Live from Hawaii: 2006 Santos Custom Roll Robusto

maverickdrinker · April 29, 2012

Live from Hawaii review: 2006 Santos Custom Roll Robusto

After a nice workout and breakfast, it was time to fire up my first cigar in Hawaii. Found a great bench by the beach. Waves lightly crashing in the background. Just enough wind to keep me cool while I suntan and enjoy this cigar.

The 2006 Santos Custom robusto has a nice light colorado wrapper with little viens. A whiff of the wrapper reminds me of the Kona expresso that I had earlier this morning. The aroma is very powerful, almost entoxicating. Can't wait to light this up.

Crisantos Cardenas aka Santos is the house roller at the LCDH at the Hotel Commodoro in Miramar, Cuba. He is know for his well made, mucho fuerte cigars. I've been told he used to roll for FIdel however, need to confirm this with him next time I am in Cuba.

The foot is nicely packed. A little squeeze reveals little give. IT is firm throughout the cigar. The wrapper is smooth to the touch, almost silky.

Cold draw reveals a little woodiness; reminds me of smoked hickory with a hint of dark cholocate.

A quick punch and we are ready to light it up.

We start off with a blast of bitter chocolate, almost amonia like. No, definately bitter chocolate, like Baker's chocolate. Very woody. Reminds me of a hoyo De Monterray. Pepper enters the fray in droves. Not sure if I am going to like this one. The waves off the ocean reflect the cigar as they come crashing inland.

The cigar itself is such an easy draw. No resistance at all. I taste soap? Palmolive soap and bitter chocolate. I figured that 6 years in the humidor would have settled this down however, could definately use more time sleeping. The cigar is almost too harsh for my liking as I work through the first third. Maybe this is still in its sick phase?

hints of expresso beans keep popping in and out. Like it is playing peek a boo behind the bitter chocolate. The initial power has settled down or I have gotten used to the cigar.

The ash is whitish grey and holding up nicely, despite the wind fromthe ocean picking up.

Expresso has come to the forefront. The bitter chocolate has subsided and a light flavour of cedar comes around. The aftertaste of the cigar is a little shorter than I expected. Can't shake that soapy taste.

The cigar has come together now. Seems that the flavours are more in harmony. A nice balance of bitter chocolate, expresso and cedar. No soapiness. Thank goodness as I debated to pitch it earlier. Maybe this was blended to punch you in the face first and then say sorry. A hint of roasted nuts are starting to come out.

In the final third, the bitter chocolate has died down and there is flashes of sweetness. Like putting sugar in your expresso. Very nice. Almost like a latte. The burn is starting to get wonky.

Overall, a very surprising cigar. The brutishness of the first third almost made me give up hope on this cigar. It came out swinging and then got punch drunk and settled down. The remaining cigars that I have will be pushed to the back of the humidor when I get home.