Intemperance Volstead VO 1920 - Value Cigar of the Year 2023

Twenty twenty-three proved to be the year of the Sumatra, at least as far as RoMa Craft Tobac was concerned. Where the leaf hadn’t previously been used as the wrapper component throughout their portfolio, it made two appearances in 2023, securing both the Intemperance Volstead VO 1920 and the more limited Quinquagenario.

The prior cigar joined the company’s Intemperance brand, becoming the fourth blend in the collection. Like former such releases, the cigar is themed around the temperance movement of the early 20th century, with ‘Volstead VO 1920’ referencing the Volstead Act, which established the prohibition of alcoholic drinks in the US.

The cigars make use of an Ecuadorian Sumatra hybrid-seed wrapper that is likened more to Cameroon seed (as Cameroon stems from Sumatra seed), being derived from Besuki tobacco of Indonesia. This leaf surrounds a diverse interior recipe of five leaves from three countries, being offered in a wide range of sizes (five of which are regular production, while there are six other limited offerings). Like former Intemperance releases, the cigars are priced for the everyday enthusiast, delivering a surprisingly nuanced experience for the affordable market. With a medium-plus intensity, the smoking experience leans toward that of warm baking spices, being zesty through the retrohale with notes of red pepper flakes, nutmeg, subtle caramel, and an interesting component reminiscent of a hot toddy cocktail.