At this years Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show, Royal Agio Cigars showcased the latest rendition of their famed Balmoral Añejo XO brand. Known as the Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua it joins its brethren the Añejo XO (original), Añejo XO Connecticut and Añejo XO Oscuro. The company started shipping the Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua in August of this year.
The Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua has a multi-country blend that is described as:
- Wrapper – Nicaraguan Habano
- Binder – Brazilian Cubra
- Filler – Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Brazil.
The Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua is expressed in 5 vitolas:
- Torpedo Mk52: (6 1/4 x 52) MSRP $11.25
- Gran Toro: (6 x 52) MSRP $10.50
- Rothschild Masivo: (5 x 55) MSRP $9.75
- Corona: (5 7/8 x 42) MSRP $9.00
- Petit Robusto FT: (4 1/4 x 48) MSRP $8.50
As with all Balmoral Añejo XO cigars, the Añejo XO Nicaragua is hand crafted at the company’s factory in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic.
For this review I sampled the Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua Rothschild Masivo.
Pre-Light Examination
The Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua is a medium brown cigar that has a light grit to the wrapper and a decent oily sheen. It has a well applied cap and is solid in the hand and seems well packed. There a just a few veins running through the barrel.
I found the bands on this cigar to be attractive to the eye. There are two bands, each using a ruby red, burgundy, gold and white motif. The primary band proudly displays the Balmoral “B” in gold on a burgundy shield. The word “Nicaragua” is printed in script on the bottom. The secondary footer band declares this as the Añejo XO “Rothschild Masivo” vitola. The bright ruby red strip on both bands is an excellent accent that would draw me to look at the cigar on a humidor shelf.
Now that we’ve got past the attractiveness of the Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua it was time to run the old sniff test on it. As I ran it under my nose I detected a sweet fermented leaf aroma along barrel and intriguing nut and chocolate notes off the foot.
I straight cut the cap with my double blade cutter and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that were nicely restricted and filled with notes of earthiness and light pepper.
Well, like all good cigars, it was time to turn the Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua to ash. I used my double flame torch to warm it up and draw in the first sweet and peppery puffs of smoke to start the journey.
Cigar Review Notes
- Sweet and peppery notes to start
- Full volume of smoke right off first light
- Floral fruit aroma wafts off the foot
- Light grey ash grows on top of a wavy, medium char line
- Almond nuances grace the palate
- Chocolate notes fill out the profile
- Wavy burn
- Ash fell with centered burn cone
- Earthy with a hint of sweetness entering the second third
- Off burn developed that required a touch up
- Nutty notes deep in second third
- Butter joins the nut
- Dry fruit finishes the journey
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Overall, I found the Balmoral Nicaragua Anejo XO Rothschild Mastivo to be flavorful and long smoking experience that was medium in strength. Enticing notes like almond, chocolate, nut, butter, and pepper filled the palate. It did have a wavy burn that eventually grew into an off burn deep in the second third and required a mild touch up. This is one that is worth picking up a fiver and we rate this a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-2) Mild run in burn; (-1) Required Touch-up
