Romacraft Intemperance BA XXI Contempt
📌 Brand: RoMa Craft
📌 Line: Intemperance
📌 Vitola: XXII Contempt (Corona Gorda, 5 3/4" × 46)
📌 Weight: 13.0 g
📌 Age: 3 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua
Tasting Notes
Espresso & Dark Chocolate – Bold, rich, almost bitter-sweet foundation
Black Pepper & Red Chili – Sharp spice with a warming bite
Earth & Leather – Rustic undertones building depth
Roasted Nuts & Oak – A smoky, toasty backdrop with lingering woodiness
First Impressions
The XXII Contempt comes wrapped in a velvety Brazilian Arapiraca leaf, slightly toothy with visible oils. Its corona gorda shape feels substantial despite the compact size. Pre-light aroma offers barnyard earth, roasted coffee beans, and faint cocoa, promising intensity from the first draw.
Smoking Experience
First Third – Immediate burst of espresso bitterness with red chili-like heat. Cocoa lingers, balanced by cedar and pepper.
Second Third – Spice mellows slightly; roasted nuts and charred oak rise, layered with leather. The retrohale is sharp and satisfying.
Final Third – Earth and wood dominate, espresso grows darker, and a smoky, lingering finish closes out a bold, full-bodied ride. Construction holds despite the small format, with strong ash and razor burn.
Pairings
Alcohol: Armagnac Darroze 20 Year Les Grands Assemblages – Deep prune, walnut, and rancio notes resonate with the cigar’s espresso and dark chocolate, while the spirit’s silky sweetness tempers the spice.
Tea: Japanese Gyokuro (Shaded Green Tea) – Umami-rich, grassy, and slightly sweet; its freshness slices through the smoke’s heaviness while echoing the earthy backbone.
Music Pairing
“Entre Dos Aguas” – Paco de Lucía → Rapid, fiery strumming channels the sharp peppery bite and lively tempo of the first third.
Final Thoughts
The RoMa Craft Intemperance XXII Contempt punches far above its size: concentrated power, earthy grit, and an unapologetic spice kick. It’s not an entry-level smoke—this is for seasoned palates who want a full-bodied, compact cigar that refuses to compromise.
Final Score: 9/10
Why not a 10?
there are moments with bitterness which wasn't very enjoyable
Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.