RAG HQ ABO NOV 19 (VVRW#3)

[ChangBang]

It's been a trying review week 🤦‍♂️

First I tried to smoke a RyJ Cazadores that was plugged and even after freezer treatment and many pokes with the perfecdraw...it was a lost cause and not enjoyable with my constant puffing.  

Last night I tried to smoke a RyJ Churchill and same result.  Found 2 massive stems that was the cause of the plug but by that time, the wrapper was pretty destroyed and I was cursing at the cigar.  

So far only the RAG had a good draw and it was great!  I didn't have high hopes for this one either because out of the 1/4 I got from the host, this is the 2nd one I smoked and the first one was horribly plugged.  I don't have many churchill/DC cigars because I ususally find the construction to be so bad, they aren't really worth it.  I've had 2 RyJ Cazadores and 2 RyJ Churchills and...I'm done.  1 of the Cazadores had decent construction and honestly wasn't bad, but below average(I rated it 4.5), and both of the churchills had bad construction and made em barely smokeable.  

End of rant - lets start the review

Smoked a RAG HQ ABO NOV 19 that I got from the host almost a year ago.  Paired it with a lemon mojito, 2nd round of the NFL draft, and smoking a brisket. 

1/3 - Faint sweet stewed fruit notes with a really smooth smoke texture.  I was able to retro all of it without feeling that stinging sensation in the nose.  Smoke output could've been more but that's fine.  The faint fruity notes was pleasant and because it was faint, kept me wanting more

2/3 - More of the same faint sweet stewed fruit notes and the same soft smoke texture.  Some cream and tobacco notes towards the end.  Definitely towards the end I feel the cigar about to kick it up a notch with the flavor and smoke getting a bit stronger

3/3 - Sweet stewed fruit notes are in the front with a tobacco notes intermingled.  Smoke output has increased and so has the smoke body.  Doing the normal probably 20% retro-ing now.  Construction has been beautiful with zero relights or touchups!  

Looked at my pictures and from the first pic to the last - this took me 3hrs and 20min to smoke and it was really enjoyable!  If only all of my churchill cigars had this kind of construction!  I am rating this a 7/10 - it was really enjoyable and I can't get over how well it was constructed!  

[Ginseng]

Very nice review, and I'm glad to hear that it wasn't plugged like the other two. That can be intensely frustrating.

I have a cab from a few years back and you've inspired me to take another dip.