Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut Rothschild Massivo

[Don Fernando]

Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut Rothschild Massivo. Since Balmoral started with the Añejo series, several releases have been done. It started with the Añejo 18. That got a follow-up release a year later in another size. Then the Añejo XO was launched. An Oscuro version came on the market and now a Connecticut version. It was launched in the USA in 2018, and in 2019, some European countries saw the cigars appear. First Germany and Switzerland.

The wrapper is American grown Connecticut Shade. From the Connecticut River Valley. As a binder, Indonesian Sumatra was used. And the filler for this blend comes from Pennsylvania, Brazil and the Dominican Republic. Brazilian tobacco comes from the Mata Norte region and is one of the more exclusive Brazilian tobaccos.



Name: Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut
Country: Dominican Republic
Factory: Agio Caribbean Tobacco Company
Size: 5×55
Vitola: Rothschild Massivo
Wrapper: USA (Connecticut River Valley)
Binder: Ecuador (Sumatra)
Filler: USA (Pennsylvania), Dominican Republic, Brazil (Mata Norte)
Price: € 8,70
Cutter: Xikar X2
Lighter: single flame
Smoke conditions: indoors with ventilator
Smoke time: two hours
Sponsored by Royal Agio

THE REVIEW

The wrapper is pale. It has a cheesy brownish color. The bright white and blue ring, with the embossed gold letters, is clean and contemporary. The cigar feels well constructed, the triple cap is nice. The cigar has a strong aroma. It smells like fresh cut young wood, pepper and sawdust.



The cold draw is good, with a mild tobacco flavor. Once lit, a sweet yet mildly bitter flavor of young wood is tasted. Accompanied by a mild peppery harshness. Dry leather comes in and takes over before a slightly sweet yet clear musty flavor enters the palate. It’s a typical flavor that comes with Connecticut Shade wrappers. The cigar has young wood, leather, cinnamon, pepper, salt, and that mustiness. The flavors are balanced, nuanced and there is plenty of dynamics going on. The final third is a mixture of those flavors but with some peanuts and an ever-growing pepper. The peanuts disappear while the pepper grows. Then suddenly, right before the finale, the pepper disappears and the cigar gets more grassy with leather.



The draw is great. The smoke is very thick, and a lot when it comes to volume. The burn is razor sharp. The ash is dense but breaks off easily. The cigar is mild to medium in body, medium-full flavored. The blend is fantastic except for that mustiness that comes with Connecticut Shade. 



Strength: mild-medium
Flavor: medium-full

with pictures & video:
https://ministryofcigars.com/balmora...child-massivo/