Stopwatch: Robusto

[El Presidente]

This weekend, lets try a little experiment in order to gauge where we all sit in terms of how fast we smoke a cigar. 

This is not a contest....it is not how quickly you smoke it ....or how slowly (Marko Bilic will think I am cutting into his World Slow Smoking gig )

I am amazed at the different amount of time that cigar lovers take to get through the same cigar. 

So this weekend, pick a Cuban Robusto (no...not a hermoso 4).  

Time it.  From lighting to just below the band or wherever you are comfortable in that region. 

Post a photo and your time. Into the draw for a little sampler drawn Tuesday 

...do a review of the cigar at the same time....I will give you an extra ticket in the draw!

Post your results (and review if you wish) on this thread. 

 

I keep reading that a Robusto takes an hour to smoke on average. Let's test that statement because suspect it is wrong. 

Yes...you are doing this for science 

Have a cracker weekend! 

Rob

[BuzzArd]

I'm in...

and I'll warn you, I'm a slow-poke. 

[gweilgi]

9 minutes ago, BuzzArd said:

I'm in...

and I'll warn you, I'm a slow-poke. 

... as the bishop said to the actress ....

 

[JohnInCleveland]

Really good idea.  

[BuzzArd]

Hell, I'll start it tonight....  Had already set a Picadores aside before El Prez posted, and while not a textbook "robusto" it's pretty damned close.  Zaya poured.  H2O handy.  This is from a 24:24 clearance a few weeks ago that Rob felt might be a bit underfilled.  

 Lit it 10:15 PST.   If I'm sober enough when I'm done I'll edit this post.   If  I don't do it tonight I May not remember how long it took me by tomorrow...  

 

 

Finished at 11:27.  Smoked through two radio episodes of "Have Gun, Will Travel" and then some.

 I'll see what I can scare up in the way of a proper robusto (an extra 1/16" in girth) later this weekend. 

 

Edit:. mods- exclude my "entry" from any draw as it's not a robusto.

[dicko]

4 hours ago, El Presidente said:

 

 pick a Cuban Robusto (no...not a hermoso 4).  

 

39 minutes ago, BuzzArd said:

 and while not a textbook "robusto" it's pretty damned close.

 

 

[polarbear]

Sounds like fun

I'll drag a RASS out this weekend and see how I go

[Akela3rd]

.

 

[JohnS]

I must say, it's not easy distinguishing a vitola, but thank God for Cuban Cigar Website! Below is a list of current regular production Robustos (50 ring gauge x 124 mm or 4.9 inches approx.), including Limited and Regional Editions (and the upcoming 2016 H.Upmann Robustos Anejados not yet released!  )

 

Alternatively, if one is interested in just the current regular production Robustos...

 

[SirVantes]

RASS.
Start time: 1706

End time: 1847

Total smoking time: 1 hr 41 min

I smoke slow. The other day, my regular smoking buddy and I both started on Mag50s. By the time I finished, he had already gone through his AND a Reyes. He thinks I'm a freak, or am doing it just to make him seem profligate. I'm not ruling out it being either or both...

[aj60s]

I had already packed my cigars for a trip but decided to take one Juan Lopez no. 2 ELU AGO14 for this contest. GF was driving so I had a good chance for a smoke on a long drive. 

 

Started at 13.22 and the cigar was medium strong from the start. Draw was perfect, nice amount of smoke. Soon smoothed out a little and really nice citrus like sweetness with toasted tobacco. Not much development, but really good flavours from start to finish. Ended at 14.37, total time 75 minutes. 

 

One of the best cigars for me this year, a solid 93 points. I think this is one of the best robustos out there an price is great also.

[OZCUBAN]

Iam in but I suspect it will be about 45 mins ..let's see?

[cigcars]

      Well I guess I'm out because I'm not a robusto fan, and therefore don't have enough in my stash to be able to participate...today. But I will share that in the past, with the few I have smoked (and since a picture of a Por Larranaga Picadores is included, of which I have smoked before), basically robustos last about 45min. tops for me when I have indulged. That would include Ramon Allones Spec. Selecteds, El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supremes, Bolivar Royal Corona...can't really think of too many more. The Choix Supremes probably lasted about 30min. tops, because it's so light!  If I had to have no other choice in sizes but a robusto, the Ramon Allones Spec. Seleccion would be top choice. Best in retention of flavor, aroma, and not heating up much toward the end to the nub. My 2 cts.

[mkz]

This cigar is a part of my adopted cubans... http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/topic/131597-i-just-adopted-some-cubans-picture-heavy-post/

 

RASS - OSU JUL00

Beautiful Robusto just turned 17 with some white mold all over the place (yes even the foot is fuzzy). Paired with a cool GT.

Delivering a perfect draw and tons of smoke.

1/3 - Smooth cream with light chocolate and cedar.

2/3 - Still creamy. Chocolate turns darker. Hints of almond and brown sugar.

3/3 - Dark chocolate. Full bodied but still with cream around the edges. Ending with sweet molasses. Nubbed!

Oh God! What a great smoke!

Time: 1h 16min 59sec

 

 

 

[MahDooRow]

18 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I keep reading that a Robusto takes an hour to smoke on average. Let's test that statement because suspect it is wrong. 

