Room101 Cigars, the creative brainchild of Matt Booth, celebrates 17 years in the premium cigar industry with the release of the Room101 17th Anniversary Toro. For this special release, Booth once again partnered with acclaimed cigar maker A.J. Fernandez to create a limited-edition Nicaraguan puro that showcases the tobacco grown and cultivated by Fernandez.
Manufactured at the A.J. Fernandez factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, the Room101 17th Anniversary represents another chapter in the brand’s evolution. The cigar is presented in a single 6 × 52 Toro vitola and is limited to 2,500 boxes of 20 cigars, representing a total production of 50,000 cigars.
While the blend is advertised as full-bodied, my smoking experience settled comfortably into the medium-strength category, delivering a balanced combination of peppery spice, cream, dark chocolate, and subtle fruit nuances.
For this review, I sampled the Room101 17th Anniversary Toro, which carries an MSRP of $15.89.
Cigar Specifications
- Brand: Room101 Cigars
- Cigar: 17th Anniversary
- Vitola: Toro
- Size: 6 × 52
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez
- Blend Collaboration: Matt Booth and A.J. Fernandez
- Strength: Medium (as experienced)
- MSRP: $15.89
- Packaging: 20-count boxes
- Production: 2,500 boxes (50,000 cigars)
Pre-Light Examination
The Room101 17th Anniversary Toro is presented with a dark brown wrapper that exhibits a fine oily sheen. There are noticeable veins and a bit of marbling throughout the wrapper, adding some character to its appearance. The cigar is finished with a well-applied cap and demonstrates solid packing and an excellent roll.
The Room101 17th Anniversary Toro features a striking purple band accented with white lettering and trim. The left side displays the ROOM101 name, while the enlarged circular centerpiece features a white cherry blossom emblem above the inscription “17TH ANNV.” The right side displays the years 2009 and 2026, commemorating the brand’s 17-year history. Thin white borders frame the band, giving it a clean, contemporary appearance.
The reverse side presents a contrasting pearl-white finish with the phrase “no good deeds” printed prominently in black Gothic-style lettering.
Running the barrel along the nose, I detected a pleasant sweet fermented leaf aroma, while the foot offered inviting notes of chocolate and nuts.
I sliced the cap and proceeded with the cold draw, which was spot-on in terms of restriction. The initial notes offered a creamy sensation on the palate, followed by a gradually developing peppery spice that grew with each successive draw.
Overall, the pre-light examination revealed a well-constructed cigar with an appealing combination of sweetness, cream, chocolate, nuts, and spice.
The Smoking Journey
First Third
Once fired up, the Room101 17th Anniversary Toro immediately greeted me with a dose of peppery spice, especially on the retrohale. The cigar delivered a full volume of smoke with each puff, while a light gray, almost white ash began forming on a thin char line.
A touch of earth joined the early profile, adding another dimension to the initial peppery notes. After approximately half an inch of burn, the creaminess detected during the cold draw began making its way into the developing profile, helping to round out the spice.
The ash fell in a small chunk, revealing a flat but centered burn cone. Deep in the first third, dark chocolate notes entered the mix, complementing the cream and peppery spice. The opening third offered a pleasant balance between the sharper peppery notes and the developing cream and chocolate components.
Second Third
Moving into the second third, the cigar continued to deliver a pleasant combination of cream and peppery spice. A mild fruit essence appeared on the retrohale, offering a subtle contrast to the core flavors. By the midway point, the dark chocolate notes had intensified, accompanied by a more refined spice component. The interplay between chocolate, cream, and spice provided a balanced experience as the cigar progressed through the second third.
The burn remained fairly even, with the ash continuing to drop in decent chunks. Smoke production remained full, and the draw continued to perform well. The second third was particularly enjoyable as the dark chocolate became a more prominent component of the profile without overwhelming the underlying cream and spice.
Final Third
Entering the final third, the spice began to increase in intensity, becoming a more prominent component of the profile. Deep in the final third, a hint of espresso joined the mix, adding a darker, roasted dimension to the closing experience.
The burn continued to behave fairly well. There were no significant burn issues reported during the smoking experience. The cigar finished at a solid medium strength, offering a satisfying conclusion to the journey. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Final Analysis
The Room101 17th Anniversary Toro delivered an enjoyable smoking experience highlighted by a combination of peppery spice, cream, and dark chocolate. The opening peppery spice gradually gave way to a creamier profile, while dark chocolate notes developed deep in the first third and intensified through the midway point. A mild fruit essence on the retrohale added a subtle layer of complexity, while refined spice helped maintain balance through the second third. The final third brought an increase in spice intensity, complemented by a hint of espresso that rounded out the closing profile.
Construction was solid, with a fairly even burn, full smoke production, and a well-performing draw. The ash tended to fall in smaller chunks, but this did little to detract from the overall experience.
Although marketed as a full-bodied release, I found the cigar to be medium in strength, making it an approachable option for enthusiasts who enjoy a flavorful Nicaraguan puro without an overwhelming nicotine presence.
At an MSRP of $15.89, the Room101 17th Anniversary Toro offers an enjoyable 90-minute smoking experience with enough flavor development to keep the palate engaged. Certainly Box-worthy.
