Cigar Review: RoMa Craft Intemperance BA XXI Ambition Belicoso

Intemperance was the first cigar released under the then-newly formed ultra-boutique RoMa Craft Tobac Company. Produced in their Fabrica de Tobacco NicaSueno factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, the cigars are made with passion and eagle-eyed attention to quality. 

The Intemperance BA XXI is a rich, full flavour smoke that delivers a strength profile of a solid medium to full-bodied cigar. This blend is comprised of a dark Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper, a binder from Indonesia, with a two-country blend of filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The result is a highly impressive solid rich cigar that’s loaded with flavour.

About the RoMa Craft Intemperance BA XXI Ambition Belicoso Cigar

Owner: RoMa Craft
Factory: Fabrica de Tobacco NicaSueno
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican
Strength: Medium – Full
Size: Belicoso – 5 1/2 by 54 ring gauge

Reviewed by: Ross from the Windsor shop

The Beginning

Once the Intemperance BA XXI was all warmed up, I paid extra attention to the early smoke with the exposed binder and filler. I had a lovely burst of pepper to get things started. Once the wrapper was burning, notes of chocolate emerged as the pepper settled down. In this case, this seemed like a classic pepper volley to start a cigar.

As the cigar burned, chocolate and pepper remained, but I also had notes of oak and a slight sprinkle of demerara sugar.

The Middle

In the middle, a warm, nutty, woody flavour emerged in the background.  The oak notes moved to the background, and I found this mixture of flavours really pleasant.

The End

In the end, the peppery notes take full control of the coffee notes. The coffee notes were now in a supporting role. The end of the cigar is still flavourful. The spice hits on each puff. The nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature, so you could just keep on going without fear of a lip burner.

Burn

The Intemperance BA XXI performed very well in the area of burn and draw. The burn line remained straight from start to finish requiring minimal touch-ups. The ash did not have much flaking and was on the firm side. For the sake of vanity, you can keep the ash on for a long time. The burn rate and burn temperature were perfect.

Draw

As for the draw, it had a touch of resistance to it; my favourite type of draw.

Overall

The Intemperance BA XXI is an outstanding cigar. This blend seemed to click very well in the Belicoso format. The cigar has outstanding flavours and top-notch construction. Whether a novice or an experienced cigar enthusiast, if you’re looking to explore RoMa Craft for the first time, this is the perfect cigar to start with.

Ross Rating: 7/10

What alcoholic drink would I pair the RoMa Craft Intemperance BA XXI Ambition Belicoso Cigar with?

Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Bourbon American Whiskey (70cl / 45.7%)

This whiskey will be the next must-try Bourbon and will most likely be as hard to get as Blanton’s. Try it while you can, as it pairs so well with cigars like this.

What soft drink would I pair the RoMa Craft Intemperance BA XXI Ambition Belicoso Cigar with?

Dr Pepper, please. 

Would I smoke the RoMa Craft Intemperance BA XXI Ambition Belicoso Cigar again?

It delivers a nice flavourful experience right in the medium-full strength range. As for myself, this is definitely a cigar I will be smoking again.