This is one of the three I received in the gift pack from David a couple of weeks ago. I decided to let it sit for two weeks before smoking.....after smoking, I don't think it would have made any difference. I am just going to give some general impressions, and not going to score it numerically because I don't think I could score a cigar that low.

Appearance and Construction:

My cigars came in pretty good shape. Not soft and the wrappers were pretty spotless. Not a vein showing in any of them. The cigar seemed to be very well constructed, but I didn't like the way it took a punch at all. I typically like to use a punch on everything except petite coronas and torps, and the cap cracked when I used a very sharp punch. The crack wasn't bad, not like the cap on the Punch Gran Puro or Padron 3000 cracks when you try to use a punch, but definitely not what I like to see in a robusto. Pre-light flavor was almost non existent and very disappointing.

Flavor:
I toasted the foot and was hoping for a nice flavor from this cigar, but was very, very disapointed. Those of you that know me know that I don't like Gisperts at all because they taste like toilet tissue with a shade wrapper on them. This was worse than a Gispert. The flavor was flat and way too mild for me. I let my daughter take a puff on this and even she said there was no taste, she'd rather have a 5 Vegas or a Casa Torano. I totally agree. No flavor...no points. They need to work on this.

Smoking Characteristics:

The only good thing I can say about the cigar is the burn was really good. It burned even and cleanly all the way through. The ash held on for a good inch and a half, and was not flaky at all. Now if it just had some flavor it might be a decent smoke. The smoke was almost a pure white, and there was a decent amount, but you can have all the smoke in the world, but something better have some flavor, and this is one dull cigar.

Overall Impression:

For me to say a cigar is worse than a Gispert says a lot because I think Gisperts are a total waste of tobacco. This is worse. If you want mild with flavor, stay with a 5 Vegas, Nat Sherman Host selection, or a Casa Torano. This has no flavor, no bite, no spice, just nothing there that would entice me to buy one much less a box.

If this is what Panama has to offer, keep them in Panama please. I'm sure they like them there, but give me a real cigar. I had to light up a Padron 6000 later to have a real cigar taste. I'll smoke the torpedo in a couple of days, but if it starts out like this, it won't make it half way before it gets chucked.

Not a boxworthy cigar to have in my opinion.

Score---less than 60, and thats only because I can't give negative numbers for flavor

Mike

Dang, that really sucks, I was hoping for more out of this cigar...I mean dang they look like they'd taste great, and the little stick I smoked was pretty tasty...hopefully you got a bad stick, let us know about the torp...i'm going to let mine sit another week or so...

didnt have the robusto, but the torp i had some major floral flavors ,sorry yours wasnt very good. I added some comments to the review on the torp, which you can see if you wade through all the crap thats going on in that thread, its turned into quite the B**** fest over there.

Hey Blue..I'll have to fire up the Robusto I have to see if it's similar. The torpedo I tried actually had some very nice earthy/cedary/citrus qualities, and though it started out pretty mild, it opened up after a while, and actually had a bit of punch to it.

The robbie has had enough time to rest, I'll fire it up tonight or tomorrow and see if I notice the same thing.

See you at the herf bud....

Hey Blue; Looks like I'll have to pretty much agree with your evaluation of the Robusto. I fired up the one I had this evening and was pretty disappointed with it myself.

I was surprised, as it was totally different than the Torpedo (Pyramide) I smoked a week or so ago. This one started off fairly well, actually better than the Torp did..... but after about an inch and a half-two inches, fell completely flat. Great burn and construction and all, but your comment about a toilet roll in a shade wrapper was very appropriate. Very strange. Very disappointing, and I gave up on it about 3/4 through.....I was looking forward to this one because I really enjoyed the Torpedo once the thing opened up.

I'll have to try the Mareva next...these two didn't taste like they were even made by the same company.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rbihari,

Just had the Mareva. I thought it was pretty good. I did die for me a bit in flavor in the last half...

Good construction though, plenty of smoke. Burned even too.

I smoked the torpedo tonight and it was a totally different smoke and very enjoyable. Much the same flavor profile that rbihari described. These I would consider box worthy. I liked this one very much. Don't know why the robusto sucked so bad, but the torp is good.

Mike

glad i got the torps

Guys, I got the robbie and i've got to say, It wasn't bad. I had smoked a Nat Sherm the night before and I'd swear they came off the same rolling table. Absolutely a milder flavor than I usually smoke, but mine had quite abit of floral flavors that after the first inch or so, really came on.
I usually like a stronger smoke but a Nat or a smoke like this one works every once in a while for a lighter mid-day smoke and a flavor change.
I haven't tried the cigarillo type thing yet (i'm not a fan) but I would smoke another one of these robbies.
I've traded enough smokes with Bluesky to know I like most of the same smokes as him and this one surprises me.

I think we all need another to try

Eddie

I too have a Robusto in my humidor and was hoping it would turn out to be a good cigar. I will let mine sit for another month or two and give it a try.

im waiting to smoke the massive 9 inch double corona Costa that i got, but i dont know if i am going to have a chance for a while now, as its getting pretty chilly out and i dont want to sit outside for the 2+ hours its probably gonna take to smoke! I enjoyed the torpedo, had a very different flavor profile, i still want some more info on what tobacco these are rolled with.