As a longtime RoMa Craft fan, this might just be my most anticipated cigar of the year. The Quinquagenario, blended with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. to celebrate RoMa’s cofounder Skip Martin’s 50th birthday, is also high on my radar but I got my hands on the Volstead first. So here we go!
THE CIGAR – INTEMPERANCE VOLSTEAD VO 1920 GEORGE REMUS by ROMA CRAFT
Size: 5 x 56 (robusto extra)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Hybrid
Binder: Mexican San Andrés
Filler: Dominican Republic (Corojo, La Canela) & Nicaragua (Condega, Jalapa, Pueblo Nuevo)
Price: $8.99 (this sample was purchased from Smokers Abbey in Cedar Park, TX)
The George Remus is encased in a reddish brown wrapper that features an aroma of faint leather and there are distinct hints of mint and sweetness detected when sniffing the foot of the cigar directly. There are no surface oils and the George Remus has just the right amount of give when squeezed between two fingers.
1/2
Body: light/medium
Strength: mild/medium
There’s more of that mint sensation found on the cold draw of the George Remus. Upon ignition, there’s a mild spice through the nose that won’t upset anyone and it’s backed up by a touch of mineral. Light woodsiness and an even lighter coffee note define the draw here early on. The draw was just a little too tight so I clipped the head one additional time and that did the trick, easy peasy. I can’t stress enough how enjoyable the pepper/mineral combo is via the retrohale, if you’re not blowing smoke out of your nose then you are truly missing out.
The George Remus has the darkest ash I’ve seen on a cigar in quite a while, it’s damn near black. We’re just over an inch in now and the flavors are starting to gel very well together resulting in a very smooth smoking experience. A nuttiness has joined the mild spice and mineral, yet another reason to retrohale. Just do it ya sissy!
2/2
Body: medium
Strength: medium
Just as the impressive black ash finally drops at the start of the second half, the overall strength of the George Remus escalates slightly. Flavors are still consistent all around, although the woodsy aspect of the draw has stepped aside allowing the coffee to jump in the driver’s seat.
Construction has been fantastic from start to finish with a smooth draw that produces copious, beautiful smoke. Smooth is a word that I’m going to use quite a bit in this review as it’s just a perfect descriptor in this case. The gradual increase in boldness continues right up until it’s, regrettably, time to say adios to Mr. Remus.
THE NUB
TNCC FINAL SCORE = 92
While the Volstead VO 1920 is not the best of RoMa Craft’s milder offerings, that would be the Casa de Torres perfecto, it is a very good, very smooth cigar that I would recommend to any level of smoker without hesitation. The uptick in both strength and body during the second half of the 68 minute smoking experience was appreciated, and the mostly consistent flavor profile was highly enjoyable throughout the entire duration of the George Remus. And, once again, blow some smoke out your nose with this one as you’re really missing out if you don’t!
