1. March 11th, 2021 This is a classic robusto. I hadn't tried one for six or seven years and had forgotten what a gem it is. I left the box sitting in my humidor for more than two months, untouched, concerned that it might be a little young; the date stamp on the box is May 2020. Surprisingly, it wasn't young at all. This was a perfect medium to full bodied hour-long Cuban smoke. Couldn't get any better.
Construction: Perfect 5x50 robusto with a slightly oily, wrapper and solid construction.
Draw: Perfect draw, excellent smoke production. No excess heat, not even at the nub.
Burn: A bit wavy to start, but self-correcting and thereafter perfect.
Flavour: Delicious, smooth, Cuban flavour, with a touch of pepper and becoming creamy in the second half. At first a little milder than the RJ Wide Churchill, but soon becoming a flavour bomb.
Body: Started mild to medium body but developed to a rich and satisfying full body.
Strength: A good medium strength - never overpowering.
Finish: Good, long finish
Aroma: Excellent, complex aroma.
Consistency: Consistently good. No weak spots.
Time smoke: Sixty five minutes
Overall: Very satisfying to the nub.
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| Good to the nub. |
2. August 19th, 2021 This one wasn't as rich and creamy as the first one. It was still pleasant, but not as satisfying as the previous sample. There was no discernible pre-light aroma; not a good sign. It didn't develop into the flavour bomb of the first sample; possibly not as well packed. Nor was the wrapper noticeably oily. I doubt that oils would have dried out over the last five months as it was kept in its box in stable humidity. Aroma popped out from time to time and finish was quite long and pleasant. There was a hint of creaminess in the second half. But it was not consistent. The cigar was quite strong, despite its medium body. But flavour was a bit lacking. 55 minutes.
3. October 15th, 2021: As with the August sample, this one lacked body and strength. I gobbled it down in 50 minutes. The comments from August could well apply to this cigar: pleasant but not satisfying.
4 and 5. January 14th, 2022: I shared one with a friend, (or should I say, we shared two!) Mine was a bit resistant in draw. His was fine. Mine had a very pleasant rich, delicious flavour, with an occasional puff of sourness, (such as characterizes the Joya Red Canonazo which I reviewed). But mostly, body was adequate and the flavour was good: a medium roast with a little bit of pepper and good to the nub. 60 minutes. Satisfying.
6. May 20th, 2022: This cigar started off with more than optimal resistance. Flavour was a bit muted, with the sour thinness of the Joya Red, mentioned in the January sample, above. There was nothing Cuban about it. After about an inch the draw opened up and the cigar took on a more medium to full body and flavour become more complex. The sourness was still there, but it was a much more complex flavour than the Joya. Aftertaste was complex too. The final inch was sour, but there was more strength and complexity than the first inch. Around 70 minutes. Quite satisfying but not quite there.
7. August 14th, 2023: This one was plugged. It felt a bit heavy in the hand. Draw didn't resolve and the cigar started cracking and falling apart at the nub. Flavour and body resembled the La Auroro 107 Sumo Robusto, however, I've never had a construction issue with a La Aurora. The cigar last more than an hour, however it wasn't satisfying by any means. Considering the price of these cigars now, the 107 Sumo Robusto is a far better option.
8. December 5th, 2023: An excellent example of the blend; as good as it gets. This one was quite heavy in the hand, rich, complex Cubanesque flavour, excellent aroma, decent burn and adequate draw. If only they were all like this.Very satisfying
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