Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a light golden brown with a fair number of slightly raised veins that are easily visible due to the slightly lighter color they carry. The seams are easily visible due to the color variations of the veins but they are smooth as are the three caps on the head. There are two bands with the first being the traditional Room101 logo in a multi-colored pattern. The second band is a strip band that is gold and has 101 on the front in white. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mixture of hay and leather while the foot gives a fuller version of this combination along with some white pepper. The pre-light draw brings a nice creamy leather along with a mild spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Hit & Run Super Toro has a light caramel shade wrapper. Veins are well pressed and seams tight. The bunch and roll feels great as there is a uniformed give throughout with no hard or soft spots. The head is finished off with a deep triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives cedar and dry barnyard. Nosing the foot tells white pepper, dried nuts and cedar. Cold draw reveals hay and dried nuts.

First Third

Some light wood, nuttiness and black pepper kick off this cigar. At a half inch in, the same profile continues and it is slightly drying. The retrohale is a mix of wood and some pepper. At an inch in, the wood becomes a little fuller and gains some char which pushes out the nuttiness. There is still some black pepper in the background. At an inch and a half, the profile becomes a bit smoother and less drying as the char decreases a bit. As the third comes to a close, a bit of cream joins in with the slightly charred wood and pepper. The strength in this third is slightly above medium.

First Third

The mouth draw flavors are on the delicate side of the spectrum, giving buttery cream, cedar, ripe stone fruits and balanced black pepper. Retrohaling has the same mouth draw flavors but gives a bigger pop and focus. The finish consists of cedar, bread and dried nuts. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the profile becomes slightly drying again as the cream has gone away and the slightly charred wood is the primary flavor note. The black pepper is very subtle now in the background. At a half inch in, some bitterness joins the profile with the charred wood. The retrohale carries a slightly bitter charred wood note. At an inch and a half, the bitterness fades back a little letting the charred wood shine a bit more. As the third comes to a close, the wood gains a toasty note along with the char while there is still some bitterness present in the background. Strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Second Third

Getting into the second third, the primary difference is that the profile picks up a nice graphite like earth minerality both within the mouth draw flavors and retrohale. The cedar note also becomes sharper. It’s important to note these changes do not effect the pre-existing notes of buttery cream, ripened stone fruits and balanced black pepper. Instead, they work harmonious together. The finish now has a creamed nuttiness in addition to the same bread note. Strength and body remains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the bitterness increases a bit to be even with the charred and toasted wood. At a quarter inch in, a slight cream joins the profile which knocks down a lot of the bitterness. At an inch in, the cream has begun increasing which smooths things out a bit. The char is still with the wood, but the toastiness has left while there is still some bitterness in the background. This is the profile the cigar finishes out with. The strength remained at slight above medium.

Final Third

Last third’s increase in black pepper spice and minerals makes the profile less balanced. Still tasty with buttery cream but loses out on ripe stone fruits. The spike in minerals and spice is also realized within the finish, creating a longer and slightly more robust finish. Even with the increase in minerals and spice, the profile is still medium in strength and body.

Burn

The burn was was slightly wavy at times and straight at others. The ash held on very well in inch and a half increments.

Burn

Burn was perfect. Straight and even burn. Ash retention averaging 1.5 inches. Cool and slow the entire smoking time.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar started with a nice flavor combination but quickly transitioned into a slightly charred wood note. This was the primary flavor note the rest of the way as some toastiness and cream played a role at times. There was a decent amount of bitterness that was present from the second third on. I have a feeling, that this is a pretty delicate cigar and smoking too fast could cause the cigar to produce that bitterness. I was hoping for a bit more from this cigar as it was a collaboration between two well known makers. I’d like to try this cigar is a smaller vitola to see if that changes up the experience for the better. It’s a cigar worth a try to see if it’s something you’d enjoy. For me, this vitola isn’t one I’ll likely seek out.

Draw

The draw was perfect as well. Perfect amount of airflow and resistance.

Overall

Not entirely sure what Hit & Run means but the cigar’s profile sure doesn’t feel like a hit and run. Instead, it shows balance with increasing intensities in various spices and earthiness. I love cigars (like this) where I can enjoy full retrohales without scorching my nostrils. Matth Booth creates a very enjoyable cigar for his return back into the cigar industry.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.85

Cost/Point

$2.14

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.52

Cost/Point

$1.66

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Hit & Run Super Toro