Romeo y Julieta Churchill ROP ABR 21 (RyJRW)

[oneizzzz]

In the first third of this Romeo y Julieta Churchill, I taste the familiar breadiness I've come to associate with this Marque.  The retrohale is smooth and buttery.  The smoke has a sweet, fruity aftertaste.  The aroma of the smoke is wonderful - rich toasted chocolate.  It is subtle and complex, like a cinnamon muffin.  When I smack my lips, there is a heavy sourdough flavor.  The combination of richness, spice, and sweetness reminds me of a sweet potato dish at Thanksgiving.  This first third is fantastic.  The smoke is smooth, sweet, cool, and flavorful.  The aroma is intoxicating.  The construction is excellent (slight resistance on the draw, lush smoke output, perfect burn line).

In the second third of this cigar, the retrohale becomes spicier yet also sweeter.  In contrast to the first third, during which I found myself retrohaling regularly, because of the spice I now only retrohale occasionally to liven things up.  Cedar is coming onto the scene.  I don't particularly enjoy the flavor of cedar in cigars, but I will say this cedar is refined and not overpowering.  The flavor of the cigar continues to be marvelously complex and delicious, with a fantastic array of sweet and savory flavors.  Based on the level of class and refinement, I think the tobacco used in this cigar is very high quality.  There is a sweet licorice flavor, similar to Ouzo.  The breadiness continues and reminds me of yeasty, white wine.  Toward the end of this third, the cigar bursts with the flavor of cherry cordial!  I've certainly come to predict the flavor of cherry in Romeo y Julieta cigars - based on common association between this brand and that flavor.  Nevertheless, I'm certain I tasted it!  And even more sure that it was delicious!

In the final third of this cigar, it comes back to earth a bit.  Its youth brings anesthetizing smoke, which fills my mouth with peppery numbness.  This sensation unpleasantly melds the previously refined and complex flavors of the cigar into a monotonous cedar/chocolate taste.  Still decent, certainly rich.  Just much less impressive than the magnificent first two thirds.  I don't smoke too far into this final third before laying the cigar down to rest in peace.

I would classify the Romeo y Julieta Churchill I smoked today as one of the finest cigars I've had during this late summer and fall, along with a superb 2022 Siglo V, a marvelous PSP 2019 Magnum 46, and a finely-balanced Trinidad Coloniales.  Had this cigar continued its performance from the first two thirds into its final third, exhibiting a complex array of refined sweet and savory flavors, I have no doubt it would have been one of the finest I smoke all year.