Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is dark brown with some even darker marbling. Veins are barely visible due to the color pattern and the seams are well hidden. There appears to be a single cap with a pigtail that is secured to the head very well. There is a single band which has the standard Cavalier Genève design but the color combination on this line is black with gold artwork. The most noticeable feature of the presentation is the gold leaf diamond that is applied to the wrapper just below the band. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of earthiness and manure. The foot gives a mix of cardboard and stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw brings that same mix of stone fruit sweetness and cardboard that I got from the foot aroma.

Pre-light Experience

The Cavalier Genève Black Series Robusto has a thick, construction paper like maduro shade wrapper. Veins are well pressed and seams tight and invisible. Bunch and roll feels well done as there are no soft spots and a uniformed give throughout. The man bun cap is finished off with a well adhered, thick single cap. Nosing the wrapper gives cardboard box and black tea. Nosing the foot tells white pepper and dry nuts. Cold draw tells cardboard box, slightly lip tingling white pepper spice and dry wood.

First Third

The cigar begins with a very charred wood and hint of nutmeg. At a quarter inch in, the nutmeg goes away and the char on the wood slightly decreases. The retrohale has a much lighter char which lets the wood show itself more. At three quarters of an inch in, the char continues to fade and a slight bit of black coffee joins in with the wood. At an inch and a quarter, the coffee goes away and a dull black pepper moves into the background and finish while the charred wood remains up front. As the third comes to a close, the black pepper ramps up a bit to come even with the charred wood. The retrohale now consists of wood without any char and a bit of black pepper. The strength in this third is slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third creates a mixture of medium bodied sweet cream, hay, well mannered black pepper spice and dry oak. Through retrohaling, deeper black pepper, dry nuts, sharp oak and cream. The finish is on the shorter side with dry wood and subtle black pepper. Body and strength is at the medium level.

Second Third

As this third begins, the char on the wood is now very light and the black pepper is still even with the wood. As the burn line reaches the gold diamond, a little wood bitterness appears as the black pepper fades a bit into the background. At an inch in, a slight bit of cream joins in with the wood bitterness and light black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the bitterness increases and some notes of pine peak through from time to time. The retrohale is now a slightly bitter wood. The strength in this third is slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third shows very similar characteristics as the first third. The profile loses the hay note and becomes ever so slightly more spice dominant. Still, a mixture of medium bodied sweet cream, tapered black pepper spice and dry oak. The retrohale creates intermittent stone fruits in addition to deeper black pepper, dry nuts, sharp oak and cream. The finish is now medium in length and with the same flavors (dry wood and subtle black pepper). Body and strength continues to be at the medium mark.

Final Third

As this third begins, the bitterness fades and the woodiness comes back up front. At a quarter inch in, some cