Orange is the new cigar band color. There are a few companies who turned to the color orange for their cigar bands this and historically at least to my recollection it is an under used color. The Aging Room Solera Shade which got a full release this year at the 2017 IPCPR is one of the companies that went orange. Solera is in reference to a method of aging has been used for centuries in the making of wine, sherry, rum and brandy. Now, Boutique Blends maker of Aging Room uses the Solera system by combining different vintages of tobacco at different stages of the aging process to get a fuller flavor and more complex cigar.
Cigar: Aging Room Solera Shade
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican Habano
Filler: Dominican Habano
Length: 4.7″
Ring Gauge: 52
Size: Festivo (Robusto)
The Look: Packaged in 21 count boxes, the Festivo has a slot in each row to protect the pigtail cap that adorns the Festivo. The boxes are orange with black writing which matched the dual band system. The primary band denotes Aging Room while the oversized secondary band shows the name Solera vertically. The Connecticut Shade wrapper is darker than expected with a thin network of veins, feels heavy in the hand and shows off a nicely packed foot.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Solera Shade reminds of peanut shells with a subtle grassy note. The nose off the foot reminds me of dry Rice Krispies. Once the cigar is lit the first note off the cigar wheat.
Smoking the first third of the cigar the wheat notes slide into the background as a maple syrup note begins to take hold of the palate. The sweetness of the cigar rules the palate through the first third and the aroma of the cigar has a honey like component to it especially through the nose where it mixes with sweet cedar.
On the second third around the halfway point the wheat notes begin to take hold again with the finish of the cigar taking on a note of creamy vanilla bean. Personally, I am enjoying it so much I hope this part of the cigar never ends. Through the nose there is continued sweet cedar notes and hints of sunflower seeds that carry over on the finish as well.
The last third of the Solera sees the sweetness of the cigar fade away with notes wheat, earth and dry grass being the primary focus which carry over to the finish and the retrohale. The retrohale also sees some extra cedar notes thrown into the mix.
The Finish: The first two-thirds of the Aging Room Shade Festivo were extremely enjoyable. With that said, the last third didn’t disappoint, but I wish the last third continued with the blueprint the cigar laid out before changing things up. This is a cigar I will smoke again, I grabbed a 5 pack and will let them sit for a few months to see if they change and I have a feeling they will.
Score: 90
Price: $7.69 / $144.99
Aging Room Solera Shade
Aging Room Solera Shade Foot
Aging Room Solera Shade Burn
