Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is dark brown with a couple of raised veins. The veins carry a slightly lighter color to them which makes them easily visible. The seams are hard to detect except for when they cross a vein. The head appears to be finished of with a well applied double cap. One other thing to note is that the cigar is rock hard with no give when squeezed. The band has the new Romeo design, primarily in black with white lettering and gold borders. It also denotes San Andres on it. The aroma from the wrapper is bright wood, kind of like pine, along with damp earth. The foot brings wood (not bright) and natural tobacco sweetness. The pre-light draw is pretty simple as it’s just a light wood note.

Pre-light Experience

Altadis USA’s Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta has almost a jet black oscuro wrapper shade. Packed full of tobacco, the bunch and roll is firm, veins well pressed, seams tight and a well adhered thick cap. Aromas from the wrapper give heavy oak, slight campfire, hay and dry barnyard. Aromas from the foot give dried nuts and black pepper. Cold draw tells dried nuts and black pepper.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of earth, dark wood and black pepper. At a half inch in, the flavors remain, but the potency of the profile has mellowed. At three quarters of an inch in, some cocoa joins the dark wood and earthiness while the black pepper is now very faint in the background. At an inch in, a slight chalkiness joins in with the earth, dark wood and cocoa. The retrohale has a fair amount of pepper along with the cocoa and chalkiness. As the third comes to a close, the chalky cocoa note is up front with some wood and earth in the background. The strength in this third is slightly below medium.

First Third

The first third from first draw creates a bold and hearty smoking experience. Heavy gritty earth, red pepper spice, charred wood, leather and soft sweet creamed candied cherries runs the palate. Retrohaling highlights both greater doses of red pepper and sweet creamed candied cherries. The finish is long and lingering with heavy gritty earth and charred wood. Strength is medium-full and body is medium.

Second Third

The second third continues with the chalky cocoa with the wood not far behind. Not much earthiness remains. At a half inch in, the cocoa note drops out but the chalkiness is still up front with the wood close behind. At an inch and a quarter, the wood becomes even with the chalkiness and the retrohale provides the same profile. As the third comes to a close, the earthiness joins back in which knocks down most of the chalkiness. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Second Third

The second third turns up the heavy gritty earth and red pepper spice, all still in a spot on medium-full strength delivery. The charred wood lays thick on the palate, especially recognizable on the finish. Body is still medium but the dark flavors play a bit of a trick on the palate thinking it is something more than medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the chalkiness picks up again to match up with the wood and earthiness. At a half inch in. the chalkiness is replaced by mustiness which is in the lead slightly over the wood and earthiness. At an inch and a quarter, the mustiness remains up front and the retrohale provides the same mustiness along with some wood. As the cigar wraps up, it maintains the mustiness, wood and earth. The strength in this third finished out at medium.

Final Third

The last third loses out on some characteristics such that it’s primarily creamy wood and gritty earth. These two notes are on the mouth draws and the finish equally alike. Retrohaling still gives a bigger pop of red pepper. Strength and body finishes medium-full and medium, respectively.

Burn

The burn was perfect as it was razor sharp the entire way. The ash held on in inch and three quarter increments.

Burn

Picture perfect burn. Cool burning temperature, thick and heavy ashes, ample smoke production and an even burn.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar started with a profile of dark wood, earthiness and black pepper and settled into wood and earthiness. A chalkiness came in along with some cocoa in the first third and the chalkiness remained for a majority of the cigar until it was replaced by mustiness. The flavors weren’t anything special and I would say were pretty typical for a blend wrapped in San Andres. The construction was fantastic. If you’re a San Andres fan, then definitely give this a try to see what you think. For me, I’m looking for a little more in the flavor category and am not sure I’d be too much in a hurry to go back to this one.

Draw

The best draw there is. Perfect air flow and resistance.

Overall

Heavy gritty earth, palate coating red pepper spice, charred wood all wrapped up in a medium plus strength profile sums up Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta. I wish the sweet and creamy candied cherries lasted throughout the entire smoking experience, but it was cut too short. With that said, I hoped for more sweetness in the profile to combat the heavy earth and spice. This is a decent heavy and dark cigar but one that is a tad mundane and typical for me.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.95

Cost/Point

$1.61

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$1.57

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta Toro