Romeo y Julieta 1974 Churchill Tubo (BGRW)

[Markspring1978]

This has been one heck of a week. A brutal one in fact. In 31 years we have grown our business from nothing up to about 140 souls. Even through the Great Recession we have kept trucking forward, never laid one person off in all those years. This virus has had a different and painful impact. In fact, we are going to have to lay at least a dozen of those souls off next week. Figuring out exactly who this will be has been my task this week, so painful. 

So, when I saw the Big Guns Review, I thought “what the heck, let’s end this week on a more positive note”. 

Out comes this RyJ Churchill Tubo that I’ve been sitting on for a while. I acquired it from a friend in Europe who is a serious collector who would cause any cigar collector to violate the 10th Commandment. It’s an interesting one, for sure. Apparently some sort of convention gift that was given away in the 1970’s. This one is special because my mom graduated in 1974 from high school. I was born 4 years later in 1978. The tube is in great condition and upon opening the aroma is what one would expect of tobacco that has been encased for 46 years. It’s that scent that I would say is a mix of peppery spice and old leather handbags. The wrapper is mottled with shades of light pumpkin and rose’, that I’m guessing have evolved over the decades of rest in the aluminum time capsule. Overall the wrapper is in great condition, considering it’s age, which is comforting and gives me some assurance that this wasn’t stored in a sock drawer at the time that Reagan was POTUS. 

The band indicates the date that this was gifted, either by or to “Jane’”. The font, color and style of this added band all have the look and feel of the gaudy 1970’s when bell-bottom jeans, Disco, and lime-green shag carpet were all the rage. Peeling off the added band reveals the classic Churchill band that is, all these years later, just as sexy as ever. Well, perhaps more-so, as the gold paper is more rustic and glitters a little differently than the modern printing technology that is more pristine and doesn’t have this kind of character. 

Drink Pairing: Hot black coffee

Cold Draw: The draw is a bit on the loose side. Not too loose, but enough that I can tell that slow and easy will be required to not burn it down in 30 minutes. More of the aged tobacco and spiciness. 

First Third: Very nice and ample white smoke. Flavor is very light. My first thoughts are, “this is probably way past its prime”. Interestingly it is bitter on the palate, like walnuts with hints of baking spice. As I take the first draws, I reflect on better times, mostly about my mom. Wondering what she was doing in 1974 with the world before her, and everything MUCH different than the world we live in today. Think about it. No smartphones, no internet, no social media. No MSNBC or Fox News. Must have been glorious. 

2nd Third: At the very end of the first third, things start to get a little more promising. The baking spice opens up with a hint of sweet bread. Almost like cinnamon rolls. Back to thinking about Mom, I think of the cinnamon rolls that she made when I was a kid, that smell first thing in the morning. What I am thinking about is that there is no hint of the distinctive RyJ cherry flavor. As my mind wanders, I wonder how this evolved over the years and lost the cherry. Maybe the last hints dissipated 25 years in, around the time that Clinton had his own cigar fetishes. But then something that I have never had with any other cigar, ever. I get this strange essence when I lick my lips, it is almost menthol like. But there is the smallest hint of cherry, it’s like cherry cough syrup. Almost bizarre, never had anything like that before. I keep licking my lips after every draw, and it is the same, very unusual. The burn has been great, very even, no construction issues. 

Final Third: This is the saving grace and highlight. The flavor starts to erupt and I start to get a mouthful of dried cherry and baked bread. It is delightful and even more so after the slow and muted flavors to start. At this point I am enjoying every puff and my disappointment that the experience is coming to a close. I guess the silver lining is the conscious thought that all things, both good and bad will pass. This crisis will pass. And I suppose the most important things are that we take what we can from it, learn the lessons that we need to learn, and cherish the moments that we have every day where we are blessed. For me, smoking a 46 year old Churchill is one of those moments. 

Score: 1/3= 88, 2/3=94 3/3=99: overall= 94. If the first 1/3 had been better would have been 95+. Part of the experience with a 40+ year old cigar is the romance of where this cigar has been all these years, that makes the overall experience, for me, even better than 95. 

Have a great Easter weekend with the ones that you love. 

[StogieSteve23]

Best of luck with your personnel decisions and have a Happy Easter as well.  

[backbone]

Nice review!

[99call]

42 minutes ago, Markspring1978 said:

it’s like cherry cough syrup. Almost bizarre, never had anything like that before

First of all, sympathies to you and your current trials.    Secondly, great review. , and a great scoring format for vintage cigars.  it really sums up how they perform

I've had this slight chemical sweetness in Sancho Panza Molino's before.  A bit like pear drops, or blue magic marker pens.   Basically a taste that flits between a chemical pear/almond taste, or like you described cherry cough syrup.    

[Islandboy]

Very thoughtful review, and a great read. I like the way the backstory - and your spirits - mirror the evolution of the cigar. You’re right, this too shall pass. Aloha bro.

[bresdogsr]

Great review. Good thoughts headed your way in this rough time...it will get better.

[RichUK]

First of all, sorry to hear you’re having a bad time work wise. We will all get through this, but life for sure will be different on the other side.

What a great review, love the story behind it. 

[ElJavi76]

Great review Mark. Good job on lighting this one up. I'm glad she was good to you incrementally. Sorry to hear about your business decision. Hopefully things begin to settle down soon and you can have this folks back before you know it. Stay safe and heathy.

Happy Easter!

[Markspring1978]

1 hour ago, 99call said:

A bit like pear drops, or blue magic marker pens

I never cease to be amazed at the breadth of flavor recall that you have 99call. Very impressive. I would never be able to discern blue magic market pen taste. 

Thanks also for the kind words. Appreciate you brother. 

[99call]

14 minutes ago, Markspring1978 said:

I never cease to be amazed at the breadth of flavor recall that you have 99call. Very impressive. I would never be able to discern blue magic market pen taste. 

Thanks also for the kind words. Appreciate you brother. 

I wouldn't count is as impressive, merely one of those babies that went around licking carpet tiles, dogs tails, etc etc.     There is a member on the forum who has a chemistry background, and he laid it out in such a simple perfect way,  which was that flavours arise and show themselves in a multitude of gastronomic guises, simply because they are those chemical constructs etc.    

The link below I find interesting, as it connects that pear drop taste to a Juicyfruit gum taste, that both I and many other FOH get in Punch cigars. 

https://www.winespectator.com/articles/what-is-a-pear-drop-aroma-5193

Appreciate you too dude, and all your amazing cigar pick ups of late

PS oh and when I say 'blue' magic marker pen,  i'm not suggesting i'm picking out a certain marker by colour (that would be bonkers) merely that in the 1980s-90s  Blue was the only colour you  could get this kind of pen in (in the UK)  and they smelled like marzipan. 

[inter4alia]

Wonderful read, Mark!

[saintsmokealot]

Excellent review on a legendary smoke

[The Squiggler]

10 hours ago, Markspring1978 said:

Wondering what she was doing in 1974 with the world before her, and everything MUCH different than the world we live in today. Think about it. No smartphones, no internet, no social media. No MSNBC or Fox News. Must have been glorious. 

Possibly fantasizing about the sci-fi-esque technology of the future and how much it will improve our lives.  Whoopsie!  Great writeup.  Thanks for the read; cheers!

[bdw1984]

Awesome review man. Glad the last 3rd saved the day.

[RDB]

Wonderful review and reflective writing, thank you.

[MTcigarlover]

Great cigar review! Good luck in these tough times...