Romeo Y Julieta Churchill 12DCRC

TobaccoRoad · December 27, 2020

I missed out on the Christmas Sampler but I was pleased to discover that the RyJ Churchill was one of the selections. I have some of these in my modest collection so I can play along. The cigar is from a UEB SEP 19 box that I split with a friend back last February. I had smoked one ROTT and it was good but I was waiting for them to rest a little before smoking another. This vitola is both larger and more expensive than my usual daily smokes so this is a special occasion smoke for me.

The cigar is beautifully constructed, firm with very little give (weighs out at a little over 1 1/2 grams over the listed weight), gorgeous wrapper with some sheen to it and a precisely applied triple cap. My favorite straight cut produces a perfect draw with enough resistance to let me know this is going to be a long smoke. Cold draw is subtle with just a hint of baking spice.

1st third: The cold draw was a hint. The flavors start out very subtle. Hints of baking spice with a little cinnamon on the retrohale. Lots of smoke but not strong at all. I retrohale on every puff. Towards the end of the first third I get cherries. One of the most distinctive flavors I've ever gotten from a cigar. But mostly I'm just enjoying the cigar so much my mind wanders and I forget that I'm supposed to be reviewing.

2nd third: The flavors are beautifully balanced. Tobacco, baking spice, cherry, caramel. This is a very good cigar. Smoke output is phenomenal but it's not strong. Just creamy smoke and balanced flavors. I'm still retrohaling every puff. I even french inhale a couple of times which gives me a woody flavor. Yeah, I know that's not supposed to be done with a cigar but it was not unpleasant at all. Burn line is tight and even. The draw is opening up as I progress but still giving just enough resistance.

Final third: Somewhere towards the end of the 2nd third and into the start of the final third, I slip into some type of cigar zone. I'm enjoying this cigar so much that I'm just puffing away with no thoughts of reviewing it. I lose a good chunk of time with no conscious thought at all. Just me puffing on the cigar like some nicotine fueled smoke metronome. This is why I smoke cigars. Sometimes things just align for you. The right cigar when you are in the right frame of mind. This was one of those times. The nub was a little stronger with some woody notes and nutmeg showing up.

Construction: Excellent. Tight burn line with very little waver. If it did get off, it self-corrected. Lots of smoke on the first puff every time. If i double puffed it was because I wanted to intensify the next puff, not because it was really needed to keep the cigar going. I nubbed it out and it never got bitter or harsh.

Score: 9 out of 10 and I'm looking forward to another one on my next special occasion. Like maybe New Year's Day celebrating the end of 2020...