Load up the 60 cal, Light up the 60 ring!

Have you ever smoked two different vitolas of a particular cigar and loved one and the other is just...meh? Of course, personal preference enters into it, but I think that in every line there's one shape that's ideal for the blend. Apparently, Matt Booth agrees. He just provided us with a third in a series of limited-edition blends that will definitely blow your hair back - Room101 Muzzle Loader. 

This Room101 collaboration with rock star blender AJ Fernandez is only available in one shape - a sturdy 6"x60 ring gauge Gordo. This shape is optimal for the intriguing blend that Matt and AJ concocted. The first thing you'll see after the amusing artwork on the band is a silky, chestnut-brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Under the hood is a blend of long-fillers from Nicaragua and Mexico, all held in place with a Nicaraguan binder. This is the heartiest of the short-run Room101 blends, coming in at a solid medium-full.

Muzzle Loader is a nicely balanced blend which is probably why they decided on the larger ring gauge that lessens the influence of the especially flavorful Habano wrapper. Distinct notes of cedar and oak come through, along with a leathery character. There's plenty of spice here, but it's complex and somewhat subtle with hints of allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. These flavors linger int he background, as to be part of a unified flavor rather than taking center stage. There's some pepper on the finish, but again, its not dominant. There's no question that this is a robust stick, but the balance is so even that it never overpowers the palate. 

Construction is spot-on, as you would expect from a cigar coming out of AJ's factory, but gordos are notorious for canoeing or a wonky burn. That's not the case with Muzzle Loader. The burn is even just abut all the way through and it produced a nice firm ash that held together exceptionally well. I tend to avoid thicker cigars, but I'll bite the bullet (pun intended) with Room101 Muzzle Loader because I think that the hefty size makes the blend's flavor sing. Even if you prefer robustos, toros, or coronas, you'll be cheating yourself if you don't try this cigar.