The T. Short Churchill (Top 25 2017)

9. The T. Short Churchill

Caldwell Cigar Co. / Room101

  • Country of Origin: Nicaragua
  • Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.
  • Wrapper: Nicaragua
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Length: 5 1/2
  • Ring Gauge: 48
  • Vitola: Short Churchill
  • MSRP: $12 (Boxes of 10, $120)
  • Release Date: Oct. 27, 2017
  • Number of Cigars Released: n/a
  • Original Score: 92

One of the early story lines of 2017 was Matt Booth’s sudden departure from the cigar industry. After developing Room101 into a national brand with Davidoff of Geneva USA, in early January he announced he was leaving the business, meaning no more Room101 cigars, or so we though. But as we’d find out by summer, he’d be back by way of a pair of collaborations with Robert Caldwell: Hit & Run, and The T., which also involved Abdel Fernández.

Originally destined to be called The Truth, the cigar had to be renamed due to a trademark issue with Tatuaje, but it didn’t affect what the cigar offers once lit. The box-pressed cigar delivers strength, balance and complexity with flavors of coffee and nutmeg as constants, while chocolate, cashews, barbeque, red pepper and even lemon make appearances.

In a year that was incredibly good for Robert Caldwell and A.J. Fernandez, their collaboration with Matt Booth stood out not just for the buzz it generated, but for the solid line of cigars it produced. — Patrick Lagreid.

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