I'm not sure if they are under the radar because they are not as marketed or if the aren't new or if they just asrent as complex as other kelner blends. Its not a bad smoke and its absolutely better than the avo Maduro, but not as good as any of the other avo line. If the griffin's had more lines would the brand be more popular? Besides the LEs they have been putting out they have nothing else.
Hmm, kind of makes me wonder why they are still around... especially with other companies doing huge reblending projects, cutting old lines, and constantly having new blends come out to keep up and stay relevant. Even the great camacho and davidoff cant rest on their laurels alone; how can the griffins with their avo knockoff? Lol.
I think it's a combination of the fact that there's very little marketing or hype surrounding it and that the line's been pretty stagnant for several years now.
In ancient Greece there were two words for time. The first one was chronos. This is where we get words like chronicle and chronometer. This type of time is a series of events in a specific order. It is the time on the clock. It is dry, dull and factual. It is the last ten minutes of class before school lets out for the weekend.
Then there was Kairos. This time is different. It encompasses all the finest moments of life; the ones that go by in what seems to be a blink of an eye, though wished they could last forever. It is the time of the God inspired moments when everything happens. In short, it is time when God acts.
This history of the word seems a fitting title for this cigar given the goal of the blend. Co-owners of Blessed Leaf Cigars Kyle Hoover and Chris Kelly's goal was to produce a great cigar and have all of the proceeds go to Missions and Ministries. This means that if the goal is achieved, the name Kairos will have dual purposes: the “heavenly experience” and the impact on people of God's work through those Missions and Ministries.
The release will only be about 4000 strong with 100 boxes being made and the rest in 5 packs.
Blessed Leaf Kairos is a good looking cigar. There are several noticeable veins going in every direction on this cigar, however they are not very large. The triple cap is neat and tidy. There are two bands on the cigar both using the same soft color scheme of white, cream and blue. The only place it deviates is the center picture of green tobacco leaves and a crown. On one side of the band there is a scripture notation of Psalm 34:8 (Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him), and on the other side of the band are hebrew letters. These letters spell out the word Shalom witch translates roughly to "peace" on most cases. (However, since Hebrew reads right to left, not left to right, the letters are in reverse order.) On the back of the band there is a symbol that looks like three circles overlapping each other. This is to represent the holy trinity. The secondary band reads the name of the cigar the soft blue.
The wrapper itself is very smooth and seems very oily. When the foot band is taken off the inside reads: The appointed time in the purpose of God * Divine intersection of Infinite & finite. A Holy culmination of past impregnated with the Future, Prophecy is manifest, Prayer is answered, Mysteries are known.” The inside of the primary band is an invitation to join the Faith Community for Cigar Aficionados. The bouquet is earthy and dry fruit and fairly strong. The lick on the cap is a bit tart and biter with a hint at mint. The cut is made with a double guillotine. The hint at mint is still there and a woody note is dominant. The dry fruit notes also appear here.
light with the usual soft flame.
The first few puffs are sweet and woody. With a good amount of the Nicaraguan kick. There is a bit of a pulpy texture. All of this is in soft tones. There is a ton of flavor but it is soft and fuzzy. The wood notes are quite nice up front and the finish has a nice soft spice. In the beginning, it is balanced to the point of nothing standing out.
As the cigar settles in there is a more refined flavor profile. The flavor while drawing is the flavor of pepper with none of the heat but rather a little hint at sweet. There is a light creamy undertone that is like a light balsa wood. Those two flavors mingle nicely. Through the nose there is cedar and a musk version of the creamy undertone. The flavors flow together nicely. The ash is very flaky and falls early and often.
The middle third picks up a nuttier tone but the soft Nicaraguan texture is still there. The finish is a bit dry and this dryness is where the wood notes still come through. The cigar produces a large volume of smoke. It burns well but not perfectly, requiring a touch up from time to time. Save from the nutty tones, this cigar has a standard Nicaraguan feel, but blended to be more medium bodied unlike many of the contemporary Nicaraguans that are full bodied. This can bee noticed in the finish the most. It is not as strong in the finish and does not seem to wreck the palate as much but to a degree it still does.
The final third is a bit rounder with deeper flavors. All of them the same as the middle third but with more wood and the pulpy texture creeping into the finish. It moves to a more leather tone at the beginning of the final third and intensifies as it goes from there. By the end of the final third there is little to speak of the nutty flavors enjoyed in the middle third. All that is left is Nicaraguan wood and spice. This last third burns very unevenly and it is a struggle to keep it lit let alone close to even.
