Stogie Reviews: Camacho Corojo Churchill
7 Nov 2007
With a reputation as “one of the strongest cigars in the world,†Camacho Corojo has a lot to live up to. In my experience, unfortunately, the hype over strength and quality isn’t justified.
Grown at Ranchos Jamastran in Danli, Honduras, the tobacco used in this blend is supposedly descended from rare seeds that were smuggled out of Cuba after the embargo took effect. That sounds pretty interesting, so I hope it’s true.
The Churchill is a slender seven inch by 48 ring gauge cigar that retails for around $6. It has a slightly disheveled, rustic look, mostly due to the wrapper’s sandy texture and some random lumps. The surface reminds me of childhood trips to Lake Michigan’s dunes.
Adding to its unique character is the fact that the stogie is faintly crooked. If you look closely at the picture you’ll be able to see what I’m talking about.
For all these so-called “flaws†in appearance, however, pre-light I’m still not concerned. After all, some of my favorite sticks aren’t classically beautiful (Alonso Menendez and Dona Flor come to mind); what I’m most interested in is taste and smoking performance.
After establishing an even burn, the first thing I notice is a flavor that isn’t nearly as strong as I had expected. The warm, natural tobacco taste is pleasant and earthy, but certainly not what I’d call full-bodied.
From there, a subtle spice continuously builds as the smoke progresses and – at the midway point – sweet chocolate notes join in to add some complexity. The flavor profile remains this way until the very end, which left me a bit bored.
The construction isn’t great either with a burn that won’t keep lit, a gray ash that falls off all too often, a tight draw, and a wrapper that is frail and easily torn.
Notwithstanding the fact that this cigar isn’t the full-bodied masterpiece it’s made out to be, overall I’m left fairly disappointed. The appearance is sub-par, the flavor isn’t exciting, and the physical properties leave much to be desired. Your $6 would be better spent on another stick, and that’s why I’m giving the Camacho Corojo Churchill two and ½ out of five stogies.
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Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
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I'm not terribly surprised that, like this particular stick, Camachos haven't fared so well on this site. This is not one of my favorite brands, and I often find myself agreeing with your reviews. Thanks for the information.
Camachos are hit and miss for me. I really find myself liking the Diplomas though.
It does look crooked…like my wang.
I just finished one of these. It wasn't as strong as the Diploma, but I did thoroughly enjoy it. Nubbed it even. The ash split in an odd pattern at first, but it had an easy draw and burned very evenly. I have yet to smoke a bad Camacho Corojo Diploma, though this Churchill was an "average" cigar IMO.
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Seems like you got a dud. I think the Camachos perform best in smaller sizes. I have had a dud here and there but for the money I find these are dynamite, like the Oliva O but more earthy.
The Camacho Corojo is one of my favorite smokes, especially at the price. I find the Churchill to be a bit overwhelming and prefer the torpedo or toro sizes.
Monarca or Diploma are the cuts to buy. By far my favorite cigar you can "legally" buy. I have a handful of Opus Xs in the humidor but reach for the Camacho before them in a heartbeat.