Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 60 Gordo Box Pressed
Strength: Full
Price: $13.50

April 10, 2026 Update: This was my #16 cigar of 2019. I found a deal at Cigars International that has this cigar at only $4.80 each and then CI throws in a fiver of the Man O’ War Virtue…when you buy the 10-count box for $47.99.

SMELL THE GLOVE:
Big nose gulps of chocolate, espresso, creaminess, cedar, malt, caramel, peanut, honey, and raspberry.
The cold draw presents flavors of chocolate covered raspberries jells, cream, malt, cedar, raisins, malt, vanilla, and licorice.

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
As dense as this huge cigar is, the draw is spot on. I put my PerfecDraw Cigar Adjustment Tool away for another time.

First puffs are redolent of black pepper and creaminess. Malt follows with some intense fruitiness. Plus, there is a strong smoky oak element that envelops the profile.

A large percentage of AJ blends are ready to smoke quickly after receipt. One of my favorite things about his cigars…you don’t have to wait months and months. But I do find that that the Man O’ War series doesn’t have staying power if given too much humi time. These are sticks meant to be smoked in their prime. They are not the type of blends that blossom after years of storage.

Just a nipple hair’s breadth into the cigar, complexity begins to formulate a plan. Transitions are at the starting gate with maximum security. The finish is dominated by the spiciness of the pepper.

I did expect the black pepper to be overwhelming but, in fact, it is modulated and balanced so as not to interfere with other flavors. Nice.

I’m an AJ fan…big shock. And I like the Man O’ War series. In fact, I feel that this multiple blend pack of upstarts, using the same title, represent the comfort factor of how AJ blends cigars. Sort of his platform for other blends.

Huzzah! I’m having zero burn issues. This may be a first. Alert Fox News.

Flavors are just warming up. The discreet complexity that started so early is wrapping its arms around the aforementioned flavors and new ones popping to the surface. There is a real intense nuttiness made up of hazelnut, Brazil nut, and almond. Makes me hungry.

The creaminess is the star of the show. It coats the coffee, chocolate and malt with a warm blankey and hands it a binky.

Nicotine jumps in way too early. I thought my fuzzy vision may have been from sniffing glue too early in the morning. Sadly, this stick is built to kick ass and let Darwin do its thing…to weed out the men from the other men (No idea what that means). Run, newbies, run…By the time I finish this cigar and review, my grammar will that of a 5-year old’s.

I try not to start the morning on an empty stomach smoking a cigar that wants to kill me but sometimes you gotta take a bullet for the group.

Milk and honey make their move. The blend needs a balance of sweet and savory and up til now, it was only savory. The added sweetness really helps boost the confidence of the blend.

This cigar is going to take all morning to smoke. I plan on just writing til I hit 4500 words so that you can take your phone into the bathroom for a dump and still not finish my review.

Strength is full tilt now.

The Man O’ War Ruination 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Gordo is beginning to spread its wings as flavors dig deep providing a real sense of appreciation of what AJ can do. I don’t know what process he used to make this special edition Ruination different, but I can now taste a remarkable road its traveling to impress.

I like the original Ruination but this baby is reaching for a new level of competence. There is a richness brewing that doesn’t appear in its namesake.

The cigar jumps the shark and becomes amazingly smooth. It’s deep richness shines like the sun we never see in Wisconsin. Balance is perfect.

Flavors I’ve mentioned are joined by cinnamon graham cracker, lemon zest, mushroom, and black grapes.

Creaminess branches out its tentacles by including cappuccino, milk chocolate nougat, and Crème brûlée with that rich custard flavor accompanied by the caramelized sugar. Impressive.

The strength has been tamed by a greater force than the Cosmic Muffin.
My vision begins to return as the nicotine calms down.
By far, this is my favorite Man O’ War blend. It takes the series to a new level.
Lord, this is a delicious cigar.

I expected a flavor bomb status by now but it is cruising Whittier Blvd. It is not an in your face blend. Subtleties abound. I’d put this cigar up against some of the finest boutique blends.

