Hearty Robustos

[pbibby]

Man oh man there are a lot of negative Nancys in here.

[CaptainQuintero]

Just shows you haven't really paid attention to anything. Some of us have nothing to sell you, just trying to pass off some knowledge that used to be foundational base for all smokers.

First, forget factory rolling brands. That idea died in 2005 during that year's Habanos meeting, if I understand. Factories roll vitolas.

What I know is that it comes to factories and the inclinations of each factory's manager. Let's take a random factory like BMU12/13. That factory rolled Robustos vitola, from JL#2, Epicure #2, D4, to Cohiba Robusto. That was its job.

Say you do believe in box codes. Then by definition, those cigars - at the least - aren't what they claim to be, blended by the manager to be his interpretation of the cigar in question, or most likely, are the same fortaleza level Robustos rolled and banded for what's needed. Simple.

Say you don't believe in box codes. Then everything's up to the factory manager. You'd have to conclude that the BMU factory manager has the same taste and preferences as 20 other cuban factories all rolling Hoyo Epicure #2. You'd also have to convince yourself that the manager exercises QC, and does not pull Robustos from a Hoyo escaparate to band as JL when needed to meet quota. I think we all know better than that and some have even seen rebanding firsthand.

Furthermore, years of blind tasting of Robustos here on FoH of non-casa matriz Robustos shows that no one can tell the difference of Robustos from any non-casa matriz factory. It is essentially a blind study showing that there are no differences between non-casa matriz factory Robustos. The only time anyone can actually tell anything at all, is when one smokes a Bolivar Royal Coronas from Partagas, which I believe was last year's blind.

Where do blenders come in? I thought blends were established at a separate building, bundles were prepared of said blend and then the complete bundles were sent off around the island to whichever factory had been chosen to roll from them?

[Colt45]

Where do blenders come in? I thought blends were established at a separate building, bundles were prepared of said blend and then the complete bundles were sent off around the island to whichever factory had been chosen to roll from them?

Yes, everything we've been told says that blends for the cigar being rolled at the factory that day (which the rollers do not know) are supplied by blenders from a closely guarded blend. It's been told here more than once that if the supplied tobacco runs out prior to the day's quota being filled, whatever tobacco is at hand is often used to fill the day's quota.

There has been open discussion here regarding re-banding and / or mis-banding of certain releases. That it would happen with regular production cigars would not surprise me in the least.

As Robbo and other members have mentioned, blind tastings have been a real eye opener. So what's really going on - does anybody really know? I've said here and there that while I do feel there is brand identity, I really feel that Cuban cigars have more in common than they have great differences.

I could never know, but prior to nationalisation, or perhaps even further back, how were cigars produced? Did individual factories / brands have their own farms, or did they buy from farmers? Did the people who produced, all down the line, Cuban cigars feel that their product was something special, or was it simply work / business? How much has been projected by smokers?

Vote with your wallets. If you have to pay more than $200 for a box of cigars (regardless of country of origin) at least get dinner first.

[Zigatoh]

I don't think the blind tastings are really that surprising, as usual comparisons can be drawn in other industries, I'm sure we'd have similar results trying to guess country of origin or grapes used in wine for example, it doesn't prove a lot except that we don't have perfect taste buds, and organic materials like grapes or tobacco can't be blended in any perfect kind of way.

What it also doesn't prove is that you're CORO was actually intended to be a PSD4 but the quota was wrong so it got a different band!

Not saying it doesn't happen, cuba is cuba after all, but there does seem to be the suggestion (often made by certain individuals) that we're wasting our time (/money) buying specific cigars as a cuban robusto is a cuban robusto regardless of the brand/band.

[CaptainQuintero]

The thing I remember most was the smell of the mystery cigar. Emerging the foot and wrapper I was utterly convinced within seconds that it was Cohiba. I didn't even bother thinking twice, lit it up and settled down to enjoy the coro.

