RyJ Short Churchill (WOFYWApr24)

[Capn_Jackson]

Today I’m reviewing the RyJ Short Church. ART NOV ‘20

Smooth wrapper, a peanut butter brown shade. A couple of fairly noticeable veins, but not much tooth. Smooth, almost velvety. A very gentle box press. The aroma and cold draw bring some hay, and quite a bit of cedar. Light-up draw is decadent, cherries and cocoa.

What’s on for my weekend? Grading papers. That is, in fact, what I’m doing while I smoke this cigar. So please forgive me if I miss a few moments, but I’m busy reprimanding my students for confusing Rossini with Verdi, or Schubert with Brahms. 

As things get rolling, this stick has a great amount of RyJ cherry vibe, and just a little floral honey, on a bed of cedar. There’s some coffee, too, espresso maybe, but it’s far in the background at first. Baking spices. On the finish, the honey is joined by some kind of grassiness, and darker savory spices. Every puff of this first third carries rich, creamy smoke with all the flavors one expects from this stick.

A couple touch-ups required in the first third, but nothing big. Flavor takes on a little more cocoa, that of a soft-baked brownie, topped with caramel. Strength is right about medium.

Going into the second third, a hint of bitterness appears, some burnt coffee. Goes away eventually, but sullies the flavor for a little bit. Around the midpoint, things get back on track. Some coffee but more earthy, less bitter. Toffee, along with berries and cream, take the lead. The finish has a little bit of dried citrus, along with the chewy edges of a meringue. The burn line continues to wander enough to require a touch up, but the flavor has improved a lot over the last ten minutes or so.

In the last act, a little leather joins the mix, and some star anise, but the dominant flavors are cocoa and fruit. On the palate, some raisin and plum, with brighter cherry and bittersweet cocoa on the finish. There’s also a little graham cracker goodness, and brighter citrus, like lemongrass. After taking off the first band, more burn problems. 

Cigar randomly goes out at one point. I didn’t feel the pack before lighting, but it seems lighter here towards the end. Perhaps that is the reason for the re-light. Draw has been fantastic the whole way, just some burn issues. Luckily the flavor isn’t really affected, but it’s less than ideal.  Getting closer to the second band, most of the cherry is now in the background. Cocoa, coffee, leather, and citrus still dominate. Anise is just lingering at the edges, right where I like it.

This one finishes with a very pleasant mild clove, on top of coffee and cocoa. Zero bitterness. I give this one an 89.

[NSXCIGAR]

59 minutes ago, Capn_Jackson said:

with all the flavors one expects from this stick.

I don't expect much of anything from a RyJ SC. 

Sounds like you got one that spurs people to chase this cigar finding only bad box after bad box. 

[Capn_Jackson]

14 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I don't expect much of anything from a RyJ SC. 

Sounds like you got one that spurs people to chase this cigar finding only bad box after bad box. 

I’ve definitely had some bland RyJ Short Churchill, but overall I’ve been very lucky. To the point that I thought those bad ones were the exception. Guess I’ll hold on tight to the rest of these. 😁