Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Highclere Castle Victorian Robusto is dark brown, with some lightly raised veins and a fine grit sandpaper feel. The seams are very smooth and the caps are well applied. The band has the same design as the original release but carries a red and gold color combination and denotes Victorian at the bottom. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of wood and earth while the foot brings wood and stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw brings a mix of stewed fruit and cedar along with a mid-level spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with dark wood, baking spice and light mustiness. At a half inch in, some earth joins the profile. The retrohale is musty wood with a decent baking spice zing. At an inch in, the dark wood and earth are even and working well together while the baking spice has transitioned to black pepper. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the earth becomes very heavy and dark and has a slight lead over the dark wood while the mustiness and black pepper are a bit behind. At a half inch in, the dark wood and dark earth are even and the wood has gained a decent level of toast to it. The overall profile is becoming a bit dry. The retrohale is a dry mix of wood, earth and light mustiness. As the third comes to a close, the wood now has a heavy toast as the black pepper is light in the background. The strength remains at slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the heavy toast transitions to light char while the black pepper departs from the profile. The retrohale is now just musty wood. The cigar wraps up with charred wood up front, earth right behind, along with some mustiness in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Burn

The burn was slightly jagged throughout, but always kept up with itself. The ash held on through each third.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began nicely, with a good combination of wood and earth and some supporting spice. As the second third began, some dryness joined the profile and the wood gained a toasted note and then char in the final third, knocking the enjoyment level down in each third. The Highclere Castle Victorian Robusto is definitely a darker and heavier profile than the original. While it started well, it just couldn’t maintain the profile and degraded as it went along. The price point is pretty high for the experience provided and I don’t see myself really coming back to this one.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.50

Cost/Point

$2.55

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Highclere Castle Victorian Robusto