From my own tastes I've come to believe that for a good section of some Cuban cigars, notably certain robustos, there is a base blend what makes up something like 75% - 80% of the cigar with that remaining 20% - 25% being what makes them different. It doesn't make them bad cigars by any means it just means that finding excellent quality examples of either will give you very similar experiences, so its best sometimes to find the excellent examples of the cheapest.

[egoo33]

pardon my ignorance but just to play devils advocate if all robustos are more less blended the same and are used to fill supply and banded as needed and not blended to the marca how does this come into play

www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=120867

are those "recipes" true to the marca/factory managers taste/available tobacco all the above or is that a question that will take us far too deep the rabbit hole.

thanks in advance

[Smallclub]

pardon my ignorance but just to play devils advocate if all robustos are more less blended the same and are used to fill supply and banded as needed and not blended to the marca how does this come into play

This assertion doesn't make sense.

The chart is just a checklist of Weight in grams of the blends, there are no "recipes" here.

[egoo33]

Then I am mistaken

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[Randolph]

Sitting and enjoying a Juan Lopez S2 to start the weekend off before the Mrs gets home. What a pleasure. Medium bodied, chocolatey, creamy, nutty, with a hearty espresso cum meaty finish. Thick smoke, dark tastey wrapper, perfect burn and construction. Apr 2011. I could reach for another one but will resist. A little naughty really to have before ones evening meal. Definitely a robusto to line up in the special occasions section.

Been smoking cigars for a little over a year and what a pleasure it is. I'm actually finding I conger up some of my best ideas during my weekend Double Corona days (reserved for a sunny Saturday or Sunday).

Unfortunately the JLS2 failed to deliver any ideas of substance but did deliver a wonderous hour of peace and mental healing after the weeks activities.

[PapaDisco]

I find the JL2's very different from the Coro. Satisfying as you say but quite different (dry hay vs. wet grass). If you're thinking about the Punch DC you should definitely hit that and order a box. A fabulous, long, dark smoke. Not a Coro by any means, but so good they will make you forget the word 'Cohiba'

[joeypots]

Furthermore, years of blind tasting of Robustos here on FoH of non-casa matriz Robustos shows that no one can tell the difference of Robustos from any non-casa matriz factory. It is essentially a blind study showing that there are no differences between non-casa matriz factory Robustos. The only time anyone can actually tell anything at all, is when one smokes a Bolivar Royal Coronas from Partagas, which I believe was last year's blind.

Saying no one can differentiate cigars is a bold statement. The blind tasters from this board, with all due respect, are apt to be somewhat inexperienced. Couple that with mostly young cigars that are apt to be one dimensional and it's not surprising that people can't tell what cigar they are smoking.

[mk05]

Saying no one can differentiate cigars is a bold statement. The blind tasters from this board, with all due respect, are apt to be somewhat inexperienced. Couple that with mostly young cigars that are apt to be one dimensional and it's not surprising that people can't tell what cigar they are smoking.

Sorry, but that is not what was said. What was said is that no one can tell the differences between non-casa matriz cigars, but when it is a cigar that has been rolled consistently at one factory for decades, a century, like Bolivar Royal Coronas, people can tell. Why do you think that is?

[Randolph]

Well since I first posted I've aquired a box of Connie No 1. Thank you UpInSmoke for the recommendation. I have now come to the opinion that nothing can compare to my Cohiba Robustos, but the Connie No 1 certain provides for a different ride. A mild 1/3 then developing into something a little more flavoursome past medium bodied down to the 3/3. In fact I'm just smoking one now while I compose this note on a hot Sydney friday afternoon (40 degrees plus) with a cold glass of beer. I will reserve the Connie No.1 for when theres an opportunity for a midday smoke - its certainly a cigar I'd reserve for warming up to something a little more fuller flavour.

I've now moved onto to a Partagas Serie E2, another of my favourites. After a 20 minute break, the flavour of the E2 after the ending of the Connie No.1 certainly presents an interesting part two of my evening after the short interval - a very barnyard start.

[msm1771]

Doesn't JR make a Cohiba Robusto alternative?

Basically the same exact thing

Sent from my 86" White Testarossa