The quintessential Cuban Churchill

It was only a matter of time until I wrote this one...I figure it's Valentines Day, so what better day to write a review about the Churchill I love soooo much. Despite of all the recent Cuban-bashing I've done (rightly so, I might add) there are certain offerings which still yield consistency and the legendary Cuban flavor which makes Habanas (even the poor ones) stand apart from anything else out there...These Cuban's still bring me back time and time again. The Romeo y Julieta Churchill is most defintely one of those.

One of the most famous cigars of all time, even the rookie cigars fans know what this guy is - I categorize the "mob scene" cubans as a pack of three: Cohiba Esplendido, Montecristo #2 and of course, on top, the R&J Churchill....Not so surprisingly these are the top three of the Fugazi list (at least here in NY and the surrounding areas anyway) so let the buyer beware - the real thing is tough to come by, expensive, and unmistakably fantastic in every aspect of cigar smoking. Even in the condition of today's Cuban market, where Cuban cigar quality is at a hideous low, the R&J Chruchill can still be guarenteed to impress and will please the taste buds of even the "old dog" cigar afficianados who have known these beauties for decades, years back when Cuban cigars truly deserved every last ounce of the LEgendary hype and demand that surrounded them. Today, where the Habana Puro label serves more as a status symbol rather than a damn good cigar, I'm very pleased to announce that Romeo hasn't wholly succumbed to the greedy "dark side" and manages to not overproduce (too much), and maintains fairly rigid quality control which keeps the Churchill plenty smokable and packed with wonderful flavor.

To be fair, I'll admit that typical of all the recent Cubans, lack of age pushes them slightly to the young side, but I assure you, it's nothing a stay in your groomed humidor won't correct (Remember guys, 70% is worth the work to maintain!). Personally, I could care less about the Tubo, provided I'm getting my stogies at a true Habana retailer. However I also buy mine usually by the box, so there's no worry about needing the protection of the tube. For those of you who prefer to buy loose (in case the daunting idea of a trip through customs makes you cringe... UGGGH, just the thought of losing a BOX of those little beauties!!) I suggest you choose the Tubo over the regulars, since buying by the stick subjects the wrapper leaf to more abuse with people picking and choosing. Plus, the Tube will protect these jewels while in transit.

By now you know I'm a V-cut kinda guy, however obviously you can't have a v-cut all the time, and with a 47 ring guage, it's just not feasible. I like a punch cut too - these are a bit neater then a straight cut, but I gotta tell you, I could care less about NEAT with this cigar: DO NOT skimp in any way - straight cut that crown as much as is reasonably possible to let every last drop of flavor come through...The filler is a classic and the resultant flavor is remarkarble, even when young. The burn is excellent, and is reminiscent of the Cubans of yesteryear. A perfect white ash, and an even long burn and smoth draw are just what you'll find once you're lit. The wrapper is patient, and will guarentee not to burn ahead, so don't mind the ash, just smoke away, as the cigar will stay cool and straight.

The smoke itself if hearty and thick - just bursting with rich flavor - I compare the R&J to pea soup while something like a lighter exhibicion would be a manahattan clam chowder...Both are full of great flavor - but the pea soup is hearty, rich and thick- unmistakable, yet also with enough extra elements and nuances to NOT make it uni-dimensional (just imagine those little pieces of carrot and potato, especially the rich chunks of ham...mmm grandmas pea soup) The churchill will have you mmm'ing very much the same way - A manhattan Clam chowder on the other hand also has plenty of flavor, but it is thinner in consistency and the flavors are more "scattered" and don't always come back to the "root flavor" like pea soup does. The Churchill always brings you right back to the middle of its unmistakable benchmark rich-dark-roasted flavor.

Speaking of flavor, in general the base "root" flavor or the cigar can be classified as leathery, chocalty roasted coffee flavor. As you smoke, you'll discover hints of nuts and both dark and light patches of flavor- the spices aren't as biting as the Cohiba, and this makes the Romeo much smoother on the palate without being weak. (Both a Cohiba Robusto and a Romeo Churchill are both powerful cigars, but the Cohiba is more of the sledge hammer while the Romeo is more the precision surgeons scalpel, with fine flavors that cut right through). Again, one of the most impressive aspects of this cigar is that it always COMES BACK to the roots....While the somewhat scattered and random nature of the Exhibicions could be considered a tangent wave, The Churchill clearly is the tight neat Cosine wave - it brings you up into the brighter flavor, than down into the dark rich malty range of flavors, but always comes right back to the middle and the Churchill is one of the most elegantly balance cigars, which is why I always enjoy one, every time.

I hate to sound over dramatic and repetitive, but fine as this cigar is, it is actually very challenging to write about it, because it truly is very unique and individual - this is what has made it such a legend all along. Happily, not all Cubans are all bad - and this one still has a "great" next to its label in my cigar diary. Lush and rich, unmistakable and in-fact timeless, the Romeo y Julieta Chruchill is among the absolute best cigars I've smoked in my lifetime and I highly recomend it to anyone who is able to get their hands on one, with confidence in its authenticity.