I was really intrigued about this cigar, due to the history and nostalgia behind it.
(Skip this next paragraph if you dont want the background)
In the early 1900s, R.G. Sullivan was said to be the largest maker of 10 cent cigars in America, back when it was legal to include Cuban tobacco in the blend. His 7-20-4 cigar (named for the original factory address on 724 Elm St.) received the most advertising dollars and was highly promoted on ashtrays, signage, and other tobacco related channels. Flash forward to 2009 ..Kurt Kendall (owner of the Twins Smoke Shop) now owns the trademark for the 7-20-4 brand, and has brought the cigars back to life. Kendall says he has developed a blend that mirrors the original cigars flavor profile, and has retained a 1900s feel to the new artwork adorning the bands and box.
I ordered a 5er of robustos from New Havana Cigars (excellent customer service, by the way) and they looked really nice when they arrived. The wrapper is a Brazilian Mata Fina (used in the CAO Sopranos Line and by the Dona Flor brand) which was very course and dense. The pigtail completed the old school look, and showed off the skills of the rollers used for this line. The cigar was well packed and had a certain heft to it. The unlit tobacco had a nice, slightly floral aroma.
It lit well, and the first few puffs were rich and smooth with an earthy element; but unfortunately the cigar reversed into a dull, one-note flavor shortly after.
Despite the Honduran factory, Costa Rican Binder, and a filler blend from Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, and Columbia; this cigar was generally flat. The solid ash and great burning qualities indicated excellent craftsmanship, but there was no complexity. There was only a solid tobacco core flavor with an undefined mineral or slight chlorine taste that dominated the flavor profile. (An ammonia or chlorine flavor can be found in younger cigars, but this was not that taste. Especially considering that Kendal reportedly ages the completed cigars in cedar boxes for 120 days.)
As is the case of many brands, this vitola simply may not be the jewel of the line. Perhaps the Grand Toro with a generous 56 ring and inherent slower, cooler burning qualities might allow some flavors to develop. Theres also a torpedo and two other vitolas in the line.
In my humble opinion .An A for effort, appearance, craftsmanship, and the desire to recreate a successful cigar line from the past; but not worth the space in my humidor.
(Skip this next paragraph if you dont want the background)
In the early 1900s, R.G. Sullivan was said to be the largest maker of 10 cent cigars in America, back when it was legal to include Cuban tobacco in the blend. His 7-20-4 cigar (named for the original factory address on 724 Elm St.) received the most advertising dollars and was highly promoted on ashtrays, signage, and other tobacco related channels. Flash forward to 2009 ..Kurt Kendall (owner of the Twins Smoke Shop) now owns the trademark for the 7-20-4 brand, and has brought the cigars back to life. Kendall says he has developed a blend that mirrors the original cigars flavor profile, and has retained a 1900s feel to the new artwork adorning the bands and box.
I ordered a 5er of robustos from New Havana Cigars (excellent customer service, by the way) and they looked really nice when they arrived. The wrapper is a Brazilian Mata Fina (used in the CAO Sopranos Line and by the Dona Flor brand) which was very course and dense. The pigtail completed the old school look, and showed off the skills of the rollers used for this line. The cigar was well packed and had a certain heft to it. The unlit tobacco had a nice, slightly floral aroma.
It lit well, and the first few puffs were rich and smooth with an earthy element; but unfortunately the cigar reversed into a dull, one-note flavor shortly after.
Despite the Honduran factory, Costa Rican Binder, and a filler blend from Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, and Columbia; this cigar was generally flat. The solid ash and great burning qualities indicated excellent craftsmanship, but there was no complexity. There was only a solid tobacco core flavor with an undefined mineral or slight chlorine taste that dominated the flavor profile. (An ammonia or chlorine flavor can be found in younger cigars, but this was not that taste. Especially considering that Kendal reportedly ages the completed cigars in cedar boxes for 120 days.)
As is the case of many brands, this vitola simply may not be the jewel of the line. Perhaps the Grand Toro with a generous 56 ring and inherent slower, cooler burning qualities might allow some flavors to develop. Theres also a torpedo and two other vitolas in the line.
In my humble opinion .An A for effort, appearance, craftsmanship, and the desire to recreate a successful cigar line from the past; but not worth the space in my humidor.
