| ring: | 52 (fat) |
| length: | 127mm |
| beginners: | maybe a little overpowering |
| price: | $9.90AUD |
| summary: | handsome cigar, great value, highly recommended |
The first thing I noticed about this Brazilian robusto was that it’s a very aesthetically pleasing cigar. The outer wrapper is a smooth, light-coffee creamy colour with a very slight reddish hue; unblemished with scant, thin veins. The stick feels firm and thickly packed.
This fine construction is the unmistakable sign of a fine cigar, which may be surprising given it’s relatively modest price: I picked mine up for $9.90AUD, which is a good deal cheaper than most Cuban cigars of half it’s stature.
It maybe a small detail, but I also quite like the simple and understated, yet classy white band. With that stylish white band, I can easily imagine a box of these would be well suited left available for guests at a wedding reception. According to the Stogie Guys, the cigar now comes with a different band, and although I haven’t seen what that new band looks like, I think that is a bit of a pity.
Rest assured, it’s not just a handsome cigar. Pre-light, the cigar gives off a nice, but quite faint aroma which only hints at the good things to come. Once alight, the smoke is rich, creamy and aromatic. As the excellent construction may suggest, the draw was easy, without being too loose, and the burn was even and strong right down to the last inch-and-a-half, at which point the cigar and I parted ways. The ash was firm, white and held very strongly, to the point where a fairly vigorous tap failed to dislodge it even once it had grown past an inch in length.
I didn’t find it to be an incredibly complex flavour. As with all cigars, “cigar tobacco smoke flavour” dominated; however, I also detected some sweet, rich leathery tones and slight roasted coffee flavours, which started to become apparent about 1/4 of the way in. As time went on, I started to taste hints of what I could only describe as undertones of fruit … or, more specifically, apricots! That sounds a little absurd, and to be honest it’s a taste that I have trouble putting to words – but it was a pleasant flavour however you choose to describe it, and only barely perceptible.
Considering that it is a good deal cheaper (where I come from) than most Cuban cigars of half it’s size, and in my opinion, a much more enjoyable experience, this smoke represents outstanding value. I’ve had four of these in the past few weeks and they won’t be my last. If you can find them then I would highly recommend trying one out.