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Cigar Review: Room 101 Namakubi Ecuador Ranfla

26 Mar 2013

Namakubi Ecuador is the latest release from Camacho’s Room 101. It is a combination of two previous releases: OSOK (One Shot One Kill) and the original Namakubi.

Room101-Namakubi-EcuadorThe filler is Honduran and Dominican (the same as the Namakubi), while the wrapper and binder—Ecuador Habano and Honduran corojo, respectively—come from the OSOK. (Though OSOK conspicuously isn’t mentioned by name in Camacho’s press release for the cigar. I’ve heard that trademark will stay with Edgar Hoille, who now makes his cigars separate from the Camacho umbrella.)

The line comes in four sizes: three figuardos and one small parejo dubbed the Papi Chulo that debuted in the Namakubi line. The cigar has the same samuri-inspired packaging as the Namakubi, including paper tubes for the larger three sizes.

For this review, I smoked four of the Ranfla size, a 5.5-inch mini diadema that has a 30 ring gauge at the head, 50 in the middle, and 19 at the tapered foot. The cigars sell for $50 for a 5-pack or $90 for a box of 10 at Emerson’s.

Pre-light the draw shows some woody spice and clove. Once lit, I found roast coffee beans and burnt toast flavors along with oak and slight floral notes.

The cigar starts out medium-bodied but pretty quickly ramps up to medium- to full-bodied. The flavors really hit the front and roof of your mouth, and the interplay between the Ecuador wrapper and Honduran tobacco is evident.

Fans of Honduran tobacco should definitely seek out this new cigar. Others might find the dominating woodiness lacks balance.

Either way, it’s a welcome addition with admirable construction and a flavor combination not replicated by anything else on the market. That earns the Room 101 Namakubi Ecuador Ranfla three and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

4 Responses to “Cigar Review: Room 101 Namakubi Ecuador Ranfla”

  1. Foe Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 8:11 am #

    Two of my least favorite flavors: dirt and wood. More cigars these days seem to emphasize those than any other. Why is it so hard to find cigars with naturally sweet & savory dominant flavors anymore? Are the plants not being left long enough in the fields to accrue the requisite starch in the leaves or what?

  2. Anderson Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 9:05 am #

    Doesn't sound terribly appealing to me, either.

    And I wonder how much of the price is reflective of the actual tobacco vs. marketing and packaging.

    Have not been a fan of Room 101 in general…

  3. mighty Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 2:06 pm #

    Absolutely did not like the original OSOK….Isn't it now reblended by someone else? It was nothing but cedar, wood. cedar. wood…I can find those flavors in a $4 cigar…

    This cigar doesn't sound that great either..

  4. Clay Thomas Friday, June 7, 2013 at 12:18 pm #

    I have smoked the Namakubi and I enjoyed it. It isnt my favorite, but as I tend to smoke a couple of cigars per day, my favorites tend to get worn out. The Room 101 Namakubi and Daruma are both welcomed additions to my humidor. Try and Daruma and take notice of the note on the outside tip of the wrapper. P.B.F.Y.!!!!