You don’t always associate youth with cigars. When most people are asked what images are conjured up by the lofty Habano, the idea of an English smoking room appears with a bunch of old books, high back leather chairs, and plenty of stuffy English aristocrats slowly enjoying very, very expensive cigars. Not so when talking about the cigars that Matt Booth has brought to the market in the last few years. The mastermind behind the Room 101 line of cigars has continually offered up fresh and innovative blends that delight the palate. So it is true with his Namakubi line of cigars.
Namakubi Story
I’m not going to go into the back story on what the name “Namakubi” means. There are plenty of reviews online that will tell you that interesting story. I want to focus on the fact that this is only the third offering from Matt Booth and his friends at Camacho. This is a very limited line of cigars, and the look and feel of the presentation is top notch. The low profile satin black box presents the cigars exceptionally well, as does the blood red Asian skull design that compliments the box and the cigar band. Mr. Booth definitely has a keen sense of style and shows it without being flashy or pretentious in his smokes.
Statistics –
Name: Room 101 LTD Namakubi Monstro
Produced by: Camacho
Distributed by: Davidoff of Geneva (FL) Inc.
Country: Honduras
Factory: Tabacos Rancho Jamastran
Filler: Dominican & Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Wrapper: Ecuador
Size: Toro
Ring Gauge: 60
Length: 5 Inches
Appearance –
I like big ring gauge cigars and the Monstro is definitely a big boy that has a very soothing tan wrapper which is smooth to the touch. A few almost unrecognizable veins were accompanied by a nice subtle tobacco odor that I noticed immediately when I held it up for a close inspection. Then in honor of my friend Mr. Booth, I used my anointed Room 101 Xikar cutter and prepared the cigar to be smoked.
Construction –
The initial draw was smooth and the cigar lit up well. I saw no flaws in the construction and one would expect no less from the premium torcedors in the Camacho factory. The cigar was well rolled and had just the right amount of give when I checked it for hard spots. Even though it is a big cigar, it felt well balance between my fingers.
Burn –
As I smoked my way through the massive 60 ring, there were moments when the cigar would start to burn just a tad unevenly, but somehow it always caught up with itself as it smoldered. The ash was white and very flaky, so much so that the ash would break apart into little piles as soon as it touched the tray. I expected a lot of smoke from the Monstro, but it didn’t materialize as I had anticipated.
Flavor –
Matt Booth has put together a very surprisingly smooth smoke that developed into a fullness that was never too light or too over the top. This stogie starts off with a subtle citrus leather taste that by the end is full on spice that resonates with deep earthy flavors. To say that it was hard to put down is an understatement. It only left my hand briefly in the hour or so that I smoked it.
Finish –
Some palates may not appreciate a cigar like this one (that’s one more good reason for me to smoke it, Ha-Ha), but a well-defined one will definitely enjoy all of what the Namakubi has to offer. There was never a moment that I was disappointed, and I nubbed it down to the sweet spicy end. If you haven’t had one of these blessed smokes, then I would get out to your brick and mortar and grab up as many as you can. Matt has said once they are gone, then they are gone.
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