Yes...you are doing this for science 

For science you say?  Oh yeah!!!   I will be happy to make a small contribution... as soon as I figure out what a robusto is.  

[El Presidente]

Partagas Serie D 4

Second from 2016 (split under band). 

Artie is a grandfather for the first time and he popped in for a cigar with smithy, Wazza, nate and Myself yesterday. 

Artie was shouting everyone cigars. I really wanted to text all locals to come on in quickly. I have never recommended so many Cohiba IV's and Monte 80ths before 

The D4 came from my seconds bin. 

Started 3:27pm. Finished 5.17 Pm. 

110 minutes. 

Performed admirably! sweet paprika and sourdough. 

I probably smoked this slower than usual. However 90 minutes for a Robusto would be average for me. 

 

 

[ayepatz]

Nuts. Away from home, and no robustos with me. Normally never travel without a BRC or a Rass.

Usually, if I'm on my own, a robusto takes around an hour. In company, about an hour and a quarter.

[BellevilleMXZ]

MC Open Master UTE mar 16.....835 start to 1005 finish so 90min on the  nose.....about average for me?

[HarveyBoulevard]

CoRo

Stored at 60rh and 73f

Smoked at 47rh and 79f

Smoke time 47 minutes. 

Smoked alone watching YouTube videos.

 

[HarveyBoulevard]

BRC 

Stored at 60rh and 73f

Smoked at 47rh and 79f

Smoke time 44 minutes

Smoked alone watching more YouTube videos.

 

[mwaller]

This "contest" gave me a perfect excuse to try a cigar I've been avoiding for nearly a year - the Ramon Allones Specially Selected.  When I first became interested in Cuban cigars, I perused a number of forums to help me make some informed box purchases.  I ended up with a box each of RASS and VR Unicos.   Shortly after they arrived, I eagerly lit up a RASS and was horrified by the experience - bitter, acrid, disgusting!   

Figuring I had acquired a crap box, I buried the RASS at the bottom of my Tupperware-humidor and proceeded to purchase dozens more boxes of CC's.  If that's not madness, I don't know that is! 

That was before I learned that CC's need to rest...  After several more unpleasant experiences, I finally started enjoying a few CC's that were adequately rested.  

Fast forward to today.  With the family out of town, I felt at liberty to spend some time in the back yard admiring my tobacco crop and trying out another RASS (UTE DIC 15).

To my surprise and delight, this cigar opened with tangy, toasty flavors.  Rob's description of burnt raisin toast is a good one.  Initially, there was a bit of edge to the retrohale, but around the 1/3 mark, the smoke smoothed out considerably.  No bite, no burn.  

Then it hit me... Tropical flavors. Coconut, pineapple.  Perhaps a bit of mango.  Oddly enough, these flavors were only present on the retrohale, but they persisted through the entire second 1/3 of the cigar.  I've never tasted anything quite like it.  Occasionally, there was a grilled meat character that popped in.  

The final third was much like the second, though the smoke grew hotter and I began to taste some raw ammonia-like notes.  That's when I decided to leave well enough alone.  

Total smoking time: 1:00:06.  

 

 

 

[Scotty]

My Saturday morning breakfast Robusto was the Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2, smoked at just over 55 minutes.

 

[dicko]

Juan lopez no 2: ELU ABR 14
mid colardo wrapper, little nick half way down. Not pretty but these don't have to be. Work horse robusto imho.

1st third - straight up toasty tobacco
2nd- cream, nuts, butter, toast, charcoal (in a good way).
3rd- more butter, nubbed it

Overall- what you want from a cigar after a bbq dinner with an aussie cab shiraz , complex evolution. Not super classy but tasty. 91 overall.

Offical time: 72 minutes ie 1 hour plus 12 minutes.
Usually im 45-50 on a robusto but this had a great construction (other than the little nick that didnt actually affect the burn). If this cigar was anthropologised it would be the sort of bloke you want on your footy team who gets the job done but isn't in the best & fairest votes but should be! Haha

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

[Fuzz]

18 minutes ago, dicko said:

Offical time: 72 minutes ie 1 hour plus 12 minutes.
Usually im 45-50 on a robusto but this had a great construction (other than the little nick that didnt actually affect the burn). If this cigar was anthropologised it would be the sort of bloke you want on your footy team who gets the job done but isn't in the best & fairest votes but should be! Haha
 

I think you meant "anthropomorphised".

[Jose_A_Rodriguez]

Here's my stopwatch (58:55) Robusto review:

 

Wow, what a beautiful wrapper! 

 

First 3rd:

Tons of dark-roasted coffee notes with pronounced bitterness. Persistent spicy finish.

 

 

Middle 3rd:

The noted astringency on first third finally disappears. The dark-roasted coffee continues to dominate its profile and the spices in first third now become distinguishable as green pepper and cloves. 

 

Final 3rd:

An undesirable nicotine rush just hit me right at the beginning of final third. Coffee notes galore. I patiently kept on waiting for some cocoa notes to no avail. 

 

89 points at this stage. Lots of aging is required to tame this powerhouse. I'm certain that this puro will get significantly better with time.