Robusto Comparison

[El Presidente]

I have had the opportunity over the last week to do a full tasting of Current Robusto's (two Robusto of each from differing boxes but same year). In order of enjoyment based on my notes.

Partagas D4 (08's) 91

Still the best D4's in years. Rich in flavour with subtle complexity. Classic D4's, the way they should be.

Vegas Robaina Famoso (08) 90

They were gorgeous cigars. Chocolate and earth. Whoever ocied up the HQ,PE and PSP of these offered last week and earlier this week are in for a treat.

Trinidad Robusto "T" (09) 90

Still maintaining a level of excellence although some underfilling. Toasted tobacco and a hint of candy. Some real class here and one to watch for aging.

Juan Lopez Seleccion no 2 (08) 90

Cracker cigars. Medium full and brimming with rich tobacco, apricot and coffee.

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure no 2 (08) 90

One of the best Robusto's of the past 12 months. medium bodied with cream, cloves and great leaf. Consistency has been excellent.

El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme (08) 89

Surprise packet of the bunch. Fuller in body and flavour than in the past but lovely cream, tobacco and some sweet spice notes. Great midday cigar.

Upmann Connaisseur No 1 (08) 89

If it wasn't for a tardy back end it would have been top of the list. Real sweetness in a sweet milk coffee kind of way. First 2/3rds on both were very much like a Sir Winston.

Bolivar Royal Corona (08) 88

Had all the nuances of a great BRC but just lacked a little body falling a shade under medium both times. Smooth and delicate with cocoa and soil. Just needed to be a touch fuller (personal).

Ramon Allones Specially Select (07) 88

A little fruit, a little coal, quality tobacco. Also a little rough around the edges with some flat spots in the flavour profile. Still finding its feet.

Cohiba Robusto (08) 88

Not the best Cohiba Robusto's I have had of late. Had all the ingredients of dry grass stalks, toasted tobacco and hints of honey but everything a little muted. Needs another 12 months.

R&J Short Churchill (08) 87

Sweet edge which I always enjoy. medium bodied but lacking complexity.

R&J Exhibicion No 4 (07) 84

Just a disappointment. Harsh and flavourless. Such a shame a once great cigar has reached this level of mediocrity.

[Habanos2000]

Just wondering if taking the price point of each cigar into consideration would change your ranking any?

[Colt45]

Overall, how would you rate cigar to cigar consistency?

[El Presidente]

I did the comparison strictly on taste without consideration of price point. having said that I would in this tasting mark down the Coro if i took that into consideration.

Consistency in terms of flavour was surprisingly good. All stock was PE

[mbrody]

Great post. For some inexplicable reason, I have gravitated to Robustos as of late.

Here is what I have been experiencing:

08 VR Famoso (thanks brutus) The best constructed and combusting cigar I have experienced. Very similiar flavors as you have described. My only kick is the flavor profile does not completly excite me. Neverthe less, outstanding.

09 Trini T - smoking one right now. Smooth, a bit loose, candy - yes, hints of buttered popcorn?!?, light grass, under medium in body. Very nice, but not a blockbuster in terms of a flavor or power assault. Lots of finesse.

BRC Tubo - one cracker, one dud. The cracker was worth buying a box.

08 SLR Regio - beautiful smoke, but could use time to let those flavors really come through. Flavors are true to the marque and seem similiar to an 08 SLR DC I smoked some weeks back, but more concentrated.

08 Connie 1 - (thanks brutus) excellent upman flavors. Did not really waver. A must have, and bought a box.

07 PL AP Robusto - great construction and burn, light flavors. Underwhelming.

09 Mag48 - singles - I am missing the hype here, the singles I tried have been a little dirty tasting. Much prefered the Connie1. Would rather cut down a Mag50 (IMHO).

08 CoRo - 1 in 5 have been great; the others, ho hum

07 JL2 - Magnificent - tops in the humidor. Let them rest and they keep getting better. Euphoric.

08 PSD4 is coming up next...

[Cambridge1]

Thanks for the great info.

[capecc]

Glad to see this post, the robusto is one of my favorite formats.

Went through a 10 box of PD4's from AGO 08 and another of the same code resting. I think It's time to start ordering full boxes. Outstanding, Sweet fruit and creamy coffee. Nice to see that my somewhat novice palate might be coming around.

Coro from SEP 08 I've had a few out of a full box: I've posted in my introduction my struggles with Cohiba, the Coro just leaves me wanting a slightly fuller body, otherwise great but can't beat the Siglo IV. Hoping and expecting them to age well. Can anyone attest to the idea that the wet, fresh cut grassiness will turn into a more full hay-like earthy note with age? That would be spot on.

Bolivar Royal Corona's on the way. Belicosos Finos one of my go to reliable smokes and coincidentally my first ever habano years ago. Maybe that's why I like the marque so much. I'm sure they won't dissapoint.

