Just finished the first third of one of the Red 760 Peacemakers I got in. This is a 7", 60 ring cigar. It has a couple of larger veins, but they are not of any concern. The ash is tight and even...draw is just about perfect. The strength is listed as strong and the body as full...but I'm not experiencing that yet. Good flavor that is consistent with the official description. So far, it is a very good smoke.
Greggo: heads up...coming your way.
I don't know why there's a "line-through" the text below, but GreggO ain't gonna try and fix it. GWOW!!!! I can't wait!
Tonight I smoked a Romeo y Julieta 1875 (7x50) and I was disappointed! Now, these are the same folks who produce the Monticristo and I had my first RyJ (in a very long time) as a gift from their rep at one of smokin' joe's events and I really enjoyed that stick; it was tubed, but I didn't write down anything about it.
Normally, I would have not picked up an RyJ as I had never had a good, enjoyable smoke with one other than the gift smoke; I did so this time while in the shop to get a couple of more RP Edges, an Ashton, and some short Oliva G series for my afternoon sticks (been hooked on Cargo(s), a Rocky Patel product for $4.59/ea these days) and I've liked the Olivia O's as a good $5/afternoon cigar. But this Romeo was bad! First of all, when I pulled it out of the wrapper I noticed it was much softer towards the foot and very progressively stiff as you squeezed toward the head. And then the light: it was a strong draw! You really had to pull to keep the cigar up to temp to keep it lit. Hitting that hard draw initially created a very bitter, biting smoke that wasn't enjoyable. After rolling the upper half between my fingiers the upper half of the cigar began to allow a smoother draw with silky tobacco, cinnamin, and exprsso flavors..............but it didn't last long. The middle third of the cigar was completely enjoyable; but then it went out! And, the wrapper was cracking and had it not been for the band it would have cracked all the way to the shoulder, I'm sure. I didn't dare re-light it (I won't re-light a cigar if it snuffs within 3 minutes on it's own; more below on this subject). The sucker sits there in the ashtray, 1/3 unsmoked and I feel ripped!
Interesting info who are beginning to explore cigars:
The most important thing one can do to have an adequate measure of what cigars they enjoy is to personally make sure your cigars are properly humidified: right at 71-72%! First of all, cigars are manufactured to be smoked at this humidified level and there are plenty of hygrometers that work well and solution (Propylene Glycol) supplies to make it so. This whole process of making sure your sticks are in the condition they are meant to be smoked at is quite simple, inexpensive and puts all smokes on a level starting point as to guage what YOU truly enjoy. (I recommend Xicar products; I have their lighter, butane, cutter, humidor and hygrometer (solution, too) - about $80 initial investment, but when the cigars you buy are $8 & up for the good ones....; everything I smoke begins on an even playing field with what I have smoked and what I will smoke in the future. There are no other variables and I prefer to have a cigar in my humidor for at least a week. So, yes you have to plan ahead but that is 60% of the fun of cigars!!!.
I have found no better way to judge cigars than to properly store them before you smoke them and so I will admit I bought the RyJ today and smoked it today. However, I had already given the cigar that slack and it still didn't get me there. Another freebie? Yes, I'll smoke it, but it's just not my brand and I really love their Monticristo right after a light dinner with it's smooth, silky and sweet smoke. Monticristos are like a desert in and of themselves; better served with a dry martini than a Guiness (Edge Maduro).
You got me started, Stogie.......... Can't wait for sticks, buddy!
G