These cigars were from a box of 2001s produced at the ARA factory (the old Por Larranaga, I think). Their appearance was enticing: a dark wrapper, almost maduro in color, with each little robusto (somewhat squarish from box pressing) glistening with a light sheen of oil.
The stick burned very well, producing a light gray (and somewhat flaky) ash. Although the draw was a wee bit tight, "double-clutching" (a small draw followed immediately by a large one) produced copious and delicious mouthfuls of smoke. This robusto, while definitely not mild, is not a butt-kicker like the Partagas D4s CAN be; rather, it is satisfying but especially notable for its complexity. It tasted toasty and almost sweet, with perfume-y overtones. The closest flavor I can match is that of a Christmas cookie! This flavor lasted all the way down, with the strength increasing in the last half. All told, it lasted one hour and 15 minutes--a firm, well-constructed cigar.
As I haven't heard much about this puppy on these boards, I thought I'd post a review. If all boxes are as good as this one, I'd call the RyJ E4 an underrated cigar. It deserves a place in the rotation, especially if one likes robustos that burn for a respectable amount of time.
The stick burned very well, producing a light gray (and somewhat flaky) ash. Although the draw was a wee bit tight, "double-clutching" (a small draw followed immediately by a large one) produced copious and delicious mouthfuls of smoke. This robusto, while definitely not mild, is not a butt-kicker like the Partagas D4s CAN be; rather, it is satisfying but especially notable for its complexity. It tasted toasty and almost sweet, with perfume-y overtones. The closest flavor I can match is that of a Christmas cookie! This flavor lasted all the way down, with the strength increasing in the last half. All told, it lasted one hour and 15 minutes--a firm, well-constructed cigar.
As I haven't heard much about this puppy on these boards, I thought I'd post a review. If all boxes are as good as this one, I'd call the RyJ E4 an underrated cigar. It deserves a place in the rotation, especially if one likes robustos that burn for a respectable amount of time.
