JCinPA
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2025
- Messages
- 717
- First Name
- John
First four people who reply, telling us if you've had a candela wrapped cigar before or not, whether you liked it or (if not) just want to try it, will receive 4 JR Ultimate Double Corona candela wrapped cigars to try.
A little back story. First, back in the 1970s, probably 80% or more of cigars smoked in the US were green cigars, also mostly machine made, although premium handmades often came with green wrappers. They called the green cigars American Market Selection, and the brown wrappers were called English Market Selection back in the day. As a young Lieutenant in the Air Force in the mid-1980s I smoked about three boxes of JR Ultimate cigars with the EMS wrappers per year. They ran $75 per box of 25, the equivalent of $225 today, but I was single, didn't smoke that much, and did not care about price. They were all I smoked at the time, no experimentation with cigars. I'd keep them in the cedar box they came in (bare, no cellophane) topped with a piece of tin foil and a damp paper towel. Had no idea what I was doing back then, but it worked.
Back then, they were considered truly high-end premium cigars, some thought made by Hoyo de Monterrey for Lew Rothman, but we didn't really know, I just knew I loved them. Today they don't have quite the reputation they did then, but the cigar boom came much later and the number of brands exploded and I started smoking HdM Excalibur cigars, still not experimenting, though. I saw these and decided to order a box on a whim to see what I thought of them.
Smoked one ROTT the truck and was pretty unimpressed, I have to admit, thinking I had just wasted my money, but I let them sit for 3 months in one of my tupperdores with a 65% Boveda and pulled one out to smoke today, and ... surprise! It was pretty good! I'm curious to see how they progress with more months in the humi, but this was an enjoyable smoke, to be sure. Not sure I'd reload this particular stick at about $8, but I am intrigued. I got them to share here since I don't see many candela cigar reviews so my intention when I bought the box was to gift some around the forum.
About this cigar I smoked today? I'm not good at describing flavors, but I agree with what others have written, it's a mild-to-medium strength smoke, and rather than coffee, it has more of a black tea flavor, with a bit of grass or hay and leather. I did detect a little sweetness, green apple, maybe? The retrohale has some green vegetable taste to me, kind of like a bitter cross between celery and leeks? Not bad, just ... different. Construction, draw, and burn were good, although the burn was wavy at times (mostly straight, though) and required one touch up about 2/3 through. I am curious to see how these develop over the next year or so.
If anyone has tried other JR Ultimate varieties lately, I'd love to know what you think of them. They used to just make the two, AMS and EMS back in the 1980s, as I recall, but they have four web pages of them now. From what little I see of them on the Internet, people seem to think they are still good, but need 6-12 months in the humidor to really mature. Those who smoke them ROTT off the truck seem to be less enthusiastic than those who let them wait a while. Thanks!
I messaged a guy I know from another forum who has a JR cigar store, and asked about the Ultimates, and he replied with this. Steered me away from trying any more.
A little back story. First, back in the 1970s, probably 80% or more of cigars smoked in the US were green cigars, also mostly machine made, although premium handmades often came with green wrappers. They called the green cigars American Market Selection, and the brown wrappers were called English Market Selection back in the day. As a young Lieutenant in the Air Force in the mid-1980s I smoked about three boxes of JR Ultimate cigars with the EMS wrappers per year. They ran $75 per box of 25, the equivalent of $225 today, but I was single, didn't smoke that much, and did not care about price. They were all I smoked at the time, no experimentation with cigars. I'd keep them in the cedar box they came in (bare, no cellophane) topped with a piece of tin foil and a damp paper towel. Had no idea what I was doing back then, but it worked.
Back then, they were considered truly high-end premium cigars, some thought made by Hoyo de Monterrey for Lew Rothman, but we didn't really know, I just knew I loved them. Today they don't have quite the reputation they did then, but the cigar boom came much later and the number of brands exploded and I started smoking HdM Excalibur cigars, still not experimenting, though. I saw these and decided to order a box on a whim to see what I thought of them.
Smoked one ROTT the truck and was pretty unimpressed, I have to admit, thinking I had just wasted my money, but I let them sit for 3 months in one of my tupperdores with a 65% Boveda and pulled one out to smoke today, and ... surprise! It was pretty good! I'm curious to see how they progress with more months in the humi, but this was an enjoyable smoke, to be sure. Not sure I'd reload this particular stick at about $8, but I am intrigued. I got them to share here since I don't see many candela cigar reviews so my intention when I bought the box was to gift some around the forum.
About this cigar I smoked today? I'm not good at describing flavors, but I agree with what others have written, it's a mild-to-medium strength smoke, and rather than coffee, it has more of a black tea flavor, with a bit of grass or hay and leather. I did detect a little sweetness, green apple, maybe? The retrohale has some green vegetable taste to me, kind of like a bitter cross between celery and leeks? Not bad, just ... different. Construction, draw, and burn were good, although the burn was wavy at times (mostly straight, though) and required one touch up about 2/3 through. I am curious to see how these develop over the next year or so.
I messaged a guy I know from another forum who has a JR cigar store, and asked about the Ultimates, and he replied with this. Steered me away from trying any more.
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