Namakubi – Room 101 Cigars. 4X48

Hello again.  Tonight should be a nice one on the porch.  We have a highly touted newcomer from Room 101.   The Namakubi.     From my limited knowledge, I am under the impression that a Namakubi is a severed head that is offered as a gift.    Now would be a good time to point out that we on the porch accept gifts.

A quick pre-light roll around the tongue (and who doesn’t appreciate one of those every now and again) reveals very little.  It isn’t going to reveal its secrets quite that easily.  After a quick clip with a beyond-cool limited edition room 101 brass knuckles cutter,  the pre-light flavors are very much apparent.   It certainly displays strength that was not in the pre-cut roll. (we know this is obvious, but we point it out for those that are new to the world of cigars.  We aren’t arrogant, here)

This cigar is “listed” at a 4×48.  We found ours to be a solid 4X49, but in theory that just means one notch of extra cigar…  free.  No complaints.

The slow light reveals a spice that is expected in a Habano wrapper.   It quickly subsides into a mellow smoky spice.

Josh points out that anyone wanting to revive that early spice can exhale through the nose,  a technique I tend to not participate in.  I have heard how it allows the full bouquet of taste and flavor to expand to all of your senses, but I honestly tend to focus on the taste as it applies to the tongue and taste buds.

Josh is immediately taken by the flavors.   “If I blended this cigar, I would be bragging about it.  This is NICE”

I feel that is has almost a citrusy (citrusish?, citrusesque?… probably not a word) tang to it.  Josh doesn’t taste it, but he inserts the caveat “yet”.     He notes that the flavors he is experiencing are settling in the middle and back of the tongue but spreading forward. It has a great in-mouth flavor.

After two minutes we both agree that there is a LOT going on within this cigar.  A lot of smoke,  and a nice flavor that is quickly developing.   “This is GOOD” continues Josh.  “I’m a half inch into it,  and if it remains consistent I am buying a box.”  That’s high praise from a guy that uses his fame to leech cigars from others.

A touch of sadness then crosses his demeanor.   ” In a sense, I’m disappointed, because I have been looking forward to bashing and riffing a bad cigar, but this won’t be the one.”  at which points he breaks into a smile.  His background in comedy allows him to destroy cigars that don’t suit him with a surgical elegance, but this one is beyond bashing.  He’s going to enjoy it.

Josh is still trying to avoid crediting me with detecting a hint of citrus by saying that he wouldn’t describe it as citrus, but he does admit to the fact that  it’s “very refreshing, with a crisp flavor like well-brewed iced tea.”   His verbose nature takes over and he continues,  “I’m not trying to sound cheesy like the description on a  bag of Starbucks coffee, but I see myself smoking this cigar in a linen suit in a Bogainvilla-covered veranda after dining on Paella and roast pork.”   Of course he is the only one who knows what the heck that means, and so he does his best to clarify his verbose filibuster by revising it to “…this cigar has character.”

After another quick lament regarding his inability to verbally destroy a cigar,(I almost hate to say this but I am tired of getting good cigars,  It’s much easier to bash bad cigars than to describe good ones.   We need another Chaveta)    …he continues his description of the Namakubi’s strength.  “It’s not going to sit your on your can,  but the profile is filled with character.   It’s rolled well, it draws perfectly and it maintains copious smoke.”  ( I feel like he has been playing “Password”)

After another few minutes and the first ash, we agree that ours have been very consistent.      “I hit the sweet spot about 6 puffs in, and it has stayed there for the last half hour.”

DISCLAIMER:  Josh, being a man of stage and storytelling is in rare form.  If you don’t enjoy Kipling, or Hemingway  just read this, nod, and pretend you understand. (and don’t you DARE say “I have never Kippled”)

“I was at the National Storytelling Festival many years ago.   There are thousands of people outdoors, milling between storytelling tents that hold as many as 5000 people.   Of COURSE you have to step outside the tent to smoke.   I stepped out of a tent and immediately detected someone smoking a cigar.  The aroma permeated the area.   Because of the crowd, it took quite a while to find him.   He was standoffish, and away from the crowd, so as not to offend anyone with the delightful smoke.   THIS cigar (meaning his current Namakubi)  is the cigar I would smoke that if I were in similar situation.  The aroma of this cigar would draw the cigar smokers out of the tent.  It’s THAT different, distinct and distinguished (alliteration unintended… I think)  The aroma is very refined, as is the flavor.  It has an original  specificity to it that will make other cigar smokers take note.”

Believe it or not, he isn’t finished.   “Many cigar smokers know a Fuente by aroma, as well as other “big name” cigars.  THIS cigar will draw brothers of the leaf asking “what is it?”    Josh refers to this phenomenon as being on the “burning end” of the cigar, as opposed to being the one smoking it. He then points out that being on the “burning end” of this cigar would be delightful, but not as delightful as being the one puffing it.

(His next ramble involves his dislike for the phrase “brothers of the leaf”, pointing out that there are plenty of female cigar smokers out there, and that we are more accurately “COUSINS of the leaf”   We have decided to post his hypothesis on this concept  in a future post.  Keep an eye out. You will get a kick out of it.)

A purge with about 1 1/2 inches remaining mellowed it out even more. (Just something to note if that is your preference.)

Josh called his cigar at a relaxing and enjoyable 45 minutes, due to heat.    ”  I don’t want to remember “hot”  I want to remember how incredible this cigar was.  I suppose I am becoming more of a connoisseur than a glutton.”

His final thoughts on this cigar are clear and straightforward.   “This cigar wasn’t blended to kick anyone’s ass, it  was blended to make cigar smokers appreciate the art that went into it.  This will NOT be the last one I smoke.   Look for a box to appear in a humidor near me.    You should probably get some for yourself as well, because you can’t have one of mine.”

If Josh isn’t sharing, that means he has his hands on a great cigar, and the Namakubi from Room 101 is just that.  ANOTHER top 10 for me and perhaps a top 5 for Josh.   If you EVER agree with EITHER of our opinions, find one and TRY IT.  It’s fantastic!

One final emotive note regarding the influence of destiny on our cigar choice this evening.   “This one landed between my fingers because someone far, far away;  Babe Ruth,  pointed at me and hit it here.”   DEAD ON.