Pre-light Experience

The La Gloria Cubana Serie S Maduro Robusto Gordo comes in cellophane and does not have a UPC sticker. There is a large primary Serie S Mexican San Andres band in bronze on black, and a thin secondary band indicating ‘Maduro’. I weighed the cigar at 17.4 grams and the humidity as measured with a HumidiMeter Pro was 62.1%. Smelling the wrapper, I can pick out raisin, and sweet tobacco with medium to medium-full intensity to it. Out of the foot, I’m getting the same components along with hay and pepper.

First Third

The first third opens with light plus spices, followed by wood and hay and then tobacco sweetness on the finish. Baking spices and wood also combine to define the post draw. After a few retrohales, I find the retrohale is made up of creamy spices, with a chewy leather center.

Second Third

An intense earth right away on the second third at medium-full strength that lingers between each puff on the post draw. As the second third continues, a creamy wood comes into the mix along with light plus spices. Tobacco sweetness manages to break through the earth into the center of the profile.

Final Third

The final third is initially creamy baking spices, wood to follow and wood and spices teaming up at medium strength through the post draw. Creamy earth leads off as the last third progresses, as an acrid earth develops on the finish. Bitterness comes into the post draw, increasing in intensity for the remainder of the review.

Burn

The burn had some waviness to it, becoming uneven through the first third as it continued. A portion of wrapper struggled to combust into the second third, requiring a touch-up. The burn was fairly straight for the remainder of the review.

Draw

The draw had some resistance to it, roughly 2 to 2-1/2 notches into the resistant spectrum.

Overall

The La Gloria Cubana Serie S Maduro Robusto Gordo had a promising start in the first third, with interesting flavor combinations that kept me engaged. As the cigar continued, each third seemed to step down in balance and flavor combinations leading to a disappointing last third. The burn was near perfect with a single touch-up required, and the draw had some resistance to it. I’m glad I had the opportunity to review the La Gloria Cubana Serie S Maduro Robusto Gordo, but based on the flavor delivery, this isn’t something I”d return to. Normally I’d be interested in trying other vitola offerings, but as the other two options are large formats, I can’t see myself dedicating the time. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 46 minutes.

John McTavish

SCORE

5.35

Cost/Point

$1.49

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: La Gloria Cubana Serie S Maduro Robusto Gordo