Manufacturer: RomaCraft
Brand: La Compa De Panama Soberana
Size: 5x46/60
Price: $15
Rest Time: 3-Months
Burn Time: ? I gave up about 2/3rds through
Prelight: A beautiful pyramid shape sporting two racing stripe tobacco appliqués at the bottom of the stick and a closed foot. The cigar is tightly packed with some noticeable hard spots through out. Aroma is strong tobacco with hay & grass flavors. Prelight draw is a strong tobacco that actually burns the back of my throat, that's a new experience. I lop the cap with my Xikar Xi and we are off. Just before I light it I notice 3 large stems sticking out where the cut was made.
1st 3rd:
Upon lighting the first appliqué peels off and falls to the ground. The initial flavor is a mild tobacco with a bit of pepper on the finish. It's putting off tons of smoke on the draw and of the foot. The draw of the cigar is very loose, but the smoke is medium in body with no detectable strength. The cigar burns through the second appliqués which offers no flavor changes.
2nd 3rd:
The ash breaks off in a solid chunk, and the cigar goes out requiring a relight. Dominant flavor is still tobacco and there is a faint coffee flavor, but it is a burnt coffee similar to the smell inside Starbucks. Black pepper is really the only flavor on the finish. There is some mild strength coming in now, but nothing uncomfortable.
Final 3rd:
The strength has kicked up to a medium and I'm getting a little light headed and starting to sweat. The cigar requires two additional relights and I let it go out for good with quite a bit of the cigar left.
Summary:
Of all the cigars in my humidors this offering by RoMa Craft was by far the one I was most excited to try, and at $15 it is the most expensive cigar I have ever purchased. Yes, I know I'm a cheapskate. After trying the Intemperance, Cromagnon & Aquitaine, the La Compa De Panama Soberana was an enormous let down. It's a beautiful cigar to look at, but it lacks the complex flavors that make the other RoMa Craft lines great. For $15 you can get two of the other RoMa lines and you will get tons more flavor and a much better bang for your buck.