El Rey de los Habanos robusto

[Don Fernando]

A couple of friends stuck their heads together and plotted to group bomb me, and boy, their plan worked. I got a box with a very nice selection of cigars, some I smoked in the past, some I read about and some I never even heard of and this was one of them. Now you must know that I am a big Don Pepin Garcia fan, so I couldn't wait to light this cigar which was unknown to me. Visiting the El Red de los Habanos (http://www.elreydeloshabanos.com/) website thought me that this is a milder cigar with a Corojo rosado claro wrapper with a Nicaraguan binder and filler.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af186/cigarguide/reviews/donpepinelreydelosrobusto1.jpg

The wrapper is chocolate brown with a light reddish glow, it is shiny and oily with a few veins. The cigar has a classic barnyard aroma and the construction feels good. The predraw is fine and I taste pepper and raisin.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af186/cigarguide/reviews/donpepinelreydelosrobusto2.jpg

I taste coffee and pepper with a very mild sweetness. The flavors tone down quickly into a medium strength. I taste leather with some sweetness, the coffee and pepper left the cigar after only half an inch. Soon after I taste nuts with the same mild sweetness as the other flavors I have tasted so far.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af186/cigarguide/reviews/donpepinelreydelosrobusto3.jpg

After an inch and a half I taste a sweet earthy flavor and halfway that flavor changes into herbs and pepper. After two thirds I taste nuts and pepper and the sweetness has disappeared. Near the end the earthy flavor makes a comeback, combined with the nuts and the pepper.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af186/cigarguide/reviews/donpepinelreydelosrobusto4.jpg

This 5x50 robusto lasted me for an hour and five minutes. The draw is a bit hard, although that is getting better along the way, just like the smoke, which started out poor and thin but that also got better. The medium gray ash is firm. This cigar is medium bodied and medium flavored.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af186/cigarguide/reviews/donpepinelreydelosrobusto5.jpg

Would I buy this cigar again? It was a nice cigar, but when smoking a Don Pepin stick I expect more power and that signature Pepin 'twang'.

Appearance: 8 / 10
Construction: 7 / 10
Draw: 7 / 10
Burn: 8 / 10
Smoke & ash: 6 / 10
Aroma first part: 7 / 10
Aroma second part: 7 / 10
Aroma third part: 7 / 10

[kelmac07]

Thanks Ferdie...had been curious about this stick.

[Dunkel]

I liked the one I tried, but as mentioned it was on the light side for a DPG stick.

[Sin]

I had the same feelings when I had mine yesterday.

[76GTFan]

If I see them in the shops, I usually pick one or two up. Still not a goto for me. Would rather have another Pepin product in the price range. Nice review though.

[tenbaseg]

I had one and I enjoyed it. You were right on with your review that it doesn't have the kick of some of the other Pepin sticks. The flavor is nice though.

[timo]

I've been smoking quite a few of these and enjoying them very much

[joeobx]

Nice review. Might have to check these out for a morning smoke.

[borndead1]

I like this blend a lot. I remember before Pepin became a cigar god I could get these (robustos) at the B&M for $3.50 a stick.

[diesel]

I wasn't thrilled about the one I had, a bit light for my palette when I smoked it. Maybe it was the wrong time of day. I don't often see these smokes pop up around Pittsburgh.