"Despite having to battle a wonky burn throughout, this stick was nothing short of incredible in my book! The complexity was never over the top and the transitions just made sense. Salty and sweet flavor profiles danced a beautiful tango back and forth across my palate for the entirety of the smoke which made for a thoroughly interesting and enjoyable experience. The strength and complexity of this stick remained a solid medium from start to finish which would make it a sound choice for anyone wanting to graduate to a bolder flavor profile without being punched in the face by strength and body. 10 out of 10 will be seeking this one out to round out my normal smoking rotation." -Noah S. (Noah
"Very spicy cigar from beginning to end. The only exception was on the cold draw, which has sweet tea notes. The spicy notes include notes of cinnamon, jalapeno, and black pepper, and licorice. Veiny construction and hard spots that don't hinder the pleasure. Good draw and burn. Very strong grey-white ash that hangs on for half of the cigar. I'd smoke this stick again and include in my humidor." -Sean F. (fullermaine)
Room101 came out with the original Daruma in 2012 as a sequel of sorts to Namakubi. The cigar disappeared from the market a handful of years later, but now in 2023, the line is making a comeback.
"This cigar, although milder than I'm used to, was a very impressive performer with the construction and the flavors presented that worked so well. I'd try this again as a morning cigar or one I'd try with a fresh palate to really discern the flavors and aromas. I'd recommend this to new and seasoned smokers alike." -Kevin J. (maninblack77)
"This was a very good cigar. It stayed in my wheelhouse in the mild to medium strength. This cigar gave me some interesting flavor notes that I appreciated with a mixture of nuts, cedar and other wood notes, root beer (?), salt, and even a salsa note at one point as well as some popcorn aromas on the aromatics. Very enjoyable cigar for the 2 plus hours that I smoked this. I highly recommend picking up a fiver at least. I know I will be picking up more once I know what this is. " -Mickey T. (irratebass)
"From the time I snatched it from my humidor to the time I laid it to rest in the ashtray my experience with this stick was splendid! Each and every puff was robust with rich and pleasant flavors that were well blended, well rounded, and well balanced. There were no noticeable transitions that took place, but with such incredible flavors that harmonized so well together I wasn't upset by that fact and my palate was plenty entertained throughout. Most notably, this cigar was incredibly smooth from start to finish and the smoke output was simply impressive. This stick would be a great pairing with any number of beverages including a morning cup of coffee, a rich stout, a glass of bourbon, or even a nice red wine. Hurry up already with the reveal please!!!" -Noah S. (Noah)
"It's a shame the construction really took away from what could have been a quality session. The flavor profile was never really a problem, as this was a pleasant smoke flavor-wise. Being on the lighter side, this would work well for an early morning cigar. Unfortunately, when you have to focus on the construction issues as much as I did, it ruins any chance of enjoyment. Could be that it's a one-off and I just got lucky. " -Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
"From start to finish this cigar billows out a ton of smoke. Great complex dark flavors. Starts strong smokey molasses and hickory. Then middle and end notes of coffee and cocoa come in to develop some complex darker flavors. Retrohale started light black pepper and musty flavor with it converting to the end more intense black pepper and no musty flavor. " -Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
"As I sit and ponder the cigar I just finished I am reminded why I smoke cigars. It is for experiences like this…wonderful flavors, excellent performance, and a perfectly relaxing 90 minutes where the troubles of the day disappear and I feel like the richest man in the world. Cigars like this remind me of how this is a luxury for everyone and I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who has a liking for full flavor and just enough power to keep them humble. I could smoke this daily, and would be proud to have boxes of this on the top shelf of my display humidor. I can say with a certainty I will be buying a box after this is revealed." -Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
"This is one of those cigars that might create problems with some smokers. The flowery ash and uneven burn might cause some to relight it too many times. This would change the flavor profile for most. If they can get past all of this they might enjoy the smoking experience. All that being said, this cigar is a “Don’t judge a book by its cover” kind of cigar. You should try it out and see what you think." -Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
