RyJ Cazadore \'07

[anacostiakat]

I acquired a box of these as an experiment about a month or so ago and decided to try one this evening. Aside from youth I wanted to see what these were like. Fully knowing whatever shows up won't be what they will become.

I paired it with Lagavulin.

The first thing I noticed was the medium dark oily wrapper. In addition the wrapper appeared somewhat thick. By this I mean not as thick and oily as something like a LFD Small Batch #1 but thicker than what I usually expect.

Draw is firm but not tight. I like this vitola. 44 x 5 1/2 or so. Actually a very good looking cigar. I did notice a soft spot. But it doesnt seem to be what I would call underfilled. Hurrily checked the rest. Found one other that is somewhat like this one. Rest seem better. Figures I pick this. :-P

Clipped nicely it tasted strong straight earthy tobacco and leather. I noticed after only about a quarter inch some tannic elements and thought it was going to be a light and pitch.

But that was not to be the case.

Watching the nightly news, sipping on the scotch and puffing I noticed a nice tingle on the lips. While the nose is smooth with no overpowering pepper or spice it does produce a nicotene rush. The pepper showing up on the finish on the tongue and palate.

Seems like this one is a little wet still and causing some burn issues. Interesting as I usually dont see this.

Smoking very slowly with a dark striated ash. Good amount of smoke produced. Leather and earthiness. Very straightforward flavors. As I reach the half way mark I am thinking these babies can sit for a year before I try another. Too much youthful impetuousness. But I pretty much expected that frankly.

This thing really is a slow burner. I am a slow smoker anyway but it is noticeable.

Reaching the last third the ash is really black with lots of smoke. I still marvel out how the wrapper looks a lot like the LFD stuff. Still sipping on the scotch. The Lagavulin just gets better and better. . .

Let me add that the esposa (lovingly called the mooch) seems to be enjoying this as well. :-(

A little bitter chocolate showing up until at about the one inch and a half mark the tannic takes over and I am unable to finish.

I give it about an 87 maybe. I think it will improve greatly. It has no relation to the rest of the RyJ line that I have smoked in the past. I did not find it overpowering. Strong for a cubano maybe.

[shrink]

An interesting and useful review, kat. Anyone who has smoked one of these from the 90's will readily understand why the Cazadore earned it's reputation as one of the strongest Habanos. Even a few years ago, people would have thought you crazy to fire one up with only a few months on it.

But beginning in late 2005, December to be exact, the Cazadore underwent a personality change befitting an ambitious Presidential candidate. It must have been the use of 'aged filler', but the damned things were actually smokeable (if not exactly mature) right off the truck.

Now, my '05s and early '06s are veritable pussycats, in comparison to some 'Terminator' '99 and '02 singles I have in the humi. And really flavorful to boot.

Gentlemen, if you can find any DEC05 or early 2006 boxes, grab 'em. They're classics.

[Sandman]

Thanks for the review. Very interesting.

Thanks for the heads up Shrink!

[El Presidente]

Excellent review.

Constructin can be hit and miss and they are never really the most beautiful of sticks. Wrappers may be dark and oliy but generally also rough in a patchwork quilt type of way.

I have had 05/06/07 which varied from straight medium bodied to brutally explosive. I have a feeling blend consistency is an issue.

[habanohal]

Kewlbeans!!

Since winter started, I cut back to maybe 1 cigar every 3 days. Thats a big differance from 4 a day. So last week I trid an 04 Cazadore. VERY strong!!!

I never noticed this before with any cigars ,due to smokeing so much.

Almost a "headache" cigar

[SONNY1]

» I acquired a box of these as an experiment about a month or so ago and

» decided to try one this evening. Aside from youth I wanted to see what

» these were like. Fully knowing whatever shows up won't be what they will

» become.

»

» I paired it with Lagavulin.

»

» The first thing I noticed was the medium dark oily wrapper. In addition

» the wrapper appeared somewhat thick. By this I mean not as thick and oily

» as something like a LFD Small Batch #1 but thicker than what I usually

» expect.

