TX Duo - RyJ Cazzie

[Çnote]

Cap'n has been sitting on his review of this for about a week, so when I woke up hours early I knew how I would start the day.

Big blast of cherry chocolate RyJ DNA right out of the gate, slowly fading into more apricot driven stone fruit for the 1st 3rd. The 2nd 3rd is toasted twangy CC, a little 'generic' and 'bland,' but still quite enjoyable. Getting to the band, this ramps up in intensity, gobs of twangy orange peel and the underlying milk cocoa comes back in spades. Just when I think it's getting bitter, the flavors mellow into cherry pit and kola nut, gaining a little espresso crema, again that 'mongrel in a dinner jacket' feel. I keep expecting this to get bitter and hot, but the nub holds up and starts to give a rich explosion of baking spice and cherry syrup to finish.

Unfortunately this is a painful reminder that I should have socked away more boxes of RyJ. Alas.

@Capn_Jackson, thanks for this one! What was the code?

[MrBirdman]

Really liked these as a kind of “fancy C&C” before Cigarmeggedon. Great sticks but the price is tough to justify now given it’s similarity to some NC. 

Do you have a box date on these?

[Li Bai]

6 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

given it’s similarity to some NC.

That's interesting, care to share which NC?

[BoliDan]

6 hours ago, Li Bai said:

That's interesting, care to share which NC?

I think they are just referencing the strength. Cazzies being packed full of ligero is reminiscent of new world sticks. I haven't found anything that matches the profile though.

[Çnote]

5 hours ago, BoliDan said:

I haven't found anything that matches the profile though

I'd suggest working thru Tatuaje Conuju.

[Li Bai]

5 hours ago, BoliDan said:

I haven't found anything that matches the profile though

Me neither, I love their strength but there's much more to them. One of the most underrated CC imo.

5 hours ago, Çnote said:

I'd suggest working thru Tatuaje Conuju.

I've been trying to put my hands on these for a while.

[Çnote]

1 hour ago, MrBirdman said:

Do you have a box date on these?

@Capn_Jackson

[Capn_Jackson]

@MrBirdman and @Çnote, LAT JUL ‘19

[Capn_Jackson]

RyJ Cazzie 

LAT JUL ‘19

Smooth wrapper with just a few veins/bumps, and quite a bit of seam showing. Nice darker rosado wrapper with a little oily sheen. Cold draw has some barnyard and coffee, and a little figgy fruit funk. Slightly tight draw, but will probably open up.

Opening light has some nice earthy, crispy leather, and coffee. A little dark candied fruit, and a mayonnaise oiliness. Great finish and texture.

Going on, the leather notes are prevalent, but the RyJ cherry wash is also over everything. Also there’s some nice spicy coffee, and something like figs dipped in treacle. Maybe raisin, actually. Great, even burn, solid ash...until it falls into my lap after about an inch.

There is a lot of Partagas vibe here to me, along with the RyJ cherry makeup. And yet, there’s some caramel there too, somewhat like the old RyJ Churchills, or VR Famosos. Great combo of flavors. Going further, I can see why “rose water” has been noted in this stick. There’s also a spice flitting in and out, maybe ancho chile powder, or cumin. This is a unique smoke, as I had hoped. Texture remains oily, very viscous. Great mouthfeel.

Going into the second third, things get a lot spicier. Ancho chile, or maybe even jalapeño, mixed with agave and coffee. Just a hint of fruit at this point, mostly covered up by that spice. It’s not offensive, rather it’s very savory and easy to enjoy. Caramel still seems to be there in the background, interrupted by small bursts of Nutella chocolate.

Around the midpoint, that spice gets more candy-like, sort of Big Red gum or Red Hots. This takes center stage for awhile, eventually giving way to the figgy-raisin funk again.

The last act of this stick still carries some candied spice, while also introducing some forest floor, mushroominess that I am digging. Not so sweet here, chewy bits of crushed walnuts, along with aromas of nutshell. A little bit of oatmeal stout, perhaps, and a fair share of anise. This has been a decadent, savory stick for me, one that I think can work for not only the RyJ crowd, but also fans of Partagas, LGC, and Boli. About an hour and 45 minutes for me, and a great stick!

I give this a 90, and look forward to having another!

[MrBirdman]

9 hours ago, Li Bai said:

I love their strength but there's much more to them. One of the most underrated CC imo.

Yeah you won’t find a 1:1 replacement anywhere but it’s strength and flavor profile have some close NC analogues. Tatuaje is a good place to look. Of course outside the US the price difference isn’t as stark so if you’re outside the states the RyJ is probably still you’re best bet. 

[Çnote]

Man, I gotta retrohale more. @Capn_Jackson

[Capn_Jackson]

3 minutes ago, Çnote said:

Man, I gotta retrohale more. @Capn_Jackson

Every puff, every cigar, for me. Except Padróns, 1926 and 1964 natties. They’re the only sticks that I actually prefer without retro. Strange.