Moya Ruiz IL Ridotto Cigar Review – Enjoy Some Privacy!

We have been talking about it, other cigar bloggers have been talking about it, but now it is time to review it. The Moya Ruiz IL Ridotto which was announced at last years IPCPR and is now ready for review.It has been sitting in my humidor now for 3 months and has been calling out to be enjoyed since I got back from Vegas in July of this year. The IL Ridotto is the latest in the Moya Ruiz portfolio, a portfolio that includes such names as the Nunchuck, the La Jugada, the Rake, the Dim Mak, and the Chinese Finger Trap.

The guys from Moya Ruiz enjoy coming up with fun and at times quirky names for their cigars and packaging.Heck, they even have a cigar that was a response to the FDA deeming cigar regulations, known as the Civil Disobedience.

Don’t be fooled by the names though, the cigars that are coming out of this small  boutique company are no joke, they rank up there not only on Stogie Press but also other blogs and cigar magazines. I have known Danny Moya and Nelson Ruiz for a number of years and I have great respect for their craft. I was pleased when they handed me one of the IL Ridotto cigars at the show to review on Stogie Press. It makes me feel the respect is mutual.

So let’s get into the IL Ridotto, shall we? As noted this is the company’s latest offering and although it was announced in 2016, the full national release of the cigar is this year. The name “IL Ridotto means “The Private Room”. It is a continuation with the gambling concept the company has used on their cigars. IL RIDOTTO was the first public legal casino in Venice, Italy.

I though about that for a moment and decided to take the review out to my yard, surrounded with palm trees and a quiet, private place of solitude to enjoy a cigar. It was late in the day ad work was finished. The sun was setting and the crisp October air was gently blowing through the yard. The temperature was a perfect 72 degrees and the humidity was low. I could not ask for a better afternoon to enjoy a fine cigar.

The Moya Ruiz IL Ridotto

Moya Ruiz once again reached out to Erik Espinosa and his La Zona factory for crafting the IL Ridotto. As I write this, I am looking forward to some LA Zona Palooza fun this weekend in Miami and hopefully catch up with Danny and Nelson again along with the number of other brand owners who have collaborated with Erik Espinosa.

The IL Ridotto blend is described as:

• Wrapper -Brazilian Habano
• Binder – Nicaraguan
• Filler – Nicaraguan

It is available in two vitolas each packaged in 20-count boxes:

• Biribi (5 x 52) MSRP $8.00
• Basetta (6 x 52) MSRP $8.20

If you are curious about the names of the vitolas, they are derived from European gambling games; Biribi is a french style lottery and Basetta is a 16th century Italian high-stakes card game. For this review I sampled the IL Ridotto Biribi vitola that was provided to me by Moya Ruiz for the purpose for reviewing on Stogie Press.

Pre-Light Examination

The Brazillian Habano wrapper on the IL Ridotto is medium to dark brown that is light on veins and has a light oily sheen to it. The seams are tight, basically invisible, and it is finished with a triple cap. Running my finger along the barrel  I noted there is a light grit )mild tooth) tot he wrapper. This is good, as I expect some additional oiling to occur as it heats up through the burn.

The old nasal test, picks up a sweet hay and floral aroma off the foot whilst the barrel offered sweet fermented leaf and spice notes.

The band is classic in design using a black and gold motif. The center has a drawing of a Romanesque building with the words “IL Ridotto” printed over it. The words “The Private Room” are printed beneath offering the interpretation. Off to the right is the phrase “Est.1638 Venice Italy”which signifies the year the IL Ridotto was founded and off to the left is the is the declaration that this is a Moya Ruiz Cigar Company product.

I sliced the cap easily with my Palio cutter and gave a few cold draw puffs. the draw was not very restricted and delivered an earthy set of notes.

It was time for some privacy and solitude as I fired up the IL Ridotto

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Cigar Review Notes

• Initial light opened with some white pepper
• Oaky sweetness quickly followed
• Light grey ash rests on a medium char line
• Cinnamon and apple notes enter – wow that is a fine flavor note
• Slight off burn starts but stays consistent so far
• Full volume of creamy smoke
• Cedar after an inch
• The apple turns more towards a plum note
• Caramel nougat with a continued cinnamon spice lingering in the background
• Aroma is getting more nutty
• A subtle chocolate appears in the second third
• Citrus peel enters half way
• Aroma shifts to spicy and sweet
• Finally had to do a touch up before the band and the long ash fell
• Slightly off centered burn cone
• Decent oiling on wrapper
• Cinnamon continues into the final – the left side of my tongue is fired up with a citrus note and fruit
• Sprinkle of salt enters towards the nub
• Walnut finds its way in at the end
• Medium Strength
• Total Smoking Time was just over one hour to the nub

Other than the mild off burn the IL Ridotto from Moya Ruiz cigars, is a fine cigar and was quite unique in its flavor presentation. The omnipresent cinnamon made it a delight to smoke as sweetness, caramel, fruit, chocolate, and cedar blended throughout. I would to love get these in my Trick or Treat bag. This is most certainly a cigar well waiting for from Moya Ruiz. At the easy price point, this is a cigar that would make for fine rotation in your humidor.