Navarre robusto maduro
 

“Le Comptoir du Tabac des Gaves et de l’Adour” is a French tobacco company that grows quality tobacco in the south west of France near the Spanish border. With help from a Cuban tobacco grower from the Pinar del Rio region they created a French puro, Navarre, of which I reviewed the Double Corona a few years ago. A few weeks ago I visited Huis Verloo in Antwerp and noticed that there is a limited edition maduro robusto out and I just had to try it.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/...stomaduro1.jpg

The 5 x 50 cigar looks pretty with the tasteful band and the extra "limitee maduro" band. The wrapper is nice and dark, oily and smooth with one big vein running over it. The top is triple capped and the construction feels great. The cigar has a peppery barnyard aroma.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/...stomaduro2.jpg

The first thing I taste is a full earthy coffee flavor with a mild sugary sweetness on the background. The flavors are a bit burned. After a few puffs I can also taste some sweet chocolate. After an inch the sweetness tones down a bit.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/...stomaduro3.jpg

Halfway I taste a sharp pepper with the previous flavors, but the pepper is the dominant flavor. The earthy coffee disappears and is replaced with a nut flavor, macadamia, toast and chocolate. Near the end the pepper fades a bit while the toast gets stronger.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/...stomaduro4.jpg

In the beginning I had a bit of a crooked burn but it corrects itself and doesn't give me problems during the rest of the smoke. The smoke is medium thick and I get just enough. The ash is pepper and salt colored. This cigar is full flavored and medium bodied. I purged it and didn't get a flame at all. It lasted me 75 minutes.

http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/...stomaduro5.jpg

Would I buy this cigar again? Hell yes. Not often, as they are pricey, but I need to get a few for special occasions.

Appearance: 7 / 10
Construction: 7 / 10
Draw: 7 / 10
Burn: 7 / 10
Smoke & ash: 7 / 10
Aroma first part: 7 / 10
Aroma second part: 9 / 10
Aroma third part: 8 / 10

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

Great review! Would you say it was more mellow on the sweet notes compared to some of its southern hemisphere brethren, in that the coffee/chocolate wasn't as strong as it seems the pepper was?

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

It was a different sweetness, much more like sugar. The coffee was quite full in the beginning, the pepper showed up half way and was Nicaraguan strong.

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

Sounds like an amazing smoke! :tu

I'm guessing there's not a good chance of seeing these in the states.

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

Nice job, never seen these

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

Probably not, only shop I have seen this is in Antwerp, Belgium.

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

Great Review,

Maybe we could set up a group buy!

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

are you sure? they are 13 euro a stick.

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

Damn fine review Ferdie. Sounds like a great stick. Thanks for sharing. :D

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

At what point did the flavor surrender to your palate?

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

nice review, ferdie.

Re: Navarre robusto maduro
 

I never thought I'd see the words "French Puro" in type. Scares me half to death.
Thanks for the review, Ferdie!!!