Room101 Cigars 17th ANNV in Review

BRAND: Room101
BLEND: 17th Anniversary LE

WRAPPER: Nicaraguan
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Toro (652)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua (AJF)
INTENSITY: Full
SPICE: 4.5/5

Espresso Beans | Black Peppercorn | Star Anise

NOTES:

The spice is more feels than flavor. The strength far nuff surpasses the body to be noteworthy. A screamer. A scorcher. Not to ill-effect, however, and all seems according to plan. Please too, to note the difference between aniseed and star anise. I feel I've failed to be overly clear here in the past.

A ghosting of beef jerky. Sniff an empty bag of the stuff with your mouth opened. A slight potpourri vibe. There is more here than meets the eye, but the glare is there. I bet with another ANNV or so rest, this blend will bear brilliance. Not bad right now, if you buckle up.

Dark chocolate comes in at the third/third. At first waxy then rich. See ya next year, babe.

TASTE: B+
DRAW: B+
BURN: B+
BUILD: B+

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Room101 Cigars Johnny Tobacconaut Maduro Robusto in Review

BRAND: Room101
BLEND: Johnny Tobacconaut Maduro

WRAPPER: Nicaraguan Maduro
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto (550)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua (AJF)
INTENSITY: Medium
SPICE: 2/5

Malted Barley | Salted Dark Caramel | Leathery Oils

NOTES:

Sweet not dessert-ish spice array. Honey comes, goes, never overstaying. Harmonious. Unlazily comfortable. Crisp cider lends tension on far-end. A lovely subtly lively autumnal smoke.

TASTE: A-
DRAW: B+
BURN: B+
BUILD: A-

FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

Mr Punch by Punch Cigars in Review

BRAND: Punch
BLEND: Mr Punch

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Sumatra
BINDER: Nicaragua
FILLER: Nicaragua

FORMAT: Toro (654)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
INTENSITY: Medium
SPICE: 2/5

Cocoa powder (Low sugar) | Hay & Dust | Apricot

NOTES:

Late summer/early autumn hay bales on sun-dried earth. A nearby apricot orchard is occasionally upwind, kicking-up some olfactory but also some dust. White pepper.

TASTE: B+
DRAW: B
BURN: B+
BUILD: A-

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very ::: 

The Plight of the Schvitzer?

Short-filler, Cuban Sandwich, factory seconds. Yardgars & Dog Walkers. Premium-shaped objects to smoke when you have less time and attention to lend the experience. Might I remind you instead of machine-mades, cigarettes, and even pipe smoking (a fair lunt) before trying to find a decent cheap stogie that won't tunnel, run, plug, and also will stay lit? Oh, how the poor stay poor.

The not as wealthy stay not as wealthy. The plight of the schvitzer?

Must we always live like kings and get the gout? There's no shame outside the fat cat cigar game, unless you BYO shame to said game. Smoke premium? Of fucking course! When you can, and when that is, get the best you can. It's pretty simple. Not to mention but in closing I shall--maybe we don't have to wrap up our whole identities in smoking, and on occasion, actually abstain.

Imagine!

::: very :::