Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is light brown and has a couple of raised veins present. The seams are smooth and barely visible while the head is finished off with a well applied double cap. There are three bands with the primary carrying varying shades of burgundy and gold and noting the brand and line name. The secondary band carries the same color combination and identifies the cigar as a Nicaraguan puro. The foot band is a gold ribbon. The aroma from the wrapper and foot are both a mix of leather and hay. The pre-light draw is a mix of hay and white pepper with a decent spice level on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Aging Room Pura Cepa Mezzo is well rolled and has a nice small give to the wrapper. There is a little bit of tooth present to the wrapper and with that are some small veins throughout. It has a nice dark coloring to it, and it is a dark Natural, light Colorado coloring. There is an aroma of sweet tobacco, earth and cream on the foot, and the wrapper is giving off notes of leather, damp earth and wood. Very barnyard like.

First Third

The cigar begins with a nice combination of wood and a potent baking spice. At a quarter inch in, there’s almost a soapy flavor that has joined in, and as odd as it sounds, it enhances the profile. At an inch in, the baking spice and soapiness have each mellowed a bit while the wood has remained at the same level. The retrohale carries a similar profile but the baking spice is amped up a little. At an inch and a half, the wood is up front while the baking spice and soap note are in the background and have a fairly long finish. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

First Third

The first third begins by showing some sweet spices, soft earth and leather. There is a lack of complexity and depth and it is quite one dimensional. I would classify the cigar as being medium in body and strength, and the flavors are at that level as well.

Second Third

As the second third begins, some mustiness joins the profile. At a quarter inch in, the wood and soap note are up front while the mustiness rushes in after a short delay. The baking spice is in the background and shows up on the finish. At a half inch in, the mustiness has joined the wood and soap note up front while the baking spice is in the background. The retrohale has a toasted wood note along with the mustiness and the soap note in the background. At an inch in, a fair amount of char joins the wood and masks the other flavors. The char recedes fairly quickly to bring the profile to charred wood and mustiness while the soap note and baking spice are no longer detectable. As the third comes to a close, a faint soap note returns as the charred wood and mustiness remain the primary components. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly below medium.

Second Third

When I get into the second third of the cigar, I find it to be nearly identical to that of the first third. The flavors delivered are that of sweet spices, leather and earth, and like I said before, it is lacking complexity and depth. There has been no transitioning from the first third and it is a disappointing second third. Like before, the cigar is smoking at a medium level for body, flavors and strength.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the charred wood and mustiness continue on at equal levels. At three quarters of an inch in, the cigar begins heating up bringing some mintiness to the profile. The retrohale carries a fuller version of the same profile. At an inch and a quarter, the mintiness becomes very faint and the mustiness increases a bit over the charred wood. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Final Third

The final third is right in line with the second third, which means it is right in line with the first third. There has been no transitioning and it is lacking in complexity. The flavors delivered are that of sweet spice, earth and leather, and I don’t even bother finishing the cigar. The strength, flavors and body are right at a medium level, and that is right in line with where it has been from the start.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy but always kept up with itself. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

The burn on the Pura Cepa is very good and it is nearly razor sharp from start to finish. The ash produced has a nice charcoal coloring to it and the cigar is presenting no problems in terms of construction.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The flavor profile had an interesting soapy note to go along with the wood and baking spice which I enjoyed. Some mustiness joined in later and the wood became charred in the final third. Construction was very good and allowed me to just focus on flavors. Strength was below medium working its way just up to medium. The Aging Room Pura Cepa Mezzo is a pretty good offering from the company and an interesting project being a Nicaraguan puro. I think this would be approachable to any level smoker as there are lots of things to like here. I would have no problem revisiting this cigar although the price point is a bit high.

Draw

I found the draw to be slightly loose which was not too my liking and it did not help in how the cigar smoked. Tons of smoke was produced, but I felt a lot was lost with that loose draw.

Overall

I was really disappointed with this cigar but at the same time not surprised. Ever since Davidoff released Davidoff Nicaragua, companies not in Nicaragua have worked to make a Nicaraguan puro as successful as that cigar but have failed miserably. This cigar lacked in flavors being delivered, and with that there was no transitioning. If you have a cigar whose flavors lack complexity, depth and transitioning, you are not going to do well. Construction and draw can only do so much for a cigar, and it is not that much.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.57

Cost/Point

$1.98

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

4.63

Cost/Point

$2.81

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Aging Room Pura Cepa Mezzo