Royal Jamaica Park Lane
Day two of my vacation time, and what could be better than writing about cigars... Unless it's smoking cigars while writing about them. I may need a new definition of fun.
Today, my choice is a sentimental favorite. Back when I first started smoking cigars at 17, the easiest place to get them was this convenience mart/cigar shop/porn store in Voorhees, NJ on Route 561. The best brand of cigars they had there was the Royal Jamaica. By the time I was at Penn, and going to Holt's frequently, either my taste changed, or the cigar boom was killing of the supply for well established brands. Either way, Royal Jamaica went down in my esteem and I smoked my last one circa 1996.
Flash forward to yesterday, and I see this rebranded Royal Jamaica , or "Royal Jamaica Oro Rojo" (Red Gold.) And I saw they kept the old size names in place, searched and found the Park Lane. Perhaps my favorite size, as in addition to it's size, is a Perfecto, like the Ashton Cabinet Selection #2, and I have a weakness for the odd shaped cigars. So I took a risk and bought it, figuring it would be a win-win. Either the brand had rebounded and I would enjoy my cigar, or the brand still sucked but I could give a negative review thereby increasing my credibility.
Like the rest of it's Jamaican brethren, it's pretty mild, but it's not weak like I tend to find natural wrapper Macanudos (as opposed to the maduro Macanudo. ) That might be due in part to the reddish wrapper (I'm not sure what effect the Colorado wrapper has on taste.) It's not my favorite tasting cigar, It doesn't taste as well as I remember when I liked them, but it's not as bad as they were when they went downhill. It's well constructed, it's burning (that's right present tense) really even. The draw started out tough, which is to be expected with a perfecto but once the burning end opened up it's been a pleasure. The smoke is cool, and I haven't had to relight.
Stats: It's a perfecto 6 inches by 47 ring gauge. It's going to take about an hour to smoke. Holt's has them for $5 a piece in the store, otherwise you have to buy them by the box.
A $5 bucks, the cigar is a little pricy for my taste, but well within average for a brand name cigar of it's size. I would recommence them to somebody who likes Macanudos but is eager to try something a little bolder. I don't think I will pick up any for awhile, but it would be nice to have from time to time.
Comments
The previous comment is a bit incoherent. It sounds like I was a fan of your family's handling of the brand, and was disappointed when they sold. Either way, I don't think I'll being picking up any cigars from the Gore family in the future.
Posted by: Mitya Gore at September 18, 2006 5:07 PM