My review of J.R. Ultimate Toro Maduro

[veteranvmb]

I purchased a five pack, and let them rest for 2 months at 68 and one month at 65.
FIRST let me give you my all around opinion.

This is one classy upscale cigar. One of the best I have had. I have never referred to a cigar as classy, but thats the best way I can describe this cigar.

So I go to the park, and take this out of the cigar caddy. I have kind of avoided smoking anything by JR. thinking it would be a joke of a cigar.
So I purchased the ultimate, because I see it referred in cigar books as a legitamite brand onto itself.

First the cigar felt dense, but pliable. Not too heavy for its size, but definatley a beautiful thing to look at.
The wrapper was just about the best I have ever seen. It was just about perfect. Not absolutely perfect like some of the photos I see of the 30 dollars cigars, but for a three dollar cigar, it was smooth as silk, a beautiful light chocolate color, and oily. It smelled real nice.

I clipped using a dollar guillotine cutter, and I dont think I cut it great, as I had a bit of peel from the wrapper at the head, which I peeled off, but that was it.

I took a single torch lighter to the foot, and tried not to touch the flame, and the tobacco which was densely packed, started to heat up, and start to smoke, and change color. A beautiful light up.

I held the smoke in my hand, and thought what a classy looking smoke this is. If I took the band off of it, and told people it was a such and such cigar, I dont think they would know the difference.

I starting puffing on it, and the draw was perfect for myself. I dont like to fight a cigar on the draw.
Nice amounts of smoke, with immediate flavors of cedar, cocoa, coffee, leather, nuts.
I could tell this was a full flavored cigar, from the get go, but never harsh. A mild spicy on the side of the tongue and roof of the mouth, as opposed to throat.

I got around a third down in about 15 minutes. The second third turned up the cedar a bit, maybee a little cinamon, but never lost its other flavors.

About half way down, and with a third left, it needed a slight touchup. Nothing much, just a second of flame to the wrapper.

This cigar stayed great and I wanted to smoke it down to my fingers, but as always with a new cigar, I wanted to take it apart.

I put it out with about 2 inches to go. The wrapper was ultra thin. Just seems like a one coat wrapper. Amazing. I could tell it was thin, because as I was smoking this delicious cigar, about two small patches of wrapper must have fallen off, and exposed just a touch of the lighter colored binder.

Sort of like a tree trunk, that has a little scar in it where you can see the wood. No big thing, I dont think bad construction, just an ultra thin wrapper. A thing of beauty in my opinion.

So I take it apart, and like I said a very thin wrapper, but a beautiful multi wrapped binder. It was rolled great. When I tried to unfurl the filler it was difficult at first. The tobacco was very dense and I had to tear it with my fingernail, to pry it open.
It was actually hard to undo the filler. Kudos, to whoever rolled this masterpiece.

This cigar has to be one of the best three or four cigars I have smoked. I will definatley buy a box(bundle) to rest and put in my rotation. I cant say that for many cigars.

If this cigar was served after dinner at some fancy restaurant, I dont think you would hear one complaint, only praise, as long as they did not know what brand they was smoking.

JR. You made a real nice inexpensive cigar.

MUch regards Jerry

[andrewsutherland2002]

Great review, thanks!
I'll have to pick one of these up sometime. I am a fan of the Alt series, but some of the alts suck too. I have heard some good things about the ulitmate line.

[gjcab09]

Thanks for the review, Jerry, I wonder about the ultimates every time I thumb through their catalog.

[Arnie]

Wow! Great review. That helped me make up my mind. I was trying to decide whether or not to buy some to try. I like the Edicion Limitada Alts. I'll have to get some Ultimates. Thanks.

[Wacco]

I have been buying the Ultimate Toro in either maduro or oscuro for 15+ years.

The review is dead on.

Buy what you can soon, as I hear the price will go up around the holidays.

[MrMayorga]

The alternative to the Ultimate isn't that bad either.

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by Wacco

I have been buying the Ultimate Toro in either maduro or oscuro for 15+ years.

The review is dead on.

Buy what you can soon, as I hear the price will go up around the holidays.

How does the oscuro compare to the maduro if any. 1)in appearance 2) flavor

Its funny, I am looking through the JR. alternative catalogue(the big beautiful catalogue, that only shows cigars with their jr alternative, and they even have alternative for their ultimates.
Amazing.

Much regards Jerry

[smokin nightly]

Very good review Jerry! I have always overlooked these cigars, but now I just might try one....

[Wacco]

Oscuro is much darker, and more tooth. The flavor difference is slight. A tad more mellow.

[JGIORD]

Wow, nice review. I never gave this cigar much thought. I need to find some to try.
Thanks