

I've had two in the last two weeks, one from the fabled POU Jun 2013 box code and the first cigar from a newly acquired ABO Ago 2018 box. Both were wonderful for their respective ages (Detailed reviews to come down-the-track in the Daily Smoking thread).

[RDBM]

6 hours ago, Tommy_Tao said:

This is my first time shopping with FOH and grabbed a clearance RyJ EX. NO.4 from 24:24. My phone number was filled in wrong so the box stayed in the customs and post office for respectively extra 15 days. Today I finally retrieved the parcel and thought I'd try if there's any luck for smoking them young and fresh.

 

Box code is ABO JUL 19, not a typical "good box code" in my memory. Opening up the lid, I was stunned by the neat looking of layer of Cuban chocolates. I don't have previous experience of FOH's grading system but this image to me, in my cigar shopping experience from all over the world, is definitely "HQ", at least. It's not oily and appears to be a little bit dry feeling, but the wrapper is smooth and consistent. Nice box pressed shape btw. I do like it anyway.

 

Too eager to try out, so I forgot to sniff on them and now don't know how to describe the aroma.

 

Cut up and lit up.  Draw is on the tight side, but I prefer some resistance indeed. No spice or harshness right off the bat. Woody and floral flavors came in directly.

 

English isn't my mother tongue so describing flavor profiles is a difficult exam for me. In short, flavors are classic RyJ profiles and transit all the way through as fruity and chocolatary taste showing up in the second half.

 

What surprised me most is the burn. With no rest time, with no aging, it burns perfectly. I nubbed it without a single touch up. This vitola, flavor and burn reminds me a lot of Arturo Fuente Rosado series. (Sorry, because I smoke more NC than CC, that's how I express my impression.)

 

Overall a very pleasant try, especially in such unfavorable conditions. I'd give it a 90+ rating, not crazy high but good enough for a regular production. I may not let them age too long before burning down the entire box. Thanks to @El Presidente and @WarriorPrincess !

Nice review Tommy, good to see you here mate.

John, TCM ?

[Tommy_Tao]

On 9/16/2020 at 5:14 AM, RDBM said:

Nice review Tommy, good to see you here mate.

John, TCM ?

LOL nice to see you too, John. I'll try to share more pleasing smoking experiences here. 

[GavLew79]

On 9/15/2020 at 9:47 PM, JohnS said:

Min Ron Nee in his magnificent opus, "An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post Revolution Havana Cigars" from 2003, mentions that 'Saint Luis Rey is not a marca for everyone'. Fast forward to 2020 and I feel confident in saying that one can apply the same maxim to the Romeo y Julieta marca. In regards to the Exhibicion No.4, it doesn't tend to be as strong in chocolate/cocoa as say the RyJ Short Churchill, in other words, it's a little on the softer side. However, for what they are and when they are "on", they can be a wonderful example of the Romeo y Julieta marca if you connect with it.

I've had two in the last two weeks, one from the fabled POU Jun 2013 box code and the first cigar from a newly acquired ABO Ago 2018 box. Both were wonderful for their respective ages (Detailed reviews to come down-the-track in the Daily Smoking thread).

I had a box of POU JUN 13 too John. Crackers they were. Magnificent b@stards. Hoovered them up, finishing them in late 2019. 

Edited September 25, 2020 by GavLew79
Wrong year

[Webbo]

In my opinion this marque (and the no.4 in particular) can be graded by the colour of their wrappers more than most others. Before joining this forum and reading the advice of several members and specifically our host that a smooth rosado red wrapper can heighten the cherry notes I had chosen only the darkest looking examples and had been underwhelmed. Now when I can I grab a box of the "red devils" on 24:24 I am safe in the knowledge that I will be in for a real treat. A rosado no.4 is comfortably in my top 3 cigars and a pillar of the Habanos range.

[zigarrenziggy]

On 9/15/2020 at 4:47 PM, JohnS said:

Min Ron Nee in his magnificent opus, "An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post Revolution Havana Cigars" from 2003, mentions that 'Saint Luis Rey is not a marca for everyone'. Fast forward to 2020 and I feel confident in saying that one can apply the same maxim to the Romeo y Julieta marca. In regards to the Exhibicion No.4, it doesn't tend to be as strong in chocolate/cocoa as say the RyJ Short Churchill, in other words, it's a little on the softer side. However, for what they are and when they are "on", they can be a wonderful example of the Romeo y Julieta marca if you connect with it.

I've had two in the last two weeks, one from the fabled POU Jun 2013 box code and the first cigar from a newly acquired ABO Ago 2018 box. Both were wonderful for their respective ages (Detailed reviews to come down-the-track in the Daily Smoking thread).

Great write-up, John, as always. I would have to say, anecdotally at least, that the same is said for Montecristo. I have seen opinions across the whole spectrum regarding the profile: it is among the best for some, and among the overrated for others. Myself, I fall into the latter camp.

RyJ, on the other hand, is something that I can always enjoy. Have not had a bad one yet

[JohnS]

5 hours ago, zigarrenziggy said:

Great write-up, John, as always. I would have to say, anecdotally at least, that the same is said for Montecristo. I have seen opinions across the whole spectrum regarding the profile: it is among the best for some, and among the overrated for others. Myself, I fall into the latter camp.

RyJ, on the other hand, is something that I can always enjoy. Have not had a bad one yet

Oh definitely, this is true. This poll run last year in regards to which marque is most disliked is most telling, Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo where 1 and 2, Bolivar 3rd and Punch 4th. However, Bolivar was disliked by members due to (the Bolivar 'Earthy') flavour profile, the other three was due to inconsistency.

[Pag]

Nice write up. Nice first buy, sure it won't be your last. One of my favorite places to grab smokes. It's nice when you know you will receive quality smokes no matter what quality you choose. .

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