»

» Draw is firm but not tight. I like this vitola. 44 x 5 1/2 or so. Actually

» a very good looking cigar. I did notice a soft spot. But it doesnt seem to

» be what I would call underfilled. Hurrily checked the rest. Found one

» other that is somewhat like this one. Rest seem better. Figures I pick

» this. :-P

»

» Clipped nicely it tasted strong straight earthy tobacco and leather. I

» noticed after only about a quarter inch some tannic elements and thought

» it was going to be a light and pitch.

»

» But that was not to be the case.

»

» Watching the nightly news, sipping on the scotch and puffing I noticed a

» nice tingle on the lips. While the nose is smooth with no overpowering

» pepper or spice it does produce a nicotene rush. The pepper showing up on

» the finish on the tongue and palate.

»

» Seems like this one is a little wet still and causing some burn issues.

» Interesting as I usually dont see this.

»

» Smoking very slowly with a dark striated ash. Good amount of smoke

» produced. Leather and earthiness. Very straightforward flavors. As I reach

» the half way mark I am thinking these babies can sit for a year before I

» try another. Too much youthful impetuousness. But I pretty much expected

» that frankly.

»

» This thing really is a slow burner. I am a slow smoker anyway but it is

» noticeable.

»

» Reaching the last third the ash is really black with lots of smoke. I

» still marvel out how the wrapper looks a lot like the LFD stuff. Still

» sipping on the scotch. The Lagavulin just gets better and better. . .

»

» Let me add that the esposa (lovingly called the mooch) seems to be

» enjoying this as well. :-(

»

» A little bitter chocolate showing up until at about the one inch and a

» half mark the tannic takes over and I am unable to finish.

»

» I give it about an 87 maybe. I think it will improve greatly. It has no

» relation to the rest of the RyJ line that I have smoked in the past. I did

» not find it overpowering. Strong for a cubano maybe.

Thanks for the great review. I really appreciate your comparison to the LFD. You rarely find anyone that actually gives the NC boutique brands their just desserts here.

I just bought some of the Litto Gomez small batch 1 & 2 as well as the Diez Chisel Puros.

[bassman]

» Kewlbeans!!

»

» Since winter started, I cut back to maybe 1 cigar every 3 days. Thats a

» big differance from 4 a day. So last week I trid an 04 Cazadore. VERY

» strong!!!

»

» I never noticed this before with any cigars ,due to smokeing so much.

»

» Almost a "headache" cigar

This post highlights the variability of the Cazadores. I love them and have smoked every year from 99 through 04. To me, the 04s were the mildest, the 99s even with age, still the strongest.

I also find it helps to pull one out of the foil pouch a couple days before smoking, so it is not so "wet".

[smokum]

» » Kewlbeans!!

» »

» » Since winter started, I cut back to maybe 1 cigar every 3 days. Thats a

» » big differance from 4 a day. So last week I trid an 04 Cazadore. VERY

» » strong!!!

» »

» » I never noticed this before with any cigars ,due to smokeing so much.

» »

» » Almost a "headache" cigar

»

» This post highlights the variability of the Cazadores. I love them and

» have smoked every year from 99 through 04. To me, the 04s were the

» mildest, the 99s even with age, still the strongest.

»

» I also find it helps to pull one out of the foil pouch a couple days

» before smoking, so it is not so "wet".

I pulled one out 2 days ago to smoke on the way home today...its an 07 so lets see what happens !

[smokum]

Got it done on the way home on an empty stomach. It was young but manageable. After a dicey cardboard start it opened up to DARK DARK espresso with some bitter DARK DARK chocolate somewhere. Also some very deep dark fruity undertones...very powerful and immature.

[sluggo819]

Gotta love those '99's. One of my absolute favorites.

[El Presidente]

» Got it done on the way home on an empty stomach. It was young but

» manageable. After a dicey cardboard start it opened up to DARK DARK

» espresso with some bitter DARK DARK chocolate somewhere. Also some very

» deep dark fruity undertones...very powerful and immature.

Spot on description Smokum

[Miami101]

If you tell me I could only smoke one cigar this would be it.

It is always good, sometimes spice, Earth, and explosive. Kind of like me. The price is great, and the cigars are not nice to look at, but I kind of like them that way.....

This Cigar reminds me of the cigars the locals would role for them selfs....

I always have a box or two of these put away...to tell you the truth I aged one box for one year, and found my self smoking the newer box......