This ends up a decent cigar. It fulfills its goals and is worth a try. It is time well spent, but all in all it is a fairly standard Nicaraguan cigar.
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook
5-19-14 been in humidor since 3-18-14
Camacho Blackout Robusto (5 x 50)
Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Brazilian, Nicaraguan, Honduran
The Camacho Blackout is the first cigar released by Camacho after they introduced “The Bold Standard” marketing campaign. This is the first limited edition from the band after the re-blending and streamlining process and also the first cigar that is not a re-blend of an existing cigar during the same time period.
Though the time between the release of the re-blend/brand and the release of this cigar is relatively short amount of time for the cigar world, this cigar has been planned for quite some time. In 2008 Camacho was purchased from Eiroa by Oettinger Davidoff Group. In 2011 Eiroa was just an advisor, and by 2012 he was out completely and on to his own brand. The Blackout was already blended and in the aging room in 2012. There it spent 2 years before its release on 7-13-2013 ant the 2013 IPCPR, only one month after The Bold Standard Launch party that was held on 6-20-2013. This cigar was designed to be ready the day it was released. It started to show up in retail locations that September.
One of the most notable things about this cigar is the wrapper and how it is fermented. The process is called “press-fermentation” and it not very common. When the leaves are stacked in to pilones, weights are added to the top of the pile. This raises the temperature within the pile drawing out more of the sugars faster. This also is very hard on the leaves so extra time was given to age the leaves once it was baled. The wrapper was 6 years old before being applied to the cigar and 8 years old when released to the general public.
All of the leaves are vintage specific and have received at least three years of age before rolling.
The cigar is very difficult to see under the massive band and secondary band. At least have of the cigar is covered in a black on black band sporting Camacho's new logo, the scorpion. Everything about the presentation screams brash and brazen. Given that the new tag-line is “The Bold Standard” it seems fitting for the marketing goal. There is one line on the band that does not seem to fit and that is “Guard it carefully.” There is no hint to why it should be.
Once the over-sized bands are off, a fairly unassuming cigar is left. The Wrapper has quite a bit of tooth and it has a very firm feel. The vein structure is dense but all of them look small. There is quite a bit of barnyard on the unlit smell. The lick on the cap has spice and a rough feel on the lips an tongue. After a cut with a double guillotine a firm and sweet earth draw is revealed.
Light with a soft flame
the toast takes a noticeably long time due to the density of the cigar, but once lit very large plumes of smoke billow off the foot. This is always an enjoyable quality. The beginning of the first third is oak and pepper. Through the nose it is surprisingly smooth with the same profile as on the palate. Only a hint at “burn” is detected, but it reads more like pepper than anything. Though these flavors are noted, they must be searched for because it is fairly muted. Though the initial flavors are a bit thin the body is definitively medium to full and has a thick and smooth texture in the mouth.
About a half an inch in the sweetness starts to turn on, finally giving the cigar some character. It brings out the oak and a hint at peat that is balanced out with some pepper on the back end. The smoke is very heavy and the finish lingers for a very long time. The flavors in the first third are decent at best, but the highlight is the mouth feel. The smoke is smooth, thick, and has a creamy texture.
Entering the middle third, the Blackout becomes a bit flat on the finish and the oak thins out. The flavor seems disproportionately light compared to the heft of the body. The spice does pick up and it is more earthy but nothing stands out at all. It is all just a good texture. The draw becomes more difficult and fairly distracting. A soft roll in the fingers does not seem to help. Late in the middle third it picks up a very slight ashtray note especially late on the finish.
The final third is more of the oak flavors with spice. The draw does not improve and is actually fairly tiring. The slight hint at ashtray does not improve, but it does not get worse. It is still tolerable because of the oak and spice and subtle sweet, but there is little to be impressed by.
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not sure how they will age. i mean, they have already spent 2 years in an aging room so there has been plenty of marrying.
in about 15-20 years it may not be as intense. i just dont see it tasting more complex, just shorter finish and maybe lose that hint at ashtray. that would be better, but it may not be worth it.
not sure how they will age. i mean, they have already spent 2 years in an aging room so there has been plenty of marrying.
in about 15-20 years it may not be as intense. i just dont see it tasting more complex, just shorter finish and maybe lose that hint at ashtray. that would be better, but it may not be worth it.
