Cigar Extra: CRAFT 2013 by RoMa Craft

Vitola: Pyramid
Size: 5” x 46/60 ring gauge
Price $15
Purchased at Maxamar

Background

So when I was in Cali in September, I stumbled upon Skip Martin’s first ever event in the state…mainly because he decided to hold it in the shop that I visit every year when I’m out there…on the very day I always visit. Coincidence? I just think Skip is cyber-stalking me…might have to take out a virtual restraining order.

Anyway, during the event I picked up some RoMa Craft items that I hadn’t seen before and one of those is the beauty you see in the pictures attached: the CRAFT 2013 La Campaña de Panamá Soberana. Really? That’s the name you went with? “Sovereign Panama Campaign” for most of us north of the border. And that doesn’t make any more sense to me…and I’m just too lazy today to email Skip for clarification.

Keith practically sold me the two samples of this cigar (CPS…that’s what I’m going to call it) because he loved it so much when he reviewed it earlier this year. I figured I’d take a crack at it in this shorter format. As a reminder, RoMa Craft made 1000 boxes of 10 of these sticks and they are made of a mix of tobaccos they use in their regular lines: fillers from Nicaragua and Cameroon, a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper (and some bits of Ecuadorian Connecticut for the artsy part on the bottom, if I’m not mistaken).

Notes

The Brazilian wrapper doesn’t have a highly oily look, but it does have plenty of oils to the touch. The aroma from it was slightly chocolatey, a bit sweet and a bit of leather. The cold draw had distinct earthiness and semi-sweet chocolate notes.

The size of the flame at the end of this stick when I was lighting it was pretty impressive…and close to my burning my cap. Once lit a lot of smoke issued forth, reminding me that RoMa Craft’s sticks do have the tendency to smolder like a fiend.

At the start the CPS had notes of grassy and earth up front with chocolate and pepper spice bringing up the rear. The retrohale was nutty and spicy hot.

I paired this cigar with some Sazerac Rye (neat, as God intended it!). I found the pairing to be pleasant, with the rye amping up the spice factor.

The burn line on the CPS was pretty bad…wavy and needing fairly constant touch-ups. Not a huge issue since the cigar was so good, and getting better as it got thinner.

I enjoyed the cigar, I really did…but I have to say that the ash was so flaky that I ended up with dark smudges on my shirt, my pants, my phone, my laptop. Might have been just this one, of course, but it was still annoying…I don’t feel like I’d be doing my job as part of “Weasel Team” if I didn’t ask Skip for a extra cigar so I could see if it’s a normal thing for this blend.