Feb24 Reverse Blind Cigar

[Capn_Jackson]

This is from a 2015 box, and is categorized as a robusto, although it’s a very fat robusto. If I specified the exact vitola name, I think it might narrow it down and make guessing too easy.

The wrapper is fairly bumpy, with just a little tooth. A few prominent veins run along the side. The shade is a beautiful milk chocolate brown, very smooth in color. The aroma I get is barnyard and hay. Great draw after a straight cut, and the cold draw is bitter chocolate and plum.

The lighting puff may very well be the best light-up puff I have ever experienced, next to the N7 Ninfas. Coffee and cream, prune, and a very strong and delectable butterscotch. It’s thick too, like I just took a shot of butterscotch liqueur. Very, very thick texture for a light-up.

As the first third gets rolling, that butterscotch is so prevalent, and so delicious. First cigar I’ve gotten butterscotch from in a long time. The coffee is still there, a hint of mild milk chocolate, and a bit of cherry just on the finish. The finish is long, sustaining thick flavor all the way up to the next puff. The mouthfeel is not creamy, more oily and viscous. I’m patting myself on the back for picking this cigar tonight, so good! The construction on this thing so far is phenomenal. Slightly wavy burn line but even all around, a very smooth wave. No snags or peninsulas sticking out. The draw and smoke production are spot on. On palate-only, without retro, lots of prune or fig, and heavy cinnamon and nutmeg. I’m a near-constant retrohaler, though, and that’s where the real good stuff is.

Not much changes until the second third, where some sourdough comes in along with thick baking spices. The chocolate is still there, but with a hint of cayenne pepper now. Butterscotch has faded, sadly, but the flavors are still excellent. The ash hangs on pretty much until this point, and falls off in a mighty :::thunk:::, into the ashtray luckily. Strength has been hovering around medium this entire time, and doesn’t show signs of increasing at all. The cayenne pepper doesn’t last long, and the other baking spices step up eventually.

My youngest left some of her toys out here today, so say hello to Bandit Heeler, from the Australian cartoon 'Bluey'. Without a doubt, TV’s coolest Dad.

Around the midpoint, flavors start to get a little darker. Still no return of butterscotch, but a little bit of burnt brown sugar is there. The finish at this point is mostly sourdough with a little butter and honey, but still some cherry as well.

Heading towards the final third, I do notice the strength is kicking up a few notches, maybe med-full at most. Leather starts to make its way in, and sweet nutmeg gets a little closer to center as well. I haven’t mentioned nuts at all yet, just because everything else has been so potent and flavorful, but now I’m noticing a lot of almond. It slipped in somewhere, or was there all along riding on someone’s coattails, and it’s coupling nicely with leather and earth now. The mild chocolate from earlier also morphs into a dark cocoa here. Great stuff!

Last third brings a magnifying glass to that leather and almond combo, while cedar joins in for the ride. Much less fruit here, and still a tad bit of dark cocoa. A hint of butterscotch comes back, which I was hoping for, but quickly transitions to more of a floral honey on the finish. Excellent combination of all flavors late in the game, with leather and honey now taking center stage, but a good ensemble cast.

I take this thing down nearly to the nub, because it is just too delicious to do otherwise. Dark cocoa pops up in the ranks, leading the charge with the leather note, and that floral honey turns into more of a light molasses. Cedar is still there, a nice base under everything, and the almonds take on a roasted character. Excellent hour and a half smoke, full of flavor and body. Ash was nice and solid all the way, no relights or touchups necessary. Strength hovered around medium for most of the way, but did kick up to med-full in the last act. All in all, a fantastic smoke!

My score: 95.

[Çnote]

RyJ WC?

[Chibearsv]

QdO 54 -

Butterscotch is an interesting flavor idea.  I've always had a hard time describing a 54's flavor.  Next time I fire one up, I'll see if butterscotch rings true....or I'll be wrong 😁

[Tunkat92]

Edmundo

[Havanaaddict]

Whenever I hear cherry I think R&J so I will go with Wide Churchill.

[Chitmo]

Eddy

[Pmo13]

Wide Churchill, banking on that cherry note!

[Bijan]

I'm going to guess a Trinidad, Topes maybe?

Edit: But the Vitola talk does make it sound like a Montesco Wide Churchill vitola

[karp]

HU Mag54?

[eaglebear29]

I'd say RyJ Wide Churchill as well

[ayedfy]

PL Galanes, just to be different.

[david9985]

Monte Wide Edmundo 

[ChangBang]

RyJ WC due to the cherry!  If RA made a fat robusto, may have chosen that for the figs and prunes.

[MagicalBikeRide]

R&J WC

🐑 

[Capn_Jackson]

RyJ Wide Church it is!

[Chibearsv]

12 hours ago, Capn_Jackson said:

RyJ Wide Church it is!

Butterscotch?  Really?  Just kidding, never experienced that flavor in RyJ. I love butterscotch though so maybe it's time to break one out of its slumber.  😁

[Capn_Jackson]

12 hours ago, Chibearsv said:

Butterscotch?  Really?  Just kidding, never experienced that flavor in RyJ.  I love butterscotch though so maybe it's time to break one out of its slumber.  😁

Definitely butterscotch, but that might’ve just been my taste buds, or the particular condition of the cigar. I will say, that’s the best Wide Church I’d ever had. Maybe a fantastic box, or possibly one of the best out of the box. That light-up puff was golden. Had all the flavor in the world on it. I don’t often make a big deal out of that, but it was like a friggin’ shot of liqueur. Definitely set the tone for what was to come.