Thanks for the input.
Good point that they were already in the aging room for 2 years; I suppose another year or two in a humidor won't do much when looking at it that way.
And I don't know if aging for 15-20 years is realistic ... especially on something "questionable". Plus I'm sure I'd put fire to it before that amount of time passes.
Your review seemed more favorable than most others I've come across, but the "hint of ashtray" does not sound appealing :-/
Your review seemed more favorable than most others I've come across, but the "hint of ashtray" does not sound appealing :-/
it was very light and could be easily overlooked. thats why it had little impact on the rating. had it not been there it could have been an 8.1. still not a stellar review.
i liked the oak quite a bit, but all in all, the cigar was just over done. "the bold standard" has no mention of "good" in it. power does not equal quality.
Wow, all that build up for a cigar that falls flat. Sounds like they chose the wrong leaves to age. Hopefully this new rebanding/reblending move begins to improve for them.
Still searching for shadows of the old Camacho in the new blends without much luck....
i have some hope for the criollo. and the triple maduro is supposedly the same blend.
The Connie was more than decent, but I never tried the original, so I don't know how it compares. It doesn't wow me like a few connies have, but it's not an airball. A little pepper to go with the usual vanilla, cream, and nuts. Hits the palate a bit harder than you expect from most Connies, but not an awful finish at all.
Still searching for shadows of the old Camacho in the new blends without much luck....
i have some hope for the criollo. and the triple maduro is supposedly the same blend.
The Connie was more than decent, but I never tried the original, so I don't know how it compares. It doesn't wow me like a few connies have, but it's not an airball. A little pepper to go with the usual vanilla, cream, and nuts. Hits the palate a bit harder than you expect from most Connies, but not an awful finish at all.
thats pretty much how i felt about the original connecticut. i have a criollo in the humidor and i have a few of the old havana line so i can make a relatively direct comparison. Camacho is in just very close to falliing off the map for me.
i guess in all fairness, my palate has changed quite a bit over the last few years and i am trending more and more to mild and medium cigars.
Still searching for shadows of the old Camacho in the new blends without much luck....
i have some hope for the criollo. and the triple maduro is supposedly the same blend.
The Connie was more than decent, but I never tried the original, so I don't know how it compares. It doesn't wow me like a few connies have, but it's not an airball. A little pepper to go with the usual vanilla, cream, and nuts. Hits the palate a bit harder than you expect from most Connies, but not an awful finish at all.
thats pretty much how i felt about the original connecticut. i have a criollo in the humidor and i have a few of the old havana line so i can make a relatively direct comparison. Camacho is in just very close to falliing off the map for me.
i guess in all fairness, my palate has changed quite a bit over the last few years and i am trending more and more to mild and medium cigars.
I am right there with you. Camacho, to me, is like an old friend who you reconnect with after years and find out you no longer have anything in common. Shame really
I am right there with you. Camacho, to me, is like an old friend who you reconnect with after years and find out you no longer have anything in common. Shame really
i mean, when has the cigar industry been about pleasing the hardcore enthusiasts? its always been about the numbers. right now Camacho has better numbers than they have had in years.
Wow kuzi, 2 hours for a 5x50 robusto seems like a world record to me! I tried the Blackout in the toro vitola in late March, after I had purchased it while herfing with MW67 and RCY back around last Thanksgiving. Others had complained about its burn, but I had minimal problems with it. What I did have a problem with was the 'flatness' of it compared to other cigars in the ~11 dollar MSRP range.
I smoked an old 4.5x50 Triple Maduro more recently and was amazed by the richness of it. The Blackout was a pale silhouette by comparison, I deign to consider it even a full shadow. I have yet to try any of the new Camacho line besides the Blackout, but I hope this is not a harbinger for the rest....
I seriously smoke slow. Since I've gone back to mostly mild and medium sticks I smoke the full bodied stuff even slower. Since I was relatively uninterested in the cigar it was even slower. ...and you are right about the relative flatness. I expected more. Can't win em all.
5-27-14 been in humidor since 9-28-11
Romeo y Julieta Museum Edition (6 x 54)
Wrapper: San Andres Mexican, Criollo 98 Rosado
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Blenders: Grupo de Maestros
The Romeo y Julieta Museum Edition is a limited edition cigar made by Altadis. They first started to appear early in in 2009 and they came with a staggering price point. The cigar was designed to retail for $30 each. Part of the reason for this was the San Andres Criollo 98 Rosado wrapper. This was just at the beginning of the popularity of the wrapper and was considered very rare.
