Vegas Robaina Clasico

If all Cuban cigars were like this one there will be no contest with the rest of the world in the middle size category!

Not the best Cuban I've had. The finish was a little dry and a bit harsh, but it had some nice cocoa/nut flavor, with a little mintiness. I just expected a bit more out of it.

Medium bodied, starts on the creamy side and spices up later, stays quite consistent throughout, down to the nub. Well done, solid, but not spectacular. Perfect even burn. Cigar just a bit spongy and soft but well made.

The only Clasico I can find for sale on the internet is a 6.5 x 42. This is what I just purchased in a Santo Domingo duty free. Beautiful box and label. Beautifully rolled cigar. Very mild, not much flavor. I just smoked it in the morning on an empty stomach. Also very tight draw right to the end (why I dinged it on construction).

The foot on the stick looked like it had been crushed a bit when cut. The wrapper was flaky. Burned a bit fast and uneven and first. Through the first half of this cigar the only consistent note was the sweetness on the tongue. About half way it started to behave and show some grassy notes. The finish began to linger a bit more. Later on some nutty notes. Medium bodied but not alot of smoke and a progressively tight draw. Promising enough I would try again to see if they developed a more distinctive character.

Lots of creamy smoke from this large toro, I didn't think the flavors were as complex or rich as the smaller ring guage VRs. Burned slightly fast and crooked, but held about 4 inches of ash. Definitely looking forward to trying all the VRs, and will give this one another try in the near future.

A pair of these from 03 and 05. The 05 was amazing for a young cigar, the 03 was even better. This is what exemplifies the best from Cuba. I need more.

After a trip to ISOM, a friend brought a box of these to his uncle. Knowing that I had always wanted to try a Cuban cigar, he gave me one. If all Cuban cigars taste like this, I'm going to start looking for a house in Havana:-) Although I am (was) a pipe smoker, this is without a doubt the best cigar that I have ever had. Since trying this stick, I have been in search of something in the US that compares. I have not found it yet, but the search is great.

A medium dark, milk chocolate colored wrapper was dusted in glittery crystals that caught the headlights of passing cars. There was one short spine of a vein sticking out at the one third mark like the quill of a porcupine. A nicely formed cap and straight sides gave this slightly rectangular box pressed cigar a look of class, but there were a few water spots near the foot and a smear of vegetable gum on the wrapper where the label came off. The pre light draw tasted faintly of anise and old schoolbooks and the stick had a very smooth draw.

It lit easily and burned fast and very straight leaving a gray black ash with small flakes at the edges. The strong flavor had a heavy edge to it and was dark and brooding. I tasted burning bamboo and spice. The finish was smoky and tasted slightly of coal, like a New York street corner pretzel cart, and lasted quite a while after each puff. The flavor changed at the halfway mark getting more tarry and laying on a portion of mustard greens and sage. While there were small flakes at the edge, the core of the ash was firm and tight and tapped off cleanly in one inch increments.

The fast burn had a tendency to cause overheating, so I had to pace myself throughout. The aroma of the cigar was thin, sparse, and slightly medicinal on the nose. This was a full strength cigar with a medium bodied flavor. While the flavors were strong they were partially concealed by a heavy thicket of green vegetation. The strength of the cigar was most evident in the final two inches and not suprisingly that's where the flavor really distinguished itself; It's just a shame I had to wait so long for a flash of brilliance. Tar collected on the head as I smoked along and eventually left a bitter taste on my tongue, and in the last inch the flavor soured badly leaving me with the lingering harsh memories of ammonia.

Inoffensive at first and gaining in character as it went, this cigar gave me the strong impression of youth. A diamond in the rough, my feelings are that this cigar would have eventually matured into a semi-precious gem. Recommended with age.

Beautiful to look at, better to smoke, pure bliss. Loads of earthy cocoa coffee flavor and a strong finish. A great cigar to just sit and relax with after supper. Great looks and construction.