lfg2nrg Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 This cigar is from box #80 of 500 from the regional release for Italy. Box code MAY 05 Ring 46 length 5.7" I have had this box for a while and have given several away as gifts. I smoked the first one the other day in the company of Van55. I didn't take notes and I don't consider myself to be a good reviewer but I will give my impression. This was a beautifully constructed cigar with a good draw that required a little effort. Toasting the foot gave a wonderful buttery aroma. The first few draws were very sweet carmelized sugar flavor. It then developed into strong earthiness. later into the smoke I noticed what to me was a hint of licorice mixed in. There was also a slight grassiness. It maintained an underlying sweetness throughout. It maintained an even burn with plenty of smoke. When I smoke other RA cigars I usually notice a slight dryness and a gingerbread flavor. Both were absent in this stick. I believe if I am able to leave the few I have left alone for several more years I will be greatly rewarded. I enjoyed this cigar very much and am greatful to my wife for bringing me these. I do wish I had more they are worth the high price. $350. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Van55 Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 I'll add what I can to this review. Thom gave me one of these to enjoy as he enjoyed his on Saturday. Like Thom, I find it difficult to do a review when I smoked the cigar while making conversation in a public place, rather than in solitude while taking careful notes. Not only was I distracted by Thom's good company and conversation, I also fielded emergency telephone calls regarding an April Fool prank that I had pulled on another cigar bulletin board that morning. Suffice it to say that my bait landed a couple of huge fish! Anyway, the RA SS was superfly constructed. The pre-light draw was perfect. First impression was of a somewhat mild to medium strength in the mouth with absolutely no brashness of youth. Soon after, an exhale through the nose revealed that the cigar was no shrinking violet. A sweet, almost vanilla flavor at first gave way gradually to more of an earthy toasted tobacco flavor. Thom said that he noticed a hint of licorice, but I missed that. The smoke picked up more substantial flavors and even a bit of harshness at the mid-way point. I decided that the harshness was due to a build up of tars and gases, so I purged it. Refreshed, the cigar yielded decent, somewhat complex flavors to the nub. I was grateful that Thom let me enjoy this cigar. At under a year since the box date, it was remarkably soft and approachable, giving some credence to the various theories about cooking or a blend change, though one would think that as a very limited regional release, these cigars would have been made from very superior tobacco. On the basis of this one example, I would not seek out another box given the premium it would command. If it were a regular production cigar at a reasonable price, I'd probably put a box down for another year or two and see how the cigars developed. Thanks again for the great company and good cigar, Thom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Van55 Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Oh. For the record, lfg2nrg is Thom. D'Oh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n2advnture Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 DAMN YOU GUYS! ;-) Thanks for the reviews bros! ~Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvm4 Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Great review guys...Thanks! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJLimoDriver Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Great reviews and I do love this cigar - cheers Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Great review Thom and Van! I come from the school where it is great to see complex flavours in cigars while still in their youth ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigardawg Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Great review, guys. A friend brought me one of these from Italy last year. Just trying to behave myself and allow it to age a bit before torching it. I'm getting that itch, though (no, not that itch). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigarnv Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 Nice reviews gents!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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