Today we’re looking at the next cigar coming out in RoMa Craft Tobac’s Intemperance line called the A.W.S. IV. Back in February we had the news story about this cigar, which for the time being will only be available at RoMa Craft events starting in May.

The A.W.S. IV is going to be part of the focus of their upcoming ad campaign with three more cigars slated to be released under the same moniker.

As far as the background and idea for the Intemperance line as a whole, the description from Hava Cigar Shop’s website explains it as follows:

Intemperance is our first cigar release under the newly formed RoMa Craft Tobac company. Produced in our Esteli, Nicaragua factory (Fabrica de Tobacco NicaSueno), Intemperance is presented in two capa varietals and four vitolas.

The branding for Intemperance evokes the history of prohibition and features a logo inspired by a famous artifact of the temperance movement, a propaganda poster/political print produced by a temperance hymnodist, A.D. Fillmore in 1855.

Intemperance EC XVIII (Ecuador Connecticut)

In the 18th century a global temperance movement began in rural Connecticut. After World War I, the movement began to spread like wildfire throughout the United States, and across the globe, as religious and women’s groups spread the gospel on the evils of alcohol.

In 1919, the temperance movement achieved their goal when the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States established a national prohibition on the consumption of ‘intoxicating liquors’.

Intemperance BA XXI (Brazil Arapiraca)

Following the ratification of the 18th Amendment, an intemperance movement was born. The Volstead Act had effectively turned every consumer, merchant and producer of alcohol into a criminal; organized crime took root. Without market and regulatory controls, alcohol became more dangerous to consume. The court system was brought to the brink of failure under the weight of criminal and civil cases related to prohibition. After a little more than a decade, public opinion had been turned and the effort to repeal prohibition emerged victorious with the ratification of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Despite the dismal failure of this ‘noble experiment’, the temperance movement marches on. Perhaps this is no better represented than in the form of the modern tobacco control movement, also known as the anti-smoking movement.

In the last sixty years, this anti-smoking movement has grown in influence and power much in the same way the temperance movement before it grew. We believe that it is well past time to initiate our own modern intemperance movement.

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As with the rest of the Intemperance line the A.W.S. IV will also come in the two different wrappers – the EC XVIII (Ecuador Connecticut) and the BA XXI (Brazil Arapiraca).  As stated above, for the time being these will be event-only cigars, though Skip Martin has stated that all four of the A.W.S. IV cigars will eventually be added to the existing Intemperance lineup.

As it stands the current lineup consists of the two different wrappers in five different sizes:

• Intemperance BA XXI The Ambition/Intemperance EC XVIII The Industry — 5 1/2 x 54 ($7.00)
• Intemperance BA XXI The Envy/Intemperance EC XVIII The Faith — 5 x 50 ($6.50)
• Intemperance BA XXI The Avarice/Intemperance EC XVIII The Virtue — 4 1/2 x 52 ($6.00)
• Intemperance BA XXI The Intrigue/Intemperance EC XVIII The Charity — 4 x 46 ($5.00)
• Intemperance BA XXI A.W.S. IV/Intemperance EC XVIII A.W.S. IV

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Now you know the background, so let’s get to the review.

• Cigar Reviewed: Intemperance BA XXI A.W.S. IV
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos NicaSueño S.A.
• Wrapper: Brazil Arapiraca
• Binder: Indonesia
• Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
• Size: 6 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 44
• Vitola: Lonsdale
• MSRP: $6.50 (Boxes of 12, $78.00)
• Release Date: May 2013
• Number of Cigars Released: n/a
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 2

Picking up the cigar I notice the wrapper is slightly rough to the touch and a little oily but it looks amazing. With a perfectly applied and virtually veinless wrapper the cigar really made me stop and stare before I cut the cap. Lacking a band the focus is really brought to the wrapper, which in this case is a good thing. The aroma coming off the wrapper has leather and barnyard notes and the cold draw brings fantastically rich notes of sweet cocoa, leather and licorice.

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Starting out the first third there is some of the cold draw’s cocoa and leather, but also a touch of cedar and a blast of black pepper virtually coating the back of my tongue. The draw is a little tight but the burn of the Lonsdale is impeccable. Light grey, almost white ash easily holds to over an inch. The black pepper has started to calm down significantly allowing a nutty, cocoa infused profile with bits of cedar and leather, to really shine. The draw has opened up a bit as well and the A.W.S. IV continues to burn sharp and even.

Moving on to the second third the Intemperance has smoothed out even more with the pepper but a distant memory. The complex profile has developed into a sweet dried fruit note with hints of cocoa and a nuttiness that all complement each other perfectly. Between the ash continuing to hold well over an inch and the burn line razor sharp you can really see the care and skill that was put into making these cigars. Overall the cigar is full-bodied and around a medium strength, which is perfect in my opinion. Any stronger and it might overwhelm the complex and full flavor profile.

The final third has developed once again past the smooth sweet profile and developed a level of creaminess that only perfects the bouquet of flavors that have persisted throughout the Intemperance BA XXI A.W.S. IV. Hints of cinnamon are sprinkled in with the sweet dried fruit, nuts, and touches of cocoa. I was able to smoke the cigar until it was burning my fingers and all without a single hint of harshness. 

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Final Notes:

• The wrapper really was fascinating to feel and watch turn into ash. In this photo you can see the roughness of the wrapper perfectly translated into its ashy counterpart:

• I enjoyed the Lonsdale size immensely. It’s the perfect compliment to The Intrigue – a little longer and skinnier for when you have more time to enjoy a cigar from the Intemperance line but want to stay under the 50 ring gauge mark.
• The release nature is similar to the CroMagnon Atlatl, Mode 5 and Slobberknocker. It’s only going to be available at events, for the time being.
• I just feel I need to reiterate how great the burn was. While it’s not too big of a deal to have to touch up a cigar every once in awhile, it sure is nice when you can light your cigar and leave your lighter lying there for the remainder of it.
• After months of holding out, Skip martin recently announced the Intemperance line will be getting bands.
• The cigars for this review were provided by Skip Martin of RoMa Craft Tobac.
• Final smoking time was just over an hour and a half.

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The Bottom Line: I’ve been a fan of the Intemperance line since I first tried it and the A.W.S. IV is no exception. I think the blend is phenomenal and the thinner ring gauge only allows the Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper to shine even brighter. An amazing flavor profile with impeccable construction only added to my appreciation of the cigar. While it might be hard to get your hands on these to begin with, especially if you don’t have a RoMa Craft event coming to a shop near you, the good news is these will eventually be available outside of events and easier to obtain. Whether it’s at an event or elsewhere, I can easily suggest picking up a box of these. Lastly, with a box of 12 only setting you back $78.00, the question isn’t so much if you should buy a box but how quickly can you find a box to buy.

Final Score: 92