The CroMagnon was the very first line offered by RoMa Craft Tobac way back in 2011. We reviewed the CroMagnon Knuckle Dragger back on Episode 54 of the podcast and it made our “Top 10 Cigars of 2017” list as well. Due to shortages in the availability of the high quality Connecticut broadleaf tobacco needed to produce the CroMag line, RoMa Craft ceased production in 2022 and went back to the laboratory in order to completely reconfigure the brand moving forward. The end result of this experimentation hit humidors earlier this year and that brings us now to our review…
THE CIGAR – CROMAGNON (2024) by ROMA CRAFT TOBAC
Size: 4 x 46
Wrapper: Pennsylvania USA (broadleaf)
Binder: Ecuador (Sumatra hybrid)
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
Price: $8.70 (samples were purchased for review BUT you can head over to Famous Smoke Shop right now where the entire CroMagnon line is currently on sale and get $20 off your purchase of $100 or more by using promo code TNCC20)
The band’s text has been changed from grey to a soft white to help consumers distinguish between the previous CroMagnon blend and the new product. I suppose most folks will appreciate that touch; however, as an expert cigar reviewer, I can easily discern the visual differences between Pennsylvania broadleaf and Pennsylvania broadleaf so that’s a nonissue for me personally. The CroMagnon Pestera Muierilor features prelight aromas of smoked mesquite and toasted bread. The small, dark cigar has some surface oils present and there’s just the right amount of give when gently squeezed – just like yours truly.
After experiencing a cold draw comprised of more woodsiness and a hint of mint, it’s time to light this sucker on fire. First impressions are of a crisp black pepper through the nose while the draw is delivering a bold, rich earthy flavor in droves. The CroMagnon Pestera Muierilor is full strength, full bodied, full everything here early on.
Construction is so far so good as the CroMagnon Pestera Muierilor is drawing like a dream. It’s a sexy smoking cigar as thick white clouds continuously hover over the body. The retrohale’s pepper does decrease in strength slightly as the cigar nears the middle portion.
While the pepper is no longer kicking down the front door, it’s not exactly knocking politely now either. The draw’s well-calculated balance of earthy and strong woodsy notes is highly consistent from puff to puff. With a cigar as powerful as the CroMagnon Pestera Muierilor, if the blend isn’t spot-on it can be very easy to overwhelmed (and underimpressed) very quickly. Thankfully, that’s not the case here.
A salty sensation has begun to present itself both on the retro and the draw. It’s a welcome addition and it compliments all of the previously established flavors quite well. I still haven’t thumped off the CroMagnon Pestera Muierilor’s impressive ash, hopefully that’s not a decision that comes back to burn my dick. Did I mention this is a very strong cigar? Just wanting to make sure I didn’t leave that out because it’s important.
Well the ash didn’t drop on my dick but it did take out my TV remote. But that’s solely on me for rolling the dice. Remember that toasted bread aroma I detected like Sherlock Motherfucking Holmes before I lit up? Well, get this, in the cigar’s final act a toasted bread note arises on the retro! I love cigars, they fascinate me. The CroMagnon Pestera Muierilor finishes strong in every sense of the word.
THE NUB
TNCC FINAL SCORE = 92
The blend may have changed but this new reincarnation of the CroMag line kicked my ass just the same. While it’s certainly one of the strongest, most full-bodied cigars that I’ve smoked in a good while, the CroMagnon Pestera Muierilor is exceptionally balanced and the 45 minute smoking experience is an enjoyable one. That’s IF you know what you’re getting yourself in to. If your preference is for a ballbuster of a smoke that etches its memory in your brain for a little while then you should go buy some. For my palate, this new blend is an improvement over the original CroMagnon and it’s a cigar that I’ll be revisiting often when the mood strikes.
