Romacraft is the joint project of Mike Rosales and Skip Martin, and they are the makes of CroMagnon. The new school cigar makers come from all walks off life. Skip Martin worked for Dell Computers after time in the Navy and between the two he owned a cigar shop in Galveston, TX that was destroyed by Hurricane Ike. As a fan of the cigars since they were first released it seems as he has found is calling, but it has been about a year since I smoked one so lets take a look at this together.
According to the website, “The CroMagnon Aquitaine features a beautiful Ecuador Habano Ligero wrapper selected from the best tobacco we could find. This eighth and ninth priming ligero leaf is thick, oily and has amazing texture.
The filler leaf for this blend was acquired from three separate growing regions in Nicaragua: Esteli, Condega and a small farm north of Esteli on the Honduran border, Pueblo Nuevo. This third leaf, a ligero, brings a strong, smoky, savory flavor to the blend. When combined with the spicy characteristics of the habano wrapper, the exotic bite of the Cameroon binder and the clean finish of its viso and seco companions, the blend adds another dimension to the deep rich tobacco flavor we present in the CroMagnon.”
Cigar: CroMagon Aquitaine
Size: 6 x 54 (Cranium)
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli, Condega, Pueblo Nuevo)
Strength: Full
Source: Two Guys Smoke Shop
The Look: The Aquitaine is one oily cigar and the thickness of the wrapper is evident just from looking at it. The band of the cigar is simple brown on white and helps accent the beauty of the this rustic smoke. A seamless roll with a perfectly constructed cap gives this Neanderthal cigar the look of class. In the hand there are no soft spots and the cigar has an average weight in the hand.
The Burn: Once the cap is removed via a straight cutter the notes of the cold draw are sweet with notes of mocha, caramel and a hint of cedar. The complexity on the cold draw is quite amazing and unexpected. The aroma off the foot is more subtle with sweet earthy tobacco.
The first third of the cigar has a slight soda bread note with some pepper and leather to start. Working out way deeper into the first third of the Aquitaine a sweetness begins to develop that has a cherry like quality to it, but the primary note for me is that of Irish soda bread.
The second third of the cigar continues with notes of soda bread. There is a sweetness in the background but it differs from the cherry experienced in the first third of the cigar. There is a wood note that develops around the halfway point with some coffee notes as well as the second third comes to a close.
The last third of the CroMagnon Aquitaine still has hints of soda bread, however the primary note of the cigar transitions to espresso, there is also a coffee bean taste to the stick as well.
The Burn: There was some concern that the wrapper being so thick the cigar could have some burn issues, but this is a cigar that is perfect constructed and it burned true throughout. The light color ash held on for a quarter of the stick at a time with a perfect draw.
The Finish: This is the definition of the next wave of boutique cigars and a modern cigar. A strong, but flavorful and complex cigar that delivers. The CroMagnon Aquitaine from Romacraft cigars is worthy of humidor space and is a box purchase caliber cigar.
Score: 92
Price: $8.49 / $182.99
CroMagnon Aquitaine
CroMagnon Aquitaine Foot
CroMagnon Aquitaine Burn
