Memorial Day Cigar Review

[GVan]

Aging Room Rare Collection 

I admit I’m a sucker for when a blender uses unique tobacco to produce a product that he claims is “special “. This is Rafael Nodal’s and AJ Fernandez’s Aging Room Rare Collection Scherzo. It’s a big cigar at 55 x 5 1/2“ from 05/09/22. It is a Cuban seed wrapper from AJ’s La Lilia farm with pela de oro tobacco added. Beautiful medium colorado brown wrapper with very small veins. Cigar has a very firm feel along its length. Wrapper smells sweet barnyard and the foot has a more hay-like smell. V-cut the nice pigtail which provides a medium firm draw. Cold draw has a sweet anise flavor and along with the aroma coming off the cigar I anticipate a good smoke. 

 

Not an ideal day, but not bad; very windy, 85 degrees F and 68% humidity outside. Light the foot just before noon. First few puffs I can taste the barnyard earth, light white pepper, hickory and smokey paprika — a good start. The smoke is oily and savory coating the palette. The finish is very long like a fine wine but tastes like a hoppy IPA on the back of the tongue. These flavors pair well with the Lavazza coffee I’m drinking. At ¾” in it’s just a smooth, medium bodied smoke with a light nutty profile, almost no pepper and now black coffee on the finish. It really pays to age Nicaraguan cigars a while. I find time lessons the typical Nicaraguan pepper bomb and allows other flavors to come forward. The burn line so far is perfect despite the windy day. At the ⅓'rd point, I’m 37 minutes in and I flick off a beautiful white ash for fear of wearing it in the wind — it’s also time to remove the R. Nodal gold signature band. Very light flavors return of almond with the hoppy IPA bitter finish is back. The bitter finish is a good flavor and this is a very good cigar!

 

In 2022 when this was released, it got very mixed reviews; my two go-to reviewers gave it 98 points and the second gave it 89 points. Rather disappointing and dyslexic but both commented that it was a rather limited release and neither gave it much humidor time. I decided to give them a chance and some humidor time! 

 

The second third settled into a smooth cream, almond and English Brown Ale flavor (and yes, I stole the English Brown Ale from the 98 point review but he was right on with describing the flavor). Before I can finish this third, the flaky ash falls in my lap - damn wind. The first third was better than the second but still rates just plain good!

 

I have to remove the monster wide band just before beginning the last third. I’m one hour into this cigar and just realized I forgot to lower the flag to half-mast required on Memorial Day morning. A traditional to remember and memorialize all the great men and women who gave their lives for our country. Today (and Veterans Day) is a day I put out 10 flags around the property. I did not serve, but it in no way lessens my gratitude and appreciation for those many who did - thank you for your service!

 

I’ve been waiting for the nicotine kick that one reviewer mentioned but it has not materialized as I start the last third. Good thing I had a big breakfast. I’d agree with the medium-full strength designation. I’m still getting the English Brown Ale as the predominant flavor and still no pepper - yeah!  The burn has been razor sharp with any unevenness quickly self correcting.  Half way through this final third the almond returns as a welcome change similar to the first third. At 55 RG this is an hour and a half cigar - a big time commitment and will be reserved for special occasions with experienced smoking friends. As the first from the box, there’s nine left and I’m looking forward to see what others think of this cigar. I like it. There was at least two transitions in the first third and some subtle flavor changes in both final thirds. As I write this, it goes out despite puffing about every 45 seconds. The final inch may still need a little time despite being 4 years old. 

 

I’d give it a strong 93 points and one of my top ten cigars of 2026 so far!

 

Thanks for reading this post.

[GVan]

When I wrote this on the porch yesterday obviously, I thought it was Monday, Memorial Day. Realized last night it was only Sunday - retirement is addled my brain! But, allowed me to set the alarm for 0630 and get the Flag to half staff where it will stay until noon.