Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the CAO Zocalo Robusto is in between medium and dark brown and has some slight marbling to it. The veins are well pressed and the wrapper has a fine grit sandpaper feel to it. The veins are extremely smooth and the three caps are flawless. The band has the colors of the Mexican flag as well as gold and black and denotes the brand and line name. The aroma from the wrapper is just some faint earth while the foot brings wood and a subtle anise note. The pre-light draw consists of sweet cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of sweet and musty cedar and dry earth. At a half inch in, a mild baking spice joins the profile. The retrohale is a musty general wood note. At an inch in, the sweetness has departed. As the third comes to a close, the profile is musty cedar, dry earth and mild baking spice. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the baking spice has faded out and the profile is musty cedar and dry earth and the overall profile is fairly dry. The retrohale is now a mirror image of the mouth draws with musty cedar and dry earth. At an inch in, the dry earth gains a slight lead over the musty cedar. The strength in this third remained at slightly below medium.

Final Third

The final third continues with the dry earth slightly ahead of the musty cedar. The retrohale remains an even mix of musty cedar and dry earth. The cigar maintains the dry earth slightly ahead of the musty cedar through to the end. The strength remained at slightly below medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy throughout, but always self corrected. The ash held on past the halfway point and then again until the end.

Draw

The draw was quite snug and a draw tool provided no relief.

Overall

Quite a linear profile of musty cedar and dry earth with the profile becoming quite dry by the midpoint. No complexities or transitions to really speak of. The snug draw was a bit of a downer, but didn’t have any ill effects on the performance. The price point is quite attractive, but there’s nothing here that would make me want to come back to the CAO Zocalo Robusto. If you like a really dry profile focused around earth and cedar, give this one a try.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.35

Cost/Point

$1.49

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: CAO Zocalo Robusto