Review: RyJ Cazadore

[IcedCanuck]

I picked up a box of Cazadores due to the box code which matches the birth year and month of my son. The idea is to smoke one every year on his birthday. I was a few days late this year but better late than never I suppose. This was my first Cazadore and boy was I in for a bit of a surprise.

The construction is very good in an old school kind of way. This cigar has a strong smell of old leather and barnyard tobacco. After clipping the cap off the cold draw was really good. Getting a draw off it will most certainly not be a problem.

Initial draw after being lit was cream and leather. I am not detecting any pepper what so ever which I find odd. After a few puffs the white pepper came knocking and he brought his friends. My goodness this CC has bite and lots of it.

1/3

I decided to pair this stick with Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Even after sipping on the scotch for a while I can still taste the Cazy right through the golden liquid. Flavour has been fairly consistent, no real change throughout the first 1/3 other then when it was initially lit. The nicotine is hitting me hard though. I am wondering if I can finish this cigar. The smell of the smoke even smells stronger then any other CC I have smoked.

2/3

No real change just more of the same. The scotch is definitely helping me get through this stick. I have had to correct the burn a few times.

3/3

The white pepper has kicked it up several notches. I am getting lots of white pepper and now some black pepper. It is a bit of a struggle to finish this stick but at this point I am committed and will finish what I have started. Very spicy.

I hope that time will calm these sticks down. Definitely not one of the more enjoyable cigars I've smoked but not the worst. I will revisit them again next year and see where they are. I suspect these cigars will take 7+ years to get to where I want them to be.

[Puros Y Vino]

Great review. Your experience sums up what I went through on my first Cazzy. My brain felt like it was vibrating in my skull. But it was flavourful. And given the strength, I felt good about the box delivering for years to come. My box is from around 2012 and it's calmed down a bit. Maybe you won't have to wait so long either.

[jmg]

i have a box from '14 and smoked one 2 weeks after receipt. I remember thinking it was rough around the edges but read that they age very well so I have high hopes. Have the 2nd one in my dry box and will smoke soon.

[irratebass]

Nice review, I also have a box from 15 from a recent 24:24, like JMG mine als was rough around the edges. I plan on revisiting in about 3 months.

[mi000ke]

I have a box of MOE APR 14. I smoked the first at 11 months (3/15) and it was pretty rough. I smoked another at 15 months (7/15) and the middle third was pretty nice but the rest still rough. By 20 months (12/15) it was just starting to come around, although I was smoking it outside at the beginning of a New England winter when it was probably 0 C outside (32 F) and rushed through it faster than I should. I'm planning to smoke one tomorrow. It will be just over two years and I expect it to be great. I love a strong cigar in the morning.

[mi000ke]

Smoked one of my MOE APR 14 this morning. They have mellowed out considerably. Not one harsh note. In fact the first third was medium and the rest was just under med-full. Not much in the way of complexity and like the others I smoked, the middle third was the most flavorful. So far not one of my favorites, but not a bad cigar.

[IcedCanuck]

I am getting the impression that the Cazadore is a cigar that benefits a lot from age. Perhaps more so than others. Can't wait to see how these will progress over the years.

[Fugu]

I picked up a box of Cazadores due to the box code which matches the birth year and month of my son.

So, which is it, will you let us know?

Surprised to read so much reporting of harshness in these. I found and find recent production, 2012, '13, '14, to be very accessible young (i.e. at about a year post box date). Much more than has been in the past. Change must have occurred around 2010/11 (would anyone else confirm?). Before, aging was a must in the Cazzies. But those times are gone for sure.

While I expect them to still improve with further aging, I am enjoying my '13 stash very much right now. '14 also already smoking nicely. But, admitted, even better are the 2009s right now. And, yes, it still is not a cigar for the faint-hearted. But by far not as bold and in your face as has been before.

[Gunson]

Cazadores are my ideal size for cigars. I'll look into picking some of these up.

[JamesNYC]

I like these cigars "rough". I think they are full bodied, and certainly strong.

I was not at all surprised at the review.

A cigar buddy told me they are non-R&J R&Js.

I have 4 boxes now:

Romeo y julieta Cazadores MOE May, 2015 Romeo y julieta Cazadores MOE Apr, 2014 Romeo y julieta Cazadores MOE Feb, 2014 Romeo y julieta Cazadores MOE Apr, 2015

I've smoked a few of each box, except for April 2015 box which is in my FOH locker.

I own more of these than any other marca except BRCs- I have 5 boxes of those.

I love these cigars

[sonarman81]

I have a box of them on the way (MOE Jun 15) excited to try one after they arrive and will report back when they do. I have read that there is some young/green tobacco in the blend. Can anyone confirm?

Sent from my SM-T110 using Tapatalk

[skalls]

More than any other cigar I've had, these are mongrel to the core. Can see why people wouldn't like them because they are fairly rustic looking/feeling too. Enjoyable and love the format

[Orion21]

IMO one of the best cigars to age in all of the Habanos lineup. I have gone through 3.5 boxes since 2010 and have cigars from as far back as 2009. Some can be pretty brutal when young because of the blends and wet packing, but with 18-24 of age these cigars become something really special. If you like a big, med rare/rare rib eye steak for dinner you will love these cigars. Throw in some salt and pepper and the Cazzie is the cowboy cut rib eye steak of the cigar world.

The only cigars I have ever bought that were more of a kick in the pants that a fresh cazzie were my Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos. Those who know those cigars are well aware of the blockbuster they turned into with age. I tell you this with full confidence, that if you buy of box of cazzies that kicked your butt when first delivered thank your lucky stars! You will be rewarded mightily with time.

[sonarman81]

Smoking one ROTT now. About 2/3s of the way through. MOE JUN15. Great construction, chocolate brown wrapper, barnyard aroma in the box, no ammonia. Dark honey, floral, spice 1st 1/3d. Twang, spice, leather, chocolate 2nd. Last 3rd some youth and fading flavored. This stick went from med to full to med throughout the smoke. I see no reason they can't be enjoyed fresh, although I'm sure they will get better with age.

[ksblazer]

Nice reviews on one of my favorite cigars

 

Cazzies do tame down a bit with some age. But I like them young with that twangy punch of spice, pepper and leather they deliver.

[PointFivePast]

Might have to pick some up. Not usually a big RyJ fan but these sound a bit different from the usual profile. To those who have them aging in their collections: store them in or out of the foil?

[jmg]

Rob said it in a reply to the most recent 24 that had em up. If you're planning on short term smoking, out of the foil. If you're planning for the long term aging, in the foil

[Fugu]

On 18/05/2016 at 10:41 PM, Orion21 said:

IMO one of the best cigars to age in all of the Habanos lineup. I have gone through 3.5 boxes since 2010 and have cigars from as far back as 2009. Some can be pretty brutal when young because of the blends and wet packing, but with 18-24 of age these cigars become something really special. If you like a big, med rare/rare rib eye steak for dinner you will love these cigars. Throw in some salt and pepper and the Cazzie is the cowboy cut rib eye steak of the cigar world.

The only cigars I have ever bought that were more of a kick in the pants that a fresh cazzie were my Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos. Those who know those cigars are well aware of the blockbuster they turned into with age. I tell you this with full confidence, that if you buy of box of cazzies that kicked your butt when first delivered thank your lucky stars! You will be rewarded mightily with time.

I like the Ribeye analogy!