The flavor profile explodes. Bold but still perfectly balanced.

A sip of water and my mouth is full of luxurious flavors. I’m not gay…not that there is anything wrong with that.
The spiciness is on the money. As strong as this cigar is, I expected an overflow of black pepper. Rather, it is in the mix but is a nice cherry on top of this tobacco sausage.

Normally, I don’t like behemoth cigars. The Man O’ War Ruination 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Gordo is on point with an ever-changing regimen of interesting elements that puts a smile on my punim. It is reminiscent of some Isabela cigar blends that keep changing as the cigar burns down.

The halfway point is reached in an hour and 10 minutes of smoke time. Will I survive? Will I begin to babble? Will I be able to find my testicles if I need them?
The burn needs its first minor touch up.

Oh man, stop reading this and buy some. I saw somewhere how limited edition this cigar is but now I cannot find that info. Regardless, it won’t be around long.
Construction is immaculate.

The intensity is at 11. Every puff brings something different to the palate. It becomes so much richer in the second half. Ptooey on Padron. Now I wonder if AJ had meant to show them up by producing a spectacular blend for a mere fraction of the cost of a good Padron.

Nicotine reappears. The laptop screen is a blur. I’m typing from memory.

“Frankenstein” by The Edgar Winter Group is playing. I remember the first time I took acid in 1972 that this song came on the radio and when the synthesizer solo began, my buddy, Mike Cook and I freaked out and couldn’t figure out how to turn the radio off.
Remember kids, just say no…unless it’s free.

The blend is now just plain unbelievable. Holy shit. The complexity is through the roof. Man, I’m glad I just bought more. $8 for this cigar? It puts those $12 best ever cigars to shame. The cigar is dancing around all your favorite boutique blends like a drunken stripper.
Ever date a stripper that was just drop dead gorgeous who had hips like a meat grinder? Me neither. Long ago and far away.

Creaminess, malt, chocolate, espresso, graham cracker, dried fruit, brown sugar, licorice, citrus, Crème brûlée, extreme nuttiness, cedar, cinnamon, smoky oak, mushroom, vanilla, nougat, and peanut.
The strength remains powerful but tamed.

I’m now in my second hour. All of it super enjoyable.

The cigar is built like a tank. AJ made sure that only his best rollers were on the job for this baby. I can name a laundry list of more expensive cigars that don’t touch the hem of the Man O’ War Ruination 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Gordo.

At this writing, there isn’t a single review of this cigar. I don’t know if is due to it being a limited edition or what. At first, I thought…Uh-oh. The cigar has dispelled my concerns.

SRV is playing. Impossible to ever get tired of listening to that man’s music.

You definitely need to block out an afternoon for this cigar as it will take that long to finish it.
This is where I usually say I prefer a Corona Gorda…nope, not this time. One of the few blends that stands up to being huge and maintaining a dazzling flavor profile.
I’d be a lot more entertaining if the cigar was a dud but it ain’t.

I’m now wondering why AJ chose to place this blend in the Man O’ War category. It could have easily stood on its own as a new blend from AJ. This cigar is head and beard above the other MOW blends.

“Rocky Mountain Way” by Joe Walsh is playing. This song was a watershed moment for me as a bassist. In 1973, I saw the band play live on TV and noticed the bass player was using a fretless. As he swayed to and fro with the beat, I was mesmerized. It took 7 years before I had the guts to get my own fretless but that’s how I remember the event affecting me.

The cigar flames out at 2 hours 35 minutes.
Not a harsh or bitter note evident. Smooth. Balanced. Complex. But I do feel like I’ve dropped a quarter hit of acid.
Tell the wife you need the money for a kidney transplant and get some.

April 10, 2026 Update: You can snag a ten-count box from non-sponsor Cigars International for only $47.99. And they throw in a fiver of the Man O’War Virtue. Plus it includes free shipping. There are two promo codes available you can try: CIAFFCJO20 or SMILEY20.

RATING: 94

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS