Cohiba Royale Robusto 5/30/20

Appearance

A beautiful Nicaraguan broadleaf wrapper with a few prominent veins and a good bit of tooth. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. The cigar is made in Honduras.

Aroma

Earth, dried red fruit, cedar and spice on the wrapper. Red fruit, molasses, earth, cedar and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Molasses, earth, dark chocolate, a hint of mint, cedar, and cinnamon spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth, cedar, faint red fruit and mild cinnamon spice all wrapped in a leathery texture. The draw is firm but not snug. At 1/2” in the burn is near perfect. I’m getting a lot of bits of tobacco in my mouth in the early going. Some black pepper notes join the profile but it’s well within balance at this point. The burn is developing a wave even though I continually rotate the cigar. The ash is salt&pepper gray and tightly stacked. Strength is medium. The ash held on for 1.5” and fell off into the ashtray before the end of the 1st/3rd.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end I find a double tunnel separated by 1/8”, one larger than the other. Hence the mildly erratic burn. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range. The red fruit notes match the increase in black pepper spice intensity. The tunnels appear to be gone and the burn is self correcting just past the halfway point. Cashew notes join the profile. The black pepper spice is now more prominent than the cinnamon spice. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, red fruit, cashew and a black pepper/cinnamon spice combo.

Final/3rd

Entering the final/3rd the 1/8”and 1/4” tunnels have reappeared but have not adversely affected the burn yet. Burn & draw are spot on. One inch from the end, the burn gets erratic again. The black pepper spice tapers back and the cinnamon spice becomes more prominent in the spice department. Strength moves to medium+. Burn line fully self corrects again. The complex, well balanced and flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall

The Cohiba Royale Robusto provides a very enjoyable smoking experience even with the mildly erratic burn issues. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with great draw and mildly erratic burn.

At $26 it may be a bit out of reach for some cigar lovers but if you can afford it definitely give it a go.

Havana Soul IV Toro made by AJ Fernandez for Cigar King 5/25/20

Appearance

A dark chocolate colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins and tightly wrapped seams. The Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper leaf has a nice light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earth, floral, dark coffee bean, cocoa and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Earth, cocoa and a hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earth, cocoa and a hint of spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth and cocoa with a pinch of white pepper spice. The draw is a tick snug. Burn has a small wave. The ash is light gray, almost white and stacked. Almost at the end of the 1st/3rd and the burn is razor sharp. The draw has opened up as well. The ash was holding firm and straight but dropped at 1.75”.

2nd

The ash gets a bit flaky. Strength is medium. Smoke production is at the high end of medium range. Burn gets a bit wavy again. Upon inspection of the working end I find a tunnel on each side just under the binder causing the wave in the burn line. Some espresso notes join the profile. Strength moves to med/full. The finish is long with notes of earth, cocoa, espresso and white pepper spice.

Final/3rd

The burn has fully self corrected. Some crushed red pepper spice joins the profile. The well balanced and flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall

The Havana Soul IV Toro provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a great draw and mildly erratic burn.

Balmoral Serie Signaturas Paso Doble Robusto by LFD 5/24/20 Collaboration with Litto Gomez

Appearance

A medium brown colored wrapper with a few thin veins and tightly wrapped seams. It has mostly a matte finish on the wrapper but there are spots where the oily sheen is very visible. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots. The presentation is top shelf, the colors on the main band and foot band have a perfect contrast.

Aroma

Cedar, earth on the wrapper. Cedar, earth and a faint spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Dried red fruit, cedar, earth, leather, unsalted peanuts and a hint of spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, earth and just a pinch of spice. The ash is salt&pepper gray, stacked and a bit flaky. The draw is a tick snug. The burn is a bit wavy. Strength is at medium. Smoke production is at the low end of medium range. Unsalted peanut notes join the profile. The ash held firm and straight albeit looked suspect until removal.

2nd

Burn is still wavy due to a couple of pinhole tunnels near the binder. Dried red fruit notes join the profile. At this point the profile is very well balanced. About the midway point the draw opens up. The spice increases into balance with the rest of the profile. Smoke production is at the medium range. Strength moves to medium+. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, unsalted peanuts, dried red fruit and a mild cinnamon spice.

Final/3rd

The well balanced and flavorful profile continues into the final/3rd. Midway in the final/3rd the burn line evened out. The well balanced and flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall

The Balmoral Serie Signaturas Paso Doble Robusto by LFD provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a good draw and mildly erratic burn.

This collaboration cigar was blended by Boris Wintermans of Balmoral Cigars and Litto Gomez of LFD Cigars.

Definitely a cigar to try.

My Father The Judge TAA Robusto 5/23/20

Appearance

A dark brown colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. It has a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earth, chocolate, cedar, molasses and spice on the wrapper. Earth, cedar, dried fruit and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earth, cedar, molasses, chocolate raisins and warm cinnamon spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth and cedar. There is a pinch of black pepper spice but it’s barely noticeable. The burn has a bit of a wave. The draw is a tick snug. The ash is salt&pepper gray, stacked and beginning to bloom. The black pepper spice is now at the trademark Pepin level which I am not a fan of. The original The Judge line does not have the heavy black pepper spice and I find it very delicious. The ash holds firm until removal.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end I find 3 tunnels in a group close to the binder which is the cause of the uneven burn. With the help of simple physics the burn is self correcting. The strength is at medium+. Smoke production is at the medium range. The draw is now effortless and the smoke production is at the high end of medium range. Chocolate notes have joined the profile but are overpowered by the heavy black pepper spice. The tunnels appear to be gone and the burn is almost fully self corrected. The finish is long with notes earth, cedar, chocolate and heavy black pepper spice.

Final/3rd

The heavy black pepper spice has dominated the profile and continues into the final/3rd.

Overall

The My Father The Judge TAA Robusto does not provide an enjoyable smoking experience for me but for those who enjoy the trademark heavy black pepper spice of Pepin cigars it will be enjoyable.

Fratello Arlequin Toro 5/17/20

Appearance

A dark brown colored wrapper with a lot of mottling and a good bit of tooth. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with one soft spot near the foot which should be of no consequence.

Aroma

Floral, earth, chocolate, cedar and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Earth, chocolate, cedar, faint floral and cinnamon spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earth, red fruit, cedar, chocolate, floral and cinnamon spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of earth, cedar, very faint red fruit and a pinch of cinnamon spice. The draw is almost effortless. The red fruit really comes out on the finish. Burn is spot on. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Smoke production is at the medium range. Strength is medium. Just past the 1” mark the burn gets a bit wonky. The ash holds firm albeit looking suspect until removal.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end I find several tiny tunnels causing the erratic burn. Some meaty notes join the profile. The flavorful profile is very well balanced. Strength moves to medium+. The cigar is blended very well as it causes good salivation. Dark chocolate notes join the profile. The finish is long with notes of earth, cedar, red fruit, dark chocolate, meat,cashew and cinnamon spice.

Final/3rd

The complex, well balanced and flavorful profile rolls into the final/3rd. The burn and draw are spot on in the final/3rd. The well balanced and flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall

The Fratello Arlequin Toro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, well balanced and flavorful profile with a good draw and mildly erratic burn.

The burn issues were the only thing keeping this cigar from getting the Chairmans BUY Signal™️!! I will definitely be getting more of these and you should too!

The Arlequin Toro is only available in the Fratello Space Pack which has 4 different blends, Arlequin, Sorella(another new blend), Core Line and a Bianco II. All 4 are Toro’s.

Well done Omar @FratelloCigars !!

Fratello Sorella Toro 5/16/20

Appearance

A medium brown colored wrapper with a couple of prominent veins. There is a silky texture to the wrapper leaf. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is a small amount of tooth and a light oil sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earthy cedar, floral and spice on the wrapper. Earth, cedar, chocolate, dried fruit and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Dried fruit, dates, earth, cedar, floral and spice.

1st

The initial draws bring notes of cedar, earth, dried white fruit and a mild spice. Black pepper notes join the profile. The ash is light gray and tight but a bit flaky. The draw is a tick snug and the burn is spot on. At 1” in the burn becomes erratic and the ash starts to bend. The strength is at medium. The ash while suspect holds firm until removal.

2nd

Upon inspection of the working end I find a few tiny tunnels which obviously affected the burn but look to be ending. The draw opens up nicely and the smoke production increases accordingly. The fruity notes increase helping to balance out the black pepper spice notes. Draw is now effortless, burn has self corrected and smoke production is at the high range. The black pepper spice which got pretty heavy has tapered back into balance. The finish is long with notes of cedar, earth, dried white fruit, floral and a cinnamon/black pepper spice combo.

Final/3rd

Strength moves to medium+. The profile is well balanced in the final/3rd. The well balanced and flavorful profile continues right to the nub.

Overall

The Fratello Sorella provides an enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced(for the most part) and flavorful profile with an effortless draw and spot on burn(after the 1st/3rd).

Well done brother Omar @FratelloCigars

Room 101 Brand 4.5x52 (from 2019 IPCPR) 5/10/20

Appearance

A dark brown wrapper with some mottling and a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped. There is an oily sheen in spots but it has a matte finish over most of the wrapper. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.

Aroma

Earthy, barnyard, sweetness and a hint of spice on the wrapper. Cedar, earth and spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw

Earthy, cedar, raisin, dates and a faint cinnamon spice

1st

The initial draws bring notes of very earthy cedar and a hint of cinnamon spice. The draw is a tick snug. The burn has a little wave on one side. Strength is medium+. There is a very faint dried fruit note. The ash is light gray and tight with a few stack lines. Cocoa powder notes join the profile. The ash holds firm and straight until removal.

2nd

Dark espresso notes start the 2nd/3rd alongside the heavy earthy notes. Smoke production increased to the medium range as the draw opened up. Strength moves to med/full. The finish is long with notes of earthy cedar, dark espresso, faint dried fruit, cocoa powder and warm cinnamon spice. Right in my wheelhouse.

Final/3rd

The well balanced and flavorful profile continues into the final/3rd. The profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall

The Room 101 Brand 4.5x52 provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a good draw and mildly erratic burn.