Bad Dog Robusto

BlackIrish · 07-24-2009, 07:42 PM

The cigar: Bad Dog Robusto

Nutritional information:
Vitola: robusto 5x52
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Rhodesia
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

The marketing: Scantily clad large-breasted woman with cigars. http://www.baddogcigars.com/collectables_posters.php

Pre-Light: The tan Rhodesian wrapper was fairly dry and thin, relatively smooth, but with some splotchy dark and light variations. The box pressed robusto felt firm to the touch and neither markedly heavy or light. My nose picked up some light tanginess from the wrapper. I clipped the head with my best cutter, which caused the wrapper to get a little ragged. When I put it to my lips to take a cold draw -- very smooth -- I was surprised to find that the head was sweetened.

Light & Burn: I toasted the foot with a torch until I got a nice cherry and then took my first draw. The lighting was easy and even and the burn was stunningly straight through the first ashing. It stayed pretty straight, though not so perfectly, through the end. The gray-brown ash was just a bit flaky but grew surprisingly long -- it was nearly 2" before it dropped. The smoke volume was excellent, and no relights or touchups were necessary.

Construction: In terms of draw and burn, the construction was very good. The easy draw produced a lot of smoke without burning too hot. The burn line was thin and very straight through the first half, a little less straight but still quite good thereafter. There was no real ligero cone after the first ashing, and a small, slightly off-center cone after the second. The biggest problem with construction was the cap, which didn't hold up to the slicing very well and grew a bit ragged, which I always find irritating. By the last third it started to unravel just a bit but I was able to spit-glue it.

Flavor:

First, I'm not a fan of sweetened tips and I don't like how they interfere with my taste of wrapper and smoke.

The flavor was ok -- not bad, but just not great. In the first third, I found some pleasantly bitter notes of coffee mixed with wood and grassiness. These flavors persisted without much variation or dynamism through the whole smoke, staying squarely in the medium range, and they never really coalesced into anything very interesting. By the last third I thought I detected some more interesting lighter, Cameroon-like flavors, but they were pretty ephemeral. The last third also brought occasional ashy/dirty flavors and a bit of harshness on the back of my throat. I had no urge to nub this cigar and let it die with about 1.5 inches left.

Summary

Apart from the unique Rhodesian wrapper, this cigar doesn't really stand out from the large crowd of decently made cigars that deliver static and unexceptional flavors. I'm glad I smoked it (a friend gave it to me to get my thoughts), and as a red-blooded male I can't help but enjoy the marketing, but I can't really recommend it.

VirtualSmitty · 07-24-2009, 08:20 PM

Wow. Can't say I ever heard of a cigar using Rhodesian tobacco before.

borndead1 · 07-27-2009, 08:42 AM

I like the posters.

I would try the cigars, but sweet caps are an automatic "nope".

kelmac07 · 07-27-2009, 09:20 AM

Nice posters and review...thanks!!

Volt · 07-27-2009, 09:23 AM

Not sure about the cigar, but +1 for the promotional material.

Don Fernando · 07-27-2009, 10:06 AM

bad dog rockets cigars?

07-24-2009, 07:42 PM	#1
BlackIrish MassHole Militia Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Eddie Location: Bunker Hill Posts: 1,395 Trading: (55)	Bad Dog Robusto The cigar: Bad Dog Robusto Nutritional information: Vitola: robusto 5x52 Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Rhodesia Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua The marketing: Scantily clad large-breasted woman with cigars. http://www.baddogcigars.com/collectables_posters.php Pre-Light: The tan Rhodesian wrapper was fairly dry and thin, relatively smooth, but with some splotchy dark and light variations. The box pressed robusto felt firm to the touch and neither markedly heavy or light. My nose picked up some light tanginess from the wrapper. I clipped the head with my best cutter, which caused the wrapper to get a little ragged. When I put it to my lips to take a cold draw -- very smooth -- I was surprised to find that the head was sweetened. Light & Burn: I toasted the foot with a torch until I got a nice cherry and then took my first draw. The lighting was easy and even and the burn was stunningly straight through the first ashing. It stayed pretty straight, though not so perfectly, through the end. The gray-brown ash was just a bit flaky but grew surprisingly long -- it was nearly 2" before it dropped. The smoke volume was excellent, and no relights or touchups were necessary. Construction: In terms of draw and burn, the construction was very good. The easy draw produced a lot of smoke without burning too hot. The burn line was thin and very straight through the first half, a little less straight but still quite good thereafter. There was no real ligero cone after the first ashing, and a small, slightly off-center cone after the second. The biggest problem with construction was the cap, which didn't hold up to the slicing very well and grew a bit ragged, which I always find irritating. By the last third it started to unravel just a bit but I was able to spit-glue it. Flavor: First, I'm not a fan of sweetened tips and I don't like how they interfere with my taste of wrapper and smoke. The flavor was ok -- not bad, but just not great. In the first third, I found some pleasantly bitter notes of coffee mixed with wood and grassiness. These flavors persisted without much variation or dynamism through the whole smoke, staying squarely in the medium range, and they never really coalesced into anything very interesting. By the last third I thought I detected some more interesting lighter, Cameroon-like flavors, but they were pretty ephemeral. The last third also brought occasional ashy/dirty flavors and a bit of harshness on the back of my throat. I had no urge to nub this cigar and let it die with about 1.5 inches left. Summary Apart from the unique Rhodesian wrapper, this cigar doesn't really stand out from the large crowd of decently made cigars that deliver static and unexceptional flavors. I'm glad I smoked it (a friend gave it to me to get my thoughts), and as a red-blooded male I can't help but enjoy the marketing, but I can't really recommend it. __________________

07-24-2009, 08:20 PM	#2
VirtualSmitty WiP!? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: The Evil Empire Posts: 2,084 Trading: (0)	Re: Bad Dog Robusto Wow. Can't say I ever heard of a cigar using Rhodesian tobacco before. __________________ We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid - Benjamin Franklin

07-27-2009, 08:42 AM	#3
borndead1 Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 1,321 Trading: (7)	Re: Bad Dog Robusto I like the posters. I would try the cigars, but sweet caps are an automatic "nope".

07-27-2009, 09:20 AM	#4
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Bad Dog Robusto Nice posters and review...thanks!!

07-27-2009, 09:23 AM	#5
Volt I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,799 Trading: (19)	Re: Bad Dog Robusto Not sure about the cigar, but +1 for the promotional material. __________________ Curing the infection... One bullet at a time.

07-27-2009, 10:06 AM	#6
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,064 Trading: (29)	Re: Bad Dog Robusto bad dog rockets cigars? __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.