Pre-light Experience

The El Rey del Mundo Robusto OSC comes fully wrapped in white tissue paper with the band around the outside of it. The band is gold, red, orange and white, has a classic design and denotes the brand name. After removing the band and tissue, an unbanded cigar is revealed with a wrapper that is a marbled dark brown with some thick and lightly raised veins present. The seams are pretty smooth while the cap is applied a bit off kilter and has some edges lifting. The aroma from the wrapper is very light and brings damp wood while the foot is a bit fuller and brings wood and tobacco sweetness. The pre-light draw is a subtle mix of airy cedar and stone fruit sweetness.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar, rich earth and mild black pepper. At a quarter inch in, the earth takes the lead with the toasted cedar right behind and the black pepper in the background. At three quarters of an inch in, a mild bakers chocolate has joined in. The retrohale is toasted cedar and light earth. As the third comes to a close, the profile has become slightly dry, with the toasted cedar and earth now even and mild black pepper and bakers chocolate in the background. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

The second third continues with the profile from the first third. The retrohale remains toasted cedar and earth, but now has a decent black pepper zing as well. At an inch in, the bakers chocolate is no longer detectable. As the third wraps up, it’s toasted cedar and dry earth with mild black pepper. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the cedar gains some char along with a light bitterness. At a half inch in, a burning paper note joins the profile. The retrohale loses the black pepper and is just heavily toasted cedar and dry earth. The cigar wraps up with charred cedar and dry earth up front along with a bitter burning paper note right behind and mellow black pepper in the background. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Burn

While the burn line was pretty straight, the cigar did go out once in each third, requiring re-lights.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar had a fairly average flavor profile through the first two thirds, focused around toasted cedar, earth and black pepper. The final third took a significant drop as the cedar became charred and a bitter burning paper note joined in making the profile pretty off-putting. The El Rey del Mundo Robusto OSC has an attractive price point and is pretty serviceable through the first two thirds before becoming undesirable in the final third. For those that are budget smokers, this is a cigar to check out, just keep in mind that it might be something to put down after the second third.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

4.60

Cost/Point

$1.17

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: El Rey del Mundo Robusto OSC