Cigar Review: Aging Room Bin #1

• Vitola: B Minor (Toro)
• 6.125” x 52 ring gauge 
• MSRP $12.60
• Purchased at Maxamar

Background

Aging Room is quickly building a reputation as a premium purveyor of new-school Dominican-based blends. They have received several high ratings from various magazines, including a “#1 Cigar of the Free World” rating a couple years back. While I’m not always enamored of their blends, I will readily admit they are strongly pushing the envelope when it comes to Dominican tobacco…forcing people to re-evaluate their preconceived notions about that country’s cigars. In the decade and a half that I’ve been smoking, Dominican cigars have come to mean one of two things: mild cigars mostly suitable for beginners (La Aurora, Fuente, Macanudo) or over-the-top strength (La Flor Dominicana). The “new school” of Dominican blenders, as I have come to think of them, include companies like Rodrigo, Caldwell, and Aging Room. Not content with traditional mild Dominicans and not happy to have strength for its own sake, these companies have experimented with unusual tobaccos and techniques, opening up new worlds of flavor.

This Aging Room “Bin No. 1” apparently came out in 2014, although their distribution is limited enough that I didn’t become aware of it until my recent trip to California, where I picked up a couple at Maxamar. The company’s website lists these as “full bodied” and the blend as all Habano leaf…filler and binder from the Dominican Republic and wrapper from Ecuador. There are 5 sizes of Bin No. 1 available, with this Toro B Minor falling right in the middle in terms of ring gauge.

This is the second time I have smoked this blend.

Prelight

Over half of the body of the Bin No. 1 is covered by a large band with “Aging Room Bin No. 1” written sideways on it. Perpendicular to it is the logo for Boutique Blends, and around the other side is the script: “Made with select aged tobaccos.” Having already had one of these, I know that this enormous band is just for show and hides a more normal-sized band underneath. This is a trick first seen on the La Sirena brand, where the bands were accidentally printed huge and later they put a second band underneath the main one. I would say it helps to attract a bit of attention in the humidor, while maintaining an identity for the cigar most of the time it is being smoked.

The wrapper leaf of the cigar itself was oily in appearance and to the touch, with a toasted caramel color and a few medium-sized veins. Giving it a sniff, I picked up notes of earth and cedar mostly. The foot had more Dominican earthiness and a touch of coffee. The prelight draw was good and had notes of earth, dry cocoa powder and graham cracker.

Flavor

I fired up the Aging Room Bin No. 1 with my single-flame torch and immediately got a mix of wood and earth notes, along with a bit of Dominican bread/graham cracker. There were dull pepper notes on the tongue and slightly more vivid ones on the nose. The retrohale also had a roasted nuttiness that was quite pleasant. The initial puffs on the cigar rated about a medium, maybe medium-plus for body. As the first third continued on, I got a slightly sweet note and some toast.

The second third had more toast and graham flavors, while the pepper diminished on the palate and nose. There was still a good amount of nuttiness, though, and a woodsy finish.

The final third was full in body with plenty of Dominican graham notes, some earth and coffee and a slight resurgence of pepper spice.

Construction

The draw was just a little tight on this cigar, which resulted in getting a bit of tarry, sappy buildup on the head. The burn line was very even and the ash was solid as a rock.

Value

I enjoyed this cigar more than pretty much any other Aging Room. The price is a little high, but because of the great experience I think it’s worth it.

Conclusions

Despite a slight construction issue on this sample, the Aging Room Bin No. 1 was a very good cigar that had a very pleasing flavor profile and complexity. This is one of those that you really should try if you can find it. As with all their smokes, supplies are somewhat constrained, so you may have to look around…it’s worth it.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10