RoMa Craft Tobac cigars launched in 2012 and have become known for their bestselling premium boutique cigars, which are among the most popular on the present-day market. Their cigars combine painstaking development time with premium tobaccos and the expertise of master tobacconists.
This approach leads to some impressive scores in RoMa Craft cigar reviews, such as the RoMa Craft CroMagnon, which scored a 93% rating and finished in 15th place on the overall list of cigars launched in 2016.
In this RoMa Craft Neanderthal review, we'll look at how Neanderthal, launched on the main market in 2015 but continually updated with new vitolas, holds its own against its highly regarded siblings in the RoMa Craft cigar line-up.
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos NicaSueno SA
- Wrapper: San Andres Mexican
- Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
- Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Pennsylvania
- Smoke time: 2.5-3 hours (RoMa Craft Neanderthal LH)
- Sizes available: RoMa Craft Neanderthal HoxD (4 x 46)
- RoMa Craft Neanderthal SGP (4.25 x 52)
- RoMa Craft Neanderthal LH (4.75 x 56)
- RoMa Craft Neanderthal Figurado (5 x 52)
How is the Neanderthal constructed?
In this RoMa Craft Neanderthal LH review, we're looking at the 4.75 x 52 vitola introduced in 2019, which it's worth noting was the first box-pressed variation on the original 2014-15 RoMa Neanderthal.
Neanderthal is constructed using a blended filler of Nicaraguan, Dominican Republic, and, somewhat unusually, USA Pennsylvania tobaccos. The Pennsylvania Green River One Sucker tobacco used in Neanderthal is a dark, air-cured double ligero leaf, which helps to give Neanderthal its heady punch.
The premium filler is accompanied by a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and a deep brown San Andres Mexican wrapper, box-pressed and flat-capped to create a squat, square-looking stick that's superbly space-saving in your humidor.
What I thought to the cold draw
The flat cap on the Neanderthal LH means you can clip it razor-thin and retain as much as possible of the stick for the longest possible smoke. On the cold draw, expect malted chocolate and cocoa aromas, accompanied by red berries and a hint of red pepper, making a Fall-spiced scent that sets the scene on a cold, crisp and clear day toward the tail-end of the year.
How did the Neanderthal taste?
Neanderthal has plenty of flavors, with a slow burn and intense retrohales. By the middle third, you should find yourself accustomed to the strength, after which it's plain sailing right through to the nub, but be prepared and if you think a high-intensity first third will be a challenge, have plenty of cold mineral water by your side.
First Third
Right off the start line, Neanderthal brings flavor by the bucketload, with primary notes of Mexican earth and dark chocolate, as well as a significant mineral presence, zesty lemon and green jalapeno spice. It's a heady mix with powerful retrohales, but it's mellowed out by a surprisingly creamy finish. Neanderthal is a slow burn, so you can take your time over it.
Second Third
While the chocolate remains ever-present throughout Neanderthal, in the middle third that earthiness increases in intensity. The citrus zest stays in the background, giving the retrohales that feeling of orange or lemon sauce served with Chinese chicken.
Final Third
As the journey enters its final phase, the earthy notes remain at the forefront, joined by the smoke of toasted peanut shells. There's a spice of horseradish in the retrohales, although none of the burning sensation you might expect from that. Overall flavor and body are at the top end of medium-full throughout, leaving a little roughness on the tongue.
How strong is the cigar?
RoMa Craft Neanderthal is a strong cigar and the LH vitola mentioned in this review is one of the strongest, reportedly making even greater use of that high-nicotine Pennsylvania GROS tobacco. The result is a strong-body, full-strength stick that's best savored on a full stomach. Pair RoMa Craft Neanderthal LH with a neat bourbon and you're in for a powerful journey from start to finish. Alternatively if you want a non-alcoholic pairing, opt for something sweet, sparkling and citrusy, like a lemon-lime soda.
Closing thoughts
We love RoMa Craft Tobac cigars and the Neanderthal line as a whole is no exception. This RoMa Craft Neanderthal LH cigar review gives a good idea as to why this is the case. The flavors are blended expertly, the profile is full-bodied and strong, and the brand is not afraid to bring in some less common ingredients not as a gimmick, but in pursuit of the ultimate premium cigar smoking experience.
RoMa Craft Neanderthal cigars are produced in relatively small quantities each year, so don't wait too long to place your order. With different Neanderthal vitolas available in packs of five and boxes of 15 or 50, you can get the number of sticks you want at great prices when you order from Cigars.com.