La Flor de Cano Robusto ER Países Bajos - MOL JUL 19 (JBWP2RW)

[Tdm_86]

For this one, I opted to go with the La Flor de Cano Dutch regional edition Robusto. It seemed like a good one to review, because I haven’t seen much written about this cigar. I’ve only ever had one before, not from this box. The one I’ve had was when they just came out and it was very young and very mongrel at that time. This one is now obviously 2 years old, so let’s see how this goes.

Pre-light:

Let me start off by saying, this is not a very good looking cigar. The wrapper is quite nice but the roll is uneven with some soft spots, mainly in the first half of the cigar. It does smell nice, a musty hay and slightly sweet tobacco.

The cold draw hints at more sweetness and hay. Good draw.

First third:

When lit, it starts out with a little trouble trying to burn straight, maybe because of the soft spot. The flavors are very pleasant, a distinct musty tobacco on the draw with a sweetness on the finish. Good smoke output and easy on the retrohale. A little further in, the sweetness gets paired with fruit flavors that are a little ashy, if that makes sense.

Second third:

The burn has pretty much evened out and is cruising right along. Still a bit of sweetness strewn throughout, but that mustiness up front has totally disappeared. The draw just tastes of toasted tobacco now. The fruit flavor presents itself as dates now, I don’t think I’ve ever had a cigar that I tasted date in. Always very nice to find something new. The finish is now very interesting as well with cinnamon and cayenne pepper with a building sweetness. And at the tail end of this second third, another thing that rarely happens to me: I’m starting to feel a bit of nicotine strength!

Final third:

Still cruising along, the ash held on for almost half of the cigar. Flavors are now getting a little harsher with black pepper up front and a slight metallic astringency attached to the date flavor. The sweetness is still present though, but is more like an artificial vanilla now when combined with that metallic tang. If you’ve ever had Canadian whisky, you know what I mean. Strength picks up again once I pass the band. The strength is manageable, but I’m not a good gauge of nicotine strength as I am known to not notice anything while friends are already yacking on the lawn. 

Flavors get muddled and minty towards the end and it goes out, so I ended it.

Conclusion:

Not at all what I expected. The one I had before didn’t show any of the complexity I got in this one today. It will probably benefit from an extra few years of age to even out some of the mongrel that is still present. But all in all I do think it has great potential. Very much enjoyed it, but had to detract some points for construction (first third especially) and the lack of balance which I think will go away with age. Everything is there, it just spikes in and out too much for my liking. Smoke time was about an hour and fifteen minutes. Now I need to go eat something sweet to tone down my nicotine buzz. 

89/100