The other reason why it is so expensive is because of the artwork that accompanies cigar. In the tube of the cigar is a Charles Fazzino pictured rolled in such a way that it can be viewed through the frosted glass tube. This print was specially commissioned by Altadis for this cigar. The box these cigars came in were humidor quality and limited to only 2000 in number and each being able to hold 36 cigars. These were numbered and signed and included an original giclée print.
The group of blenders that work for Altadis, commonly referenced as “Grupo de Maestros” are the ones responsible fore this blend and every blend that comes out of the factory, such as Vega Fina and Montecristo. This group of blenders each has at least 15 years experience blending tobacco. Each one of them is capable of being their own master blender. They have teamed up in the Dominican republic and are based in Tabacalera de Garcia.
The presentation Of the Museum Edition is very nice. The tube is frosted and the above mentioned picture shows through. The cap is a gold plastic. Once out of the tube, the cigar looks a bit rugged. It looks as if it was crammed in to the tube after the picture and the cedar. This caused a tiny part of the wrapper get caught on the cedar and fold up on itself as it was put in the tube. The wrapper leaf is also very uneven in tone. It is fairly surprising that the leaf was picked out as wrapper for a $30 stick.
There is one band that is mostly gold and black lettering. On the front of the band is a tiny picturre of the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet.
The cigar feels very dense and is very firm to the touch. It also seems heavy for its size. The cigar has a very light dry leaf smell. It is very faint. A lick on the cap is lightly sour with a hint at spice. After a clean cut with the trusty Xi cutter, there is a draw that is slightly firm with sweet earth and cola notes.
light with a soft flame.
The first puffs are leathery and have a hint of singed chocolate. There are hints at musk and a slight bitter up front. The bitter is not on the bad side though, it is more of a sharp wood note. Through the nose it is woody and mushroom. Within half an inch, the burn takes a turn for the worse and a touch up is needed. It seems to be construction based; the first quarter inch was perfect.
The middle third has less burn issues but it is hardly perfect, just way easier to deal with. The flavors are mostly mild leather with wood tones and some spice through the nose. The finish seems to linger and it has a light spice.
The last third picks up some cinnamon like spice and the room not picks up a good cedar quality. Through the nose at this point is a bit too much to take and it is throwing this a little out of balance. The burn gets worse as it approaches the end. This is common with many cigars simply because of how they are bunched. Shortly after the burn issues it becomes harsh.
had higher hopes for a cigar that originally retailed for $30
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook
That's disappointing to hear. I was really curious about this cigar since the B&M back in Jackson, MS, that I always went to had a box full of these. I couldn't justify 30 bucks on a cigar that came from Altadis though. Now I know. Thanks for the review, Matt.
That's disappointing to hear. I was really curious about this cigar since the B&M back in Jackson, MS, that I always went to had a box full of these. I couldn't justify 30 bucks on a cigar that came from Altadis though. Now I know. Thanks for the review, Matt.
Just curious, which B&M was this? Do you remember the name? I live in a suburb right outside Jackson.
That's disappointing to hear. I was really curious about this cigar since the B&M back in Jackson, MS, that I always went to had a box full of these. I couldn't justify 30 bucks on a cigar that came from Altadis though. Now I know. Thanks for the review, Matt.
Just curious, which B&M was this? Do you remember the name? I live in a suburb right outside Jackson.
Havana Smoke Shoppe off of I-55 (or I-51, I can't remember the num). Though the last time I was there was about 2 years ago. Not sure if they still have it. I lived in Madison before I moved to Canada. Last time I was there, they also sold Opus X and Anejo at MSRP (9 to 13 bucks per stick) as well. Not at 30 bucks a pop like most online sites do.
Ok, cool. I know exactly where you are talking about. I'll have to pay them a visit soon especially if they still have opus x for 9-13. That's cool that you lived in Madison. I know we have hot, humid weather down here in the summer but I don't know if I would trade it for the snow and cold up there in the winter. hehe
It's nice seeing another BOTL from the ol' MS. I think you're the second BOTL I've seen from there. The first one, he just up and poof'd after moving from MD to MS. And yeah, I know. The weather sucks here. Wife (fiancee at the time) was originally from Canada and wanted to move back. That and the fact that there wasn't any decent work available in central MS that I knew of after my time in the Army, what're you going to do, right?