[FlyingGlass]

Thanks for the post. Very helpful and particularly applicable as I have started out with quite a few of the robustos. Thanks!

[aavkk]

Thanks for the run down guys.

[khomeinist]

Nicely done Rob. I like the Trini the best myself, but I am biased towards most of that marca's output. I will need to revisit the PSD4. I always found these lacking but to be fair I haven't bought a box in a few years. I usually just get Lusitanias, 898s, or Connies.

Anyway. I would love to see a corona gorda comparison if you find the time. Cheers.

[mazolaman]

i've enjoyed the Juan Lopez no 2,and am thinking of getting a box of the no 1,are they as good?Not a robusto but....

[khomeinist]

JL1s are great. Absolute staple of mine. I went through about 4 boxes of July 08 production last year. I love a good CG. My less than humble opinion. Etc. Etc.

[El Presidente]

i've enjoyed the Juan Lopez no 2,and am thinking of getting a box of the no 1,are they as good?Not a robusto but....

Halfway through the Corona Gorda tasting. For what it is worth the JLS1 came in at a 91. Sweeter than the JLS2, not as full bodied. Touch more fruit.

[mazolaman]

Halfway through the Corona Gorda tasting. For what it is worth the JLS1 came in at a 91. Sweeter than the JLS2, not as full bodied. Touch more fruit.

Thanks to you both for that,I've just been reading yours and Lacifons reviews of this cigar,and it looks good value.

As for robusto,Its the bolivar royal for me....

[skindiver]

Halfway through the Corona Gorda tasting. For what it is worth the JLS1 came in at a 91. Sweeter than the JLS2, not as full bodied. Touch more fruit.

I agree totally on the PSD4's from '08 they were fantastic. My problem is I smoke so many that they just fly by me. Have Lisa call me if you have any in stock, Rob! Oh, you smoked the last of them? *****!

[jacksfull]

Nice rundown.

Of the '08 Robustos I've smoked:

BRC: Nice cigar. On the verge of greatness, but not quite there (yet?).

PSD4: Had 3 from a box. Not bad, but nothing exceptional. Put the remainder down for a nap.

RASS: Agree with el Prez. Reasonably good, but not quite firing on all cylinders. Have high hopes for them with a little more age.

RyJ Short Chirchill (tubo): Cake! Simply outstanding! Among the best cigars I have ever smoked. Maybe being packaged in tubes is the difference? Have been consistently great throughout the box. Maybe just lucky? Bought tubed version to use as gifts, but stopped giving them away after I smoked one.

[BigGuns]

Great thread. Thanks for the feedback.

It got me curious - any chance of a size sampler, i.e. 2x a few different marques in each vitola. I'd be very interested in a Robusto, Corona Gorda, or Dalia sampler (I know there aren't many Dalias left in production, which is a shame, so maybe a couple other Lonsdales get mixed in).

Just thinking out loud...

[PigFish]

Rob, I wish you would get your **** together and stop calling Hermosos #4's, robustos!!! -LOL

I have pent up aggression and can only take it out on friends. Others might yell at me!!! -LOL Nice run down Mate. Not being a big robusto fan myself I am still working on boxes from the 90's to '06. -Piggy

[DrunkenMonkey]

Great thread. Thanks for the feedback.

It got me curious - any chance of a size sampler, i.e. 2x a few different marques in each vitola. I'd be very interested in a Robusto, Corona Gorda, or Dalia sampler (I know there aren't many Dalias left in production, which is a shame, so maybe a couple other Lonsdales get mixed in).

Just thinking out loud...

I think this idea is fantastic. I'd especially love the CG sampler.

[ksblazer]

Thanks for the comparisons. From the list mentioned I've smoked the recent RyJ Short Churchills, J-Lo No.2's and PSD4's and they have all been on.

[brutusthebuckeye]

CoRo...had some great ones,some were ok(08)

VR Famosos..very nice(09)

Rass...from 07..these are very,very good

Connie 1 Upm...sir winnie mini kinda...08's...but i think they will be very,very,very good in a few...

[Jesuscookies]

CoRo...had some great ones,some were ok(08)

VR Famosos..very nice(09)

Rass...from 07..these are very,very good

Connie 1 Upm...sir winnie mini kinda...08's...but i think they will be very,very,very good in a few...

Yep, I stocked up on the connies. Those things were off the hook in 08!

[gacigarman]

Great thread. Thanks for the comparisons.

[arnehd]

Concerning the RASS, which I love. Is there a difference between the box of 25 and the cab of 50? I need to know. It's either going to be the cab of RASS or a box of D4s (never ever had a bad one ) and a box of RASS. Reading these past posts just makes my mouth water. The others i will give a try , or maybe another try.

Thanks

[Danashan]

I think this idea is fantastic. I'd especially love the CG sampler.

+100