This past weekend on The Cigar Authority podcast we smoked the Aging Room M356 which was part of December care package. As we will be doing from now on; the Monday after the show we will do a full review of a cigar that was featured on the episode.
The Aging Room by Rafael Nodal’s Boutique Blends and is made at Tabacalera La Palma under Jochi Blanco and was launched in 2011. The original Aging Room was hard to find because of the scarcity of tobaccos used in the cigar which consists of all Dominican grown leaves including the Habano wrapper.
Cigar Review: Aging Room M356
Size: 5 x 50 (Rondo)
Wrapper: Habano (Dominican Republic)
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Full
The Look: The Aging Room M356 will not win any beauty contests with its veiny wrapper that has a slight brindle effect. While the veins aren’t large by any stretch of the imagination they still detract from the beauty of the gritty wrapper with its abundance of oils. The foot is well packed and uniform in color. In the hand the cigar is firm with a nice weight to it.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Aging Room is rich and flavorful with distinct notes of figs and molasses. In the background there is a hint of earth but it is dwarfed by the sweetness that is well-defined and dominant. The nose off the foot serves up that same sweetness though it isn’t as dominant alongside some white pepper that tingled the nostrils.
The first third of the cigar begins medium-full and offers up a little bit of sweetness to it. There are elements that are reminiscent of oregano and red pepper. As we smoke further into the first third there are an abundance of what I would classify as Italian spices and a red pepper through the nose.
In the second third of the cigar, the strength kicks up a notch moving toward full body as some of the subtleties of the Italian spices fades away. Red Pepper flakes remain on the retrohale and around the half way point some notes of wood join the mix. The finish is short with notes of leather.
The final third of the Aging Room M356 develops some earthy notes with a bit of nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon. The finish of the cigar is moderate and earthy with a bit of leather.
The Burn: The slow burning stick has a thin combustion line and an even burn. The impeccable draw reveals a tight light-colored ash that is firm lasting for more than a third. No touch ups were needed and it remained lit from first light to last puff
The Finish: In 2011, this cigar put Aging Room on the map and it is easy to see how that was the case. Full bodied and full flavored the 356 is a cigar that was worthy of humidor case. Due to the scarcity of the tobacco, finding a M356 might prove difficult as the cigars are now labeled M356ii.
Score: 92
Price: $8.19 / $159.99
Aging Room 356
Aging Room 356 Foot
Aging Room 356 Burn