Comments
I havent seen any griffin LE's. Have you had any?
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99 rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Blender: Arsenio Ramos (Casa Fernandez)
In ancient Greece there were two words for time. The first one was chronos. This is where we get words like chronicle and chronometer. This type of time is a series of events in a specific order. It is the time on the clock. It is dry, dull and factual. It is the last ten minutes of class before school lets out for the weekend.
Then there was Kairos. This time is different. It encompasses all the finest moments of life; the ones that go by in what seems to be a blink of an eye, though wished they could last forever. It is the time of the God inspired moments when everything happens. In short, it is time when God acts.
This history of the word seems a fitting title for this cigar given the goal of the blend. Co-owners of Blessed Leaf Cigars Kyle Hoover and Chris Kelly's goal was to produce a great cigar and have all of the proceeds go to Missions and Ministries. This means that if the goal is achieved, the name Kairos will have dual purposes: the “heavenly experience” and the impact on people of God's work through those Missions and Ministries.
The release will only be about 4000 strong with 100 boxes being made and the rest in 5 packs.
Blessed Leaf Kairos is a good looking cigar. There are several noticeable veins going in every direction on this cigar, however they are not very large. The triple cap is neat and tidy. There are two bands on the cigar both using the same soft color scheme of white, cream and blue. The only place it deviates is the center picture of green tobacco leaves and a crown. On one side of the band there is a scripture notation of Psalm 34:8 (Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him), and on the other side of the band are hebrew letters. These letters spell out the word Shalom witch translates roughly to "peace" on most cases. (However, since Hebrew reads right to left, not left to right, the letters are in reverse order.) On the back of the band there is a symbol that looks like three circles overlapping each other. This is to represent the holy trinity. The secondary band reads the name of the cigar the soft blue.
The wrapper itself is very smooth and seems very oily. When the foot band is taken off the inside reads: The appointed time in the purpose of God * Divine intersection of Infinite & finite. A Holy culmination of past impregnated with the Future, Prophecy is manifest, Prayer is answered, Mysteries are known.” The inside of the primary band is an invitation to join the Faith Community for Cigar Aficionados. The bouquet is earthy and dry fruit and fairly strong. The lick on the cap is a bit tart and biter with a hint at mint. The cut is made with a double guillotine. The hint at mint is still there and a woody note is dominant. The dry fruit notes also appear here.
light with the usual soft flame.
The first few puffs are sweet and woody. With a good amount of the Nicaraguan kick. There is a bit of a pulpy texture. All of this is in soft tones. There is a ton of flavor but it is soft and fuzzy. The wood notes are quite nice up front and the finish has a nice soft spice. In the beginning, it is balanced to the point of nothing standing out.
As the cigar settles in there is a more refined flavor profile. The flavor while drawing is the flavor of pepper with none of the heat but rather a little hint at sweet. There is a light creamy undertone that is like a light balsa wood. Those two flavors mingle nicely. Through the nose there is cedar and a musk version of the creamy undertone. The flavors flow together nicely. The ash is very flaky and falls early and often.
The middle third picks up a nuttier tone but the soft Nicaraguan texture is still there. The finish is a bit dry and this dryness is where the wood notes still come through. The cigar produces a large volume of smoke. It burns well but not perfectly, requiring a touch up from time to time. Save from the nutty tones, this cigar has a standard Nicaraguan feel, but blended to be more medium bodied unlike many of the contemporary Nicaraguans that are full bodied. This can bee noticed in the finish the most. It is not as strong in the finish and does not seem to wreck the palate as much but to a degree it still does.
The final third is a bit rounder with deeper flavors. All of them the same as the middle third but with more wood and the pulpy texture creeping into the finish. It moves to a more leather tone at the beginning of the final third and intensifies as it goes from there. By the end of the final third there is little to speak of the nutty flavors enjoyed in the middle third. All that is left is Nicaraguan wood and spice. This last third burns very unevenly and it is a struggle to keep it lit let alone close to even.
Burn to the nub
time 2 hours 15 minutes
Burn: 7
Draw: 9
Taste: 9
Aftertaste: 8
Construction: 10
Balance: 9
Feel: 8
Overall: 8.6
This ends up a decent cigar. It fulfills its goals and is worth a try. It is time well spent, but all in all it is a fairly standard Nicaraguan cigar.
