Identify my “Sweet & Sour Stan” Robusto 2020/21 (MYMRW)

[Edicion]

I really enjoy blind tasting cigars and the Identify / Reverse Blind competitions have been so much fun. So much fun, I have decided to make an entry into this week’s "Making Your Marca" competition.

But there’s a slight twist. I am doing it too… I can hear you saying “What do you mean?” Here is what will happen.

The only way I can do it this is by taking as many different Robusto sized cigars I can find (I gathered 6 so I have about 16.66% to get it right. Not bad.), bundle them up in a bag, and ask my better half to choose one, remove the band and give the bandless cigar to me. The torn off band will be placed in a small box, so that I have no way of knowing which marca it is. The other Robustos are then tucked away, so I would not be able to see which ones are left.

Simple enough….hmm maybe. So, from now on, the notes below, are what I will taste, not knowing what I am smoking. I am not sure they will help neither you nor I at all, but ok here we go:

Wait.

I need to have a drink to go with the cigar. Maybe red wine? I know it pairs awfully with most cigars but hey, it’s not like I am in a tasting competition.

For the last couple of years or so, I have gained an interest to learn more about different wines. I like the challenge of trying to understand and identify wines based visual, aromatic, and taste information. Recently, I received a nice little batch of different red wines to try from one of the recent 11/11 sales - all in all about 24 bottles from Italy, Australia, US, Argentine, Chile and France. Some of the same grape varieties are Cab Sav, Shiraz/Syrah, Amarone, Brunello, Pinot Noir, Cab Sav blends, from what I can recall. Oh yeah, one Assyrtiko, but that one is the only white wine. Hope I don’t get that one.

So, I open one of the boxes with mixed wines. I have no clue what is what and from there I choose one with screw cap (… ah that’s a hint… not really, I have no clue which ones come with cork or screw cap) I manage to pour myself a good amount of wine in a glass by tilting the bottle. I can’t tell anything of which type or brand of wine it based on the bottle. I am literally as clueless as you, all I know is that it is red which narrows it down from 24 to 23. Hooray.

And so here we are.

One bandless cigar, and a glass of red wine. We are on the same page. From here on out, the notes below, are what I will taste, not knowing what I am smoking. Nor drinking. If you want to guess either one, you and I are in the same boat. I am not sure the below will help at all but ok here we go with the actual review(s):

It was a dark and stormy night. The picture does the cigar no justice, and I can hardly see the colour of the wrapper in the dark light but will go for rosadoish/claro looking wrapper.

The construction is good – not excellent, wrapper feels a bit dusty/leathery. I don’t think it’s a Cohiba, just not smooth enough. When I cut it, the whole cigar feels very soft and spongy. Sigh, it looks like I chewed it off. Oops… it looks a bit dense. Hope no plugs!

Cold draw aroma: Barn, Hay and Sweetness. Yum.

Draw: not bad. I do feel a slight obstruction where the band sat but a gentle squeeze fixes that. Cubanesque plus.

First few puffs in: Very light to medium. No spiciness at all. The smoke production is excellent, rich velvety smoke. Nice taste.

First part:

Medium / less

Sweetness

Hay / grass

Saltiness

Earthy

Could be anything. We are in the same boat. Titanic?

Retro : hint of H. Upmann. (clue: it is not an Upmann)

Second part in:

It is a dense cigar. I am not usually, but this one turned me into a wet smoker. Delicious cigar, reminds me almost of a Partagas 898 that has been aged for a while.

Light/medium still

Still very sweet

The earthiness from before now combined with salt: salty mud taste

Some herbs, or is it paprika?

Reaching the halfway point:

I am looking for … Sometimes I don't even know what I'm looking for, but for Robustos I tend to go for spiciness, anything that give further clues. However, no black pepper, no strong aromas. At this stage, it is very balanced but not creamy. I would go with sour milky/yogurt flavour. Did I get some cherry/cranberry or raisins suddenly?

Finally, I think I know what it is! I am so excited to have figured it out! Did you?

Before I forget: the wine! Here are my notes: the style is red (dark), rich and intense – must be 14-15% in alcohol. Definitely bold.

Oak, chocolate, spices

Blackberry/blackcurrant, pepper

Mint and herbs (like eucalyptus), and a strong liquorice.

I very much liked the wine and best of all: it did not ruin the cigar experience!

What wine it is? who knows. Could be Australian or Italian is my guess.

Going back to the actual cigar review for what this is all about….

Halfway point onwards:

Not balanced anymore. Definitely feels a bit rougher now. One more puff and retro hale. Wow the retro hale! I thought it was a _____________ but the retro hale is so sour. No more sweetness , so long sugar!

Very sourdoughy

Bitter paprika

Lots of white pepper

Spiciness

Yeast.

At the same time, the cigar seemingly went to the gym and bulked up in power, medium to medium plus now, definitely gained some authority.

The previously “Sweet Stable Stan” went through an existential crisis and became a powerhouse of spices and flavour. Same as in Eminem’s song, Stan went a bit crazy in the end which sealed the deal.

Since I need a top up of the wine, I end the blind tasting for myself at this point, total smoking time so far : 49 minutes. Pour myself some more wine, and open the little mystery box where the band is waiting. My guess is right.

By that I mean, my guess is “Right. Guess I was wrong for a good 30+ minutes.” For both the cigar and the wine.

Final score. 92 points. It was a very good cigar that started of sweet and became progressively more spicy and powerful with an strong sour (in a good way) taste.

Good luck to you with your guess(es).  

[karp]

Double-blind! Nice idea for the review!! Cigar is Partagas D4… wine is maybe a Shiraz? 

[oneizzzz]

What a review!  Le Pièce de Résistance du Edicion!  I'll go D4.

[Toast & Taste]

Epi 2 and a Syrah from the Barossa Valley. 

 

Big Al 

[cigaraholic]

D4 

[B44]

D4

[CHPSteve]

JL2

[OrangePaw]

D4

[rcarlson]

You're all over the map.  RASS?

[Ford2112]

I thought maybe a RASS

[Jfeath74]

RASS

[Rhinoww]

I’m going dark horse. ERDM choix supreme. 

[Edicion]

Partagas D4 and Shiraz

[Toast & Taste]

I was half right.

You sure that wasn't an Epi 😁

 

Big Al 

[Edicion]

4 hours ago, Toast & Taste said:

I was half right.

You sure that wasn't an Epi 😁

 

Big Al 

@Toast & Taste Amazing call on the wine, you got the region down too. I was sure it was an Epi for about 30 min! It then turned into a D4, no doubts.

I am very impressed by everyone's guesses and how many could pick a D4 with certainty just based on the notes.

Well done

 

On 11/21/2021 at 7:48 AM, karp said:

Double-blind! Nice idea for the review!! Cigar is Partagas D4… wine is maybe a Shiraz? 

Spot on @karp!  Impressive.