RyJ Churchill anejados - 2007 (FTRW)

[Vitola Corleone]

Smoked this generous gift from @Monocle 2 nights ago, because it seemed liked as good a day as any for it in the states. My first experience with the anejados program. Boxed in 2007 but I don't know the box code. 

Pre-light:

Velvety wrapper with some veining. Mild tobacco cold aroma but nothing real powerful. Draw is a bit tight but I didn't correct it. 

First 1/3. Tight draw is affecting how much smoke I get, but the burn is perfect. Flavor is pleasant toasty tobacco, enjoyable but not especially distinctive. 

Second 1/3. Flavors come on stronger. Graham cracker and marshmallow, very distinctive. Draw is still a bit tight but burn is still perfect. 

Last 1/3. Pronounced graham cracker continues. Marshmallow has faded and sweet-smoky wood has come on. It's a chocolate square shy of s'mores. Draw has loosened up and burn is still perfect. Flavor is great down to the nub when it finally gives up. 

Overall: A really nice smoke. Flavor was always enjoyable though it took a bit to clarify itself. Burn was perfect. The only issue, relatively minor, was the draw. 

91 points

[Markspring1978]

A lot of people hate these. My experience with them has been like yours, I loved it. 
 

[Vitola Corleone]

To me the only review scale that really matters is, would you buy it, would you smoke it but not buy it, and would you not smoke it. This is definitely in that middle category. As nice as it was, they are really not cheap. The pricing is between Espy and Winnie, yet not in the same league as either. At the same time, I might have been lucky but I can't see actively *disliking* this cigar. 

[Bijan]

This looks like a pre 2008 RyJ Churchill tubo as the anejados has a second anejados band.

Of course there is always the chance of Cuba being Cuba.

https://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/brand/romeo-y-julieta#habanos-anejados1

https://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/brand/romeo-y-julieta#churchills

[Vitola Corleone]

You are correct it was a tubo - good catch. 

[Monocle]

4 hours ago, Bijan said:

This looks like a pre 2008 RyJ Churchill tubo as the anejados has a second anejados band.

Of course there is always the chance of Cuba being Cuba.

https://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/brand/romeo-y-julieta#habanos-anejados1

https://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/brand/romeo-y-julieta#churchills

It was definitely an anejados as the box was purchased from our host. I’ve had a handful of them and they all had the second anejados band. Strange that this one was missed. ALP MAR 07 is the original box code on it.

[Bijan]

3 hours ago, Vitola Corleone said:

You are correct it was a tubo - good catch. 

The Anejados are tubos too, the only difference being the second band. From what @Monocle says it seems like they just missed putting on the second band on yours

Cuba being Cuba then.

[Vitola Corleone]

Ah - yes that band was in mine too, it just had come loose and fell off when I took it out of the tube.