Nice Ash – Cigar Reviews by Brian Massey
JR Ultimate Bruto
This week our office was buzzing with talk of exciting new cigars, the J•R Ultimate Bruto (in both a natural and an oscuro wrapper leaf) and the El Rey Del Mundo Ronco. These smokes are 6.00 x 60, one of the largest ring gauges we carry. I keep asking myself, “What does this bigger size mean in terms of taste?” Below are my reviews of all three new cigars, along with a brief write-up on larger ring gauges.
Its construction is great and the wrapper has a nice sheen. Upon lighting, the first thing that hits you is that classic Ultimate taste of cedar. I found that the larger ring gauge makes way for a lighter, smoother smoke; this cigar doesn’t burn as hot and, as a result, the body is not so upfront and full. When you smoke the Bruto, you really do feel like “the man,” and the monster size of it is a true statement to a love of cigars. Construction is superb and this thing burned perfectly smoothly the whole way through. Its ash is a beautiful white and the flavor profile is strong with cedar, cream, and nuts. If you’re looking for a nice change and an upgrade from the standard Ultimate, this is the cigar for you.
The maduro version of the new J·R Ultimate is also 6.00 x 60 and extremely dark and toothy. I prefer the maduro wrapper in the Ultimate line; to me it adds an additional dimension of flavor. With the bigger ring gauge, the cigar smokes a lot cooler and is less full-bodied upfront. Its flavors are amazing and comparable to those of any high-end boutique cigar currently on the market. With earthy notes and hints of cedar, nuts, and chocolate, the oscuro Bruto is truly a very dynamic smoke with flavors that change a lot due to the ring gauge; I believe there is more time for the cigar to blossom as you smoke it. Its construction is excellent and produced a super-strong white ash. The finish is top-notch and leaves you asking yourself why we waited so long to make a J·R Ultimate in this size.
El Rey Del Mundo Ronco
This is a new size in the lineup of the Honduran version of the El Rey del Mundo brand, and, with a 60 ring, it’s a dramatic increase from ERdM’s second-largest cigar in a 54 ring. You can really tell that a lot of care was put into making this cigar: the Connecticut broadleaf wrapper is gorgeous with no flaws, and the cigar is heavy with a very dense feel to it.
Upon lighting, I am greeted with sweet, rustic notes and not one hint of youth. The flavor profile is that of a typical El Rey (but with a much cooler, smoother smoke that I would attribute to the larger ring gauge) and features a smooth, creamy woodiness followed by a nice nutty finish. Its burn was perfect, as was expected from the great construction, and it left a gorgeous white ash. Honduran cigars are known for having some serious body but because of this large ring gauge, this cigar is medium in body the whole way through. All in all, the Ronco is a great new size for this traditional brand, and I’m excited to hear smokers’ reactions upon trying it.
So, why are larger ring gauges so popular anyway?
Right now in the cigar industry, there is a trend toward larger-ringed cigars. I feel that maybe the smoking public is looking for something new and different, and there are always new shapes coming out, such as 54-rings with box-pressed figurados. The bigger ring is beneficial to the cigar and to the person smoking it. For one thing, when you walk around with a monster stogie, it’s empowering. “Look at this monster cigar I’m smoking,” you might think. “I’m not afraid! In fact, I’m enjoying it very much!” Americans… we do everything in excess, like super-size fries and “medium” soda cups that would be an XXL in other countries. So, naturally, our cigars would follow this trend.
What you might not know is that this 60-ring gauge is very good for the cigars’ flavors and quality. For instance, the larger ring allows the smoke to cool off as it funnels through the cigar before it hits your palate. When the smoke is cooler, a cigar’s flavors are easier for a smoker to distinguish and savor without feeling too much heat. A larger ring gauge also slows the burn down, allowing the cigar last longer; to me, that equals more enjoyment! So, before you dismiss this gauge size as being simply too large or daunting, just give it a go. After all, everything is worth trying once, and with the benefits a larger ring gauge offers, you may just find that it makes the cigar you love even better.
