Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown with some darker spots marbled in. There are a few veins visible, but they are pressed very well. The head is finished off with a double cap with the bottom cap slightly lifting on one side. There is a nice soft box press to the cigar. The traditional gold leaf diamond is imparted on the wrapper where a band would go, and just below that is a black strip band that has the company name and logo on it in white. The aroma from the wrapper is a light barnyard note while the foot brings a lightly sweet hay and leather. The pre-light draw is a very faint grassiness.

Pre-light Experience

The Cavalier Geneve Black Series II Robusto has a Colorado Maduro wrapper shade. The soft box press is nicely done giving a great feel. Veins are well pressed, seams fairly tight, bunch and roll with a uniformed even and firm give. Nosing the wrapper tells namely cedar. Foot aromas tell bread, nuts and subtle black pepper. Cold draw tells primarily white pepper and hay.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of slightly dark wood and mild baking spice. At a quarter inch in, the profile gains some nuttiness as the baking spice begins to increase a bit. At a half inch in, the baking spice has the lead in the profile while the dark wood is secondary and the nuttiness is no longer detectable. At an inch in, some cream joins which smooths out the baking spice note. The retrohale is a potent mix of the baking spice with wood supporting note. As the third comes to a close, a slight vegetal note joins in with the nice mixture of baking spice, wood and cream. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

The first third’s flavors work well in conjunction with each other. Not a spike in any note. Flavors of powdered milk, cocoa, subtle dry red pepper heat, chestnuts and barnyard. Retrohaling brings increased notes of powdered milk, red pepper heat and dry nuts. The finish is medium length with powdered milk, cedar and the red pepper heat on the back end of my palate. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the baking spice tones down some and becomes even with the wood. The cream is still a supporting note and the vegetal note is very faint. At a quarter inch in, an ashy note joins the profile and takes over the cream component. At three quarters of an inch in, the ashy note goes away as the vegetal note returns in the background while the wood and baking spice are up front. At an inch and a quarter, the wood gains a fair amount of char as the baking spice tails off a bit. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third, although shows a faint increase in the dry red pepper heat, it is still well balanced. Flavors of dry red pepper heat, chestnuts and powdered milk are most recognizable. Retrohaling still gives deeper dry red pepper heat and dried nuts. The finish also shows a tad increase in the red pepper heat along with the same powdered milk and cedar notes. Strength and body maintains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the charred wood is up front as the baking spice is now in the background. There is also some mustiness that has joined and is attached to the charred wood. The retrohale has a toasted wood note. At a half inch in, some cream rejoins the profile with the musty, charred wood up front and the baking spice is very faint. As the cigar comes to a close, it heats up a bit bringing some mintiness to the rest of the profile. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third continues to show steady increase in dry red pepper heat. The powdered milk so prevalent within the first two thirds transitions into a semi-sweetened milk. Further, the cocoa note creates a bitterness like a very dark chocolate. The finish is still dry red pepper heat, but now with bitter dark chocolate. Strength and body remains medium.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy, but never needed any attention. The ash held on through each third.

Burn

Burn notes were overall very good. Sharp burn, cool and steady burn rate, 1 inch ash increments and a slightly flaky ash.

Draw

The draw was perfect with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

Having reviewed the original Black Series, I was interested to see what this follow-up would bring. I was pleasantly surprised to get a much smoother and better flavor profile for my palate paired with such a great price point. Price doesn’t factor into our review score, but it’s worth noting here. The profile isn’t super complex, but the wood, baking spice and cream notes really work well in this cigar and the composition of flavors were very consistent throughout the cigar. This is definitely cigar I would come back to and would urge you to track some down to see how they fit your profile as it could be worth going deep on these.

Draw

Nothing but the best remarks for the draw. Perfect airflow and resistance.

Overall

The Black Series II Robusto was a pleasure to smoke. The baseline of the softly sweetened milky consistency paired with dry red pepper heat and cocoa was not only tasty but worked well in unison. The steady increase in spice was also a nice touch as to keep me engaged throughout the entire smoking time. Great offering from the guys at Cavalier of Geneva.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

7.07

Cost/Point

$1.20

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.07

Cost/Point

$1.20

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Cavalier Geneve Black Series II Robusto