Cigar Review: RoMa Craft Tobac Neanderthal

Cigar: RoMa Craft Tobac Neanderthal
Size: 5 x 52/56 (HN)
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan Condega, Estelí, Jalapa and Pueblo Nuevo, Dominican Olor Ligero, Pennsylvania Double Ligero
Price: $58.99 per pack of five at Small Batch Cigar

Anyone who has knows me well enough know my love for the products of RoMa Craft Tobac. Everyone that I have interacted with over the years has been fantastic, and they were even kind enough last year to supply a CroMagnon Five Pack for the contest I put on. A few weeks back, I was picking up a few of my favorite cigars of last year and wanted to look through Small Batch’s selection of RoMa Craft and saw the Neanderthal listed. My first thought was “How have I not tried this yet?” Needless to say, I ordered a few to rectify the issue.

No construction issues were found with the Neanderthal I choose for reviewing. I loved the flat cap on the cigar, as it is perfect for utilizing a punch. I found the pre-light aromas to consist of dried fruit and hay, the combination being quite aromatic according to my wife who was sitting next to me at the time of review. After a punch and light, I found the opening draws to be nicely balanced. The initial flavor notes were spice around the back of the palette and a rich woodiness through the front of the palette. Accompanying the balanced draw and enjoyable flavor notes was a ton of smoke on the exhale. I don’t consider this a plus or minus to the cigar but something of note for this cigar. The spice flavors stuck around quite awhile but finally started to mellow at the 36 minute mark and finally left completely one hour in. Besides the spice mellowing out, the Neanderthal more or less stayed at initially reported flavor-wise until the last third or so, where stronger wood and leather notes began to creep into cigar to finish it out. As a long time smoker of the CroMagnon, the Neanderthal would also be considered full bodied but in my opinion, a few steps of strength underneath its stronger cousin.

One plus I will note that means a lot to me was the ash. It held incredibly well, far longer that I was normally comfortable with, as you can see with the picture above. Normally, a great looking ash like that ends on my shirt…

Besides having one relight to correct the burn, the Neanderthal was smoked without a hitch. Total smoking for the Neanderthal was 1:21.

By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10

To recap the RoMa Craft Tobac Neanderthal:

• It’s yet another fantastic addition to the RoMa Craft Tobac family. I loved the flavor profile and strength of the cigar. It made for an enjoyable smoke.
• I would still consider this full bodied but think that those who favor medium bodied cigars or even an occasional cigar smoker can enjoy this. My wife, whose favorites include the Arturo Fuente Short Story, thoroughly enjoyed this cigar.
• The price per cigar on the five pack ($11.78) is right on the cusp of what I can comfortably afford on a regular basis but it’s definitely worth the money.
• There will be more Neanderthals in my humidor this year, that is a guarantee.

Thank you very much for reading and I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.