Cigar Review - Man O' War Ruination

Man O' War - Ruination

Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5.5″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Sungrown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Pairing: Café Bustello Espresso style coffee


Hearing the buzz about this cigar I have always meant to try one. With so many others out there I've just never gotten around to it, and, to be candid, the band has always reminded me of a Ghurka band and my lone experience with those didn't go so well. Regardless, as I read more and more positive reviews it was just a matter of time. Then @Elco69 was generous enough to send me one and in eager anticipation I rested it exactly one day before lighting.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psonoy56v2.jpg

Fit and Finish: A nice rich chocolate colored wrapper with fine veins, a bit more prominent near the head, and no visible seams. Pre-light aroma is one of hay, slightly barnyardy (yeah, I don't know if that's a proper adjective, but it should be).

Draw: A v-cut gives a moderately loose draw. Dark cocoa on the cold draw. So good, in fact, that I took another couple of cold draws. Man I hope this one delivers on what it is promising.

Toast/Light: Toasting is relatively easy but the draw is running pretty loose and the smoke production is moderate, at best. The initial draw is all pepper.

First third: The first half inch is fairly spicy, nice pepper kick and leathery. The pepper fades and the remainder of the first third sits firmly in a savory, leather flavor with occasional cocoa notes. I'm not really picking up any of the nuttiness that others have described, but the flavor is very good nonetheless. I'm beginning to get a little bit of a burn issue as this third progress, but it hasn't gotten out of hand. Smoke production is alternately good and then moderate, likely from the loose draw.

Second Third: The pepper comes and goes a bit but never stays for long. What is remaining is that leather and savory flavor and waves of cedar that come and go. Still very tasty. The burn issues are becoming more pronounced and I have to touch it up about halfway through this third. Ash retention is excellent and the flavors remain very full, with no hint of harshness.

Final Third: The pepper comes roaring back to start this third and there is a bit of cocoa on the linger, which is a pleasant surprise. The burn issues continue to worsen and I have to touch up again. After ashing I take a good look at the cherry and see that only half of the filler is lit. The other side is completely out. I get it going again and the smoke production improves a bit. Still no harshness after the touching up/relight. And then things change. No, not in a bad way. The flavor suddenly changes to straight up caramel. Strong enough that I pull back and look at the cigar to make sure someone hasn't swapped my cigar out (not likely since I'm the only one there...and so am I). Very distinct, very strong and crazy delicious. It fades and the leather is back with some nuttiness. But that caramel keeps making a return, as does the pepper, though not at the same time. It's good enough that I take this one down to the nub. Now, for the final negative...this cigar got very spongy in the final third. Very spongy. It started to burn a little hot but adjusting my draw helped with that. It really felt like a packing problem. It did not affect the taste in any way that I'm aware.

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this cigar. It doesn't make my top 5 list, but it was very tasty and thoroughly enjoyable. I am not ready to pick up a box but I will definitely look to grab a 5 pack sometime in the near future. Thanks @Elco69 !

Total smoking time: 60 minutes

I ordered a fiver and got it last Wednesday...smoked one ROTT...very enjoyable...my neighbor smoked the second one last night, his observations were the same as mine. Not certain I'll get a box, but another fiver or two is definitely in the offing...