Saint Luis Rey Regios : ELG DIC 14 : SLR&T Review Comp 2016

[schubb]

I have really enjoyed each of the Saint Luis Rey line that I’ve tried, though admittedly the only box I own of SLR is the Regios. In addition to the Regios, I’ve tried the DC (which I would love more of) and a Lonsdale from 2003 courtesy of our host in the Christmas sampler from last year. All SLR for me have provided such a unique flavor profile that I never got from an NCs. The Regios have been my go-to fresh cigar for the past year thanks to their vibrant fruitiness. When I first got them a bit over a year ago from a 24:24, they always had an intense flavor that I best identified as similar to eating a tart Granny Smith apple. This was great for me because that’s my favorite type of apple. Over the last year, the fruitiness has become more of a berry like a raspberry, which is still enjoyable but not quite as good for my tastes. Hopefully this one has some of that apple flavor to it. Today’s cigar comes from a PSP/HQ listing.

Start 10:26am

1^st third: I’ve had some from this box with very open draws, so I attempted to punch it first. Draw however is firm, so I clip off the cap and get just about a perfect amount of resistance. Starts off with some berry sweetness. For first inch, this berry sweetness is the only flavor present. Its smooth and pleasant but not particularly complex. Towards the end of the first third, the berry sweetness is slowly joined by some of that bright, tart apple flavor I love. A bit of woodiness and toasted tobacco joins in as well, becoming the profile that I love so much in these. Body was mild to mild/medium for most of the first third, but hit medium towards the end of this third at the same time that the flavor profile picked up.

2^nd third: The profile continues from what developed towards the end of the first third. Apple and berry sweetness, woodiness, and a touch of coffee joins in as well. The profile sounds somewhat disjointed but it is all working together incredibly well. Burn is perfect, draw is perfect. I am absolutely loving it right now.

Final third: No real change from the middle third. Profile has gotten more intense. Woodiness is at the forefront, and the fruit has receded a bit. I’m ok with the lack of evolution though, as the profile is so good as it is. It is exactly as I hope I will get when I grab a Regio. While I wish the apple fruitiness was more present at the start, I can’t complain much. I will be smoking through the rest of this box soon though as they are right where I want them to be right now.

End 12:07pm

[Philc2001]

Excellent review. Sounds like it was a great smoke.

[zeedubbya]

Ya know I agree with you here--I get more tart than sweet with the Regios.  Was kind of a revelation for me just now reading your review.  A lot of other people say melon, but I associate melon with very sweet (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew) and I don't get very sweet with these.  Everyone has different tastes, but nice crisp apple is a good assessment here.  Nice job--thanks!

[TheMonk]

Nice job!