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook
Camacho Blackout Robusto (5 x 50)
Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Brazilian, Nicaraguan, Honduran
The Camacho Blackout is the first cigar released by Camacho after they introduced “The Bold Standard” marketing campaign. This is the first limited edition from the band after the re-blending and streamlining process and also the first cigar that is not a re-blend of an existing cigar during the same time period.
Though the time between the release of the re-blend/brand and the release of this cigar is relatively short amount of time for the cigar world, this cigar has been planned for quite some time. In 2008 Camacho was purchased from Eiroa by Oettinger Davidoff Group. In 2011 Eiroa was just an advisor, and by 2012 he was out completely and on to his own brand. The Blackout was already blended and in the aging room in 2012. There it spent 2 years before its release on 7-13-2013 ant the 2013 IPCPR, only one month after The Bold Standard Launch party that was held on 6-20-2013. This cigar was designed to be ready the day it was released. It started to show up in retail locations that September.
One of the most notable things about this cigar is the wrapper and how it is fermented. The process is called “press-fermentation” and it not very common. When the leaves are stacked in to pilones, weights are added to the top of the pile. This raises the temperature within the pile drawing out more of the sugars faster. This also is very hard on the leaves so extra time was given to age the leaves once it was baled. The wrapper was 6 years old before being applied to the cigar and 8 years old when released to the general public.
All of the leaves are vintage specific and have received at least three years of age before rolling.
The cigar is very difficult to see under the massive band and secondary band. At least have of the cigar is covered in a black on black band sporting Camacho's new logo, the scorpion. Everything about the presentation screams brash and brazen. Given that the new tag-line is “The Bold Standard” it seems fitting for the marketing goal. There is one line on the band that does not seem to fit and that is “Guard it carefully.” There is no hint to why it should be.
Once the over-sized bands are off, a fairly unassuming cigar is left. The Wrapper has quite a bit of tooth and it has a very firm feel. The vein structure is dense but all of them look small. There is quite a bit of barnyard on the unlit smell. The lick on the cap has spice and a rough feel on the lips an tongue. After a cut with a double guillotine a firm and sweet earth draw is revealed.
Light with a soft flame
the toast takes a noticeably long time due to the density of the cigar, but once lit very large plumes of smoke billow off the foot. This is always an enjoyable quality. The beginning of the first third is oak and pepper. Through the nose it is surprisingly smooth with the same profile as on the palate. Only a hint at “burn” is detected, but it reads more like pepper than anything. Though these flavors are noted, they must be searched for because it is fairly muted. Though the initial flavors are a bit thin the body is definitively medium to full and has a thick and smooth texture in the mouth.
About a half an inch in the sweetness starts to turn on, finally giving the cigar some character. It brings out the oak and a hint at peat that is balanced out with some pepper on the back end. The smoke is very heavy and the finish lingers for a very long time. The flavors in the first third are decent at best, but the highlight is the mouth feel. The smoke is smooth, thick, and has a creamy texture.
Entering the middle third, the Blackout becomes a bit flat on the finish and the oak thins out. The flavor seems disproportionately light compared to the heft of the body. The spice does pick up and it is more earthy but nothing stands out at all. It is all just a good texture. The draw becomes more difficult and fairly distracting. A soft roll in the fingers does not seem to help. Late in the middle third it picks up a very slight ashtray note especially late on the finish.
The final third is more of the oak flavors with spice. The draw does not improve and is actually fairly tiring. The slight hint at ashtray does not improve, but it does not get worse. It is still tolerable because of the oak and spice and subtle sweet, but there is little to be impressed by.
Burn time: 2 hours
burn to the nub
Burn: 9
Draw: 7
Taste: 8
Aftertaste: 8
Construction: 8
Balance: 8
Feel: 8
Overall: 8.0
if you like my reviews please see my blog. If you want to see what im up to between reviews and get micro reviews of cigars and beer then follow me on twitter (@KuzisCigar) or Facebook
Any thoughts on how these might age?
I have one in the humi and I can't decide if I should put fire to it soon or hide it at the bottom of my humidor for a while.
in about 15-20 years it may not be as intense. i just dont see it tasting more complex, just shorter finish and maybe lose that hint at ashtray. that would be better, but it may not be worth it.
