The Intemperance line from RoMa Craft is deeply rooted in prohibition. The temperance movement first began in America’s Protestant churches. The churches urged moderation before urging drinkers to help each other resist temptation. Ultimately they demanded that local, state and nation governments prohibit alcohol.
Today’s cigar is named after the Volstead Act, also known as the National Prohibition Act, which was an act of the 66th United States Congress that defined intoxicating beverages and prohibited their manufacture, sale, or transportation. It was passed in 1919 and went into effect on January 17, 1920, enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibited alcohol.
Belle Livingstone for who this size is named was born Isabel Graham, in Kansas but left her family and husband for the theater in Chicago. It was here she would adapt her stage name as her own. After a jaunt through Europe she would return to the U.S.A. where she would operate a speakeasy in NYC and become one of the Queens of the Speakeasies.
Cigar Review: Intemperance Volstead VO 1920
Size: Belle Livingstone aka Short Robusto (4.5 x 52)
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra Hybrid
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Nicaragua (Condega, Jalapa & Pueblo Nuevo)
Debut: June 2023
Box Count: 24
Final Smoking Time: 1 hours 32 minutes
The Cigar: RoMa Craft cigars have the hardest bands to remove in the industry. The best way to get them off is to smoke the cigar until the ash is just below the band and slide it off. The primary band denotes Intemperance while the secondary band denotes Volstead. Like most cigars from the company this one is loaded with oils and the wrapper is slightly recessed exposing the binder and filler. In the hand the cigar is of avg weight with no voids of tobacco.
The Taste: Once we removed the cap, the cold draw reveals a subtle sweetness of honey and and raisins while the aroma from the foot showcases earth, cocoa and a hint of roasted peanuts. Once the cigar is toasted and lit the initial notes are creamy and subtly sweet.
Smoking the first third of the Intemperance Volstead Belle Livinginstone reveals notes of cashews, coffee and earth. As we get pasted the first few puffs the earthiness establishes itself as the primary focal point.The retrohale serves up coffee beans and pepper and extends the finish of this delicious cigar.
As we begin the second third the earthy aspect of the cigar begins to fade with notes of cedar, cashews and coffee becoming the focal point. It’s incredibly smooth and medium bodied. In the background there are notes of honey, vanilla and a wisp of cinnamon. The retrohale continues to serve up coffee beans and pepper with a touch of fennel.
The last third sees us smoking the cigar until there is nothing left to hold. There are notes of cashews and coffee with a subtle cedar as earth returns as a background component. The retrohale has subtle notes of wheat and earth with a touch of pepper.
Conclusion: RoMaCraft cigars in the early days was built on social media with many of the cigars only available from direct order from Skip Martin who built his brands on Twitter, now known as X. After hooking up with Mike Rosales who had his own brand being made in Costa Rica the two wound up getting their own factory in Nicaragua known as Nica Sueno. The result was the next generation in boutique cigar brands that have become a mainstay in many humidors. RoMaCraft Volstead continues there legacy and is a great cigar worthy of discuss in Cigar of the Year.
Score: 94
Price: $7.75 (Before any local & state taxes)