Good point that they were already in the aging room for 2 years; I suppose another year or two in a humidor won't do much when looking at it that way.
And I don't know if aging for 15-20 years is realistic ... especially on something "questionable". Plus I'm sure I'd put fire to it before that amount of time passes.
Your review seemed more favorable than most others I've come across, but the "hint of ashtray" does not sound appealing :-/
Still searching for shadows of the old Camacho in the new blends without much luck....
still not a stellar review.
i liked the oak quite a bit, but all in all, the cigar was just over done. "the bold standard" has no mention of "good" in it. power does not equal quality.
i guess in all fairness, my palate has changed quite a bit over the last few years and i am trending more and more to mild and medium cigars.
I am right there with you. Camacho, to me, is like an old friend who you reconnect with after years and find out you no longer have anything in common. Shame really
its always been about the numbers.
right now Camacho has better numbers than they have had in years.
I smoked an old 4.5x50 Triple Maduro more recently and was amazed by the richness of it. The Blackout was a pale silhouette by comparison, I deign to consider it even a full shadow. I have yet to try any of the new Camacho line besides the Blackout, but I hope this is not a harbinger for the rest....
...and you are right about the relative flatness. I expected more. Can't win em all.
Romeo y Julieta Museum Edition (6 x 54)
Wrapper: San Andres Mexican, Criollo 98 Rosado
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Blenders: Grupo de Maestros
The Romeo y Julieta Museum Edition is a limited edition cigar made by Altadis. They first started to appear early in in 2009 and they came with a staggering price point. The cigar was designed to retail for $30 each. Part of the reason for this was the San Andres Criollo 98 Rosado wrapper. This was just at the beginning of the popularity of the wrapper and was considered very rare.
The other reason why it is so expensive is because of the artwork that accompanies cigar. In the tube of the cigar is a Charles Fazzino pictured rolled in such a way that it can be viewed through the frosted glass tube. This print was specially commissioned by Altadis for this cigar. The box these cigars came in were humidor quality and limited to only 2000 in number and each being able to hold 36 cigars. These were numbered and signed and included an original giclée print.
The group of blenders that work for Altadis, commonly referenced as “Grupo de Maestros” are the ones responsible fore this blend and every blend that comes out of the factory, such as Vega Fina and Montecristo. This group of blenders each has at least 15 years experience blending tobacco. Each one of them is capable of being their own master blender. They have teamed up in the Dominican republic and are based in Tabacalera de Garcia.
The presentation Of the Museum Edition is very nice. The tube is frosted and the above mentioned picture shows through. The cap is a gold plastic. Once out of the tube, the cigar looks a bit rugged. It looks as if it was crammed in to the tube after the picture and the cedar. This caused a tiny part of the wrapper get caught on the cedar and fold up on itself as it was put in the tube. The wrapper leaf is also very uneven in tone. It is fairly surprising that the leaf was picked out as wrapper for a $30 stick.
There is one band that is mostly gold and black lettering. On the front of the band is a tiny picturre of the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet.
The cigar feels very dense and is very firm to the touch. It also seems heavy for its size. The cigar has a very light dry leaf smell. It is very faint. A lick on the cap is lightly sour with a hint at spice. After a clean cut with the trusty Xi cutter, there is a draw that is slightly firm with sweet earth and cola notes.
light with a soft flame.
The first puffs are leathery and have a hint of singed chocolate. There are hints at musk and a slight bitter up front. The bitter is not on the bad side though, it is more of a sharp wood note. Through the nose it is woody and mushroom. Within half an inch, the burn takes a turn for the worse and a touch up is needed. It seems to be construction based; the first quarter inch was perfect.
The middle third has less burn issues but it is hardly perfect, just way easier to deal with. The flavors are mostly mild leather with wood tones and some spice through the nose. The finish seems to linger and it has a light spice.
The last third picks up some cinnamon like spice and the room not picks up a good cedar quality. Through the nose at this point is a bit too much to take and it is throwing this a little out of balance. The burn gets worse as it approaches the end. This is common with many cigars simply because of how they are bunched. Shortly after the burn issues it becomes harsh.
Burn to the nub.
Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Burn: 8
Draw: 9
Taste: 8
Aftertaste: 8
Construction: 8
Balance: 7
Feel: 8
Overall 8.0
had higher hopes for a cigar that originally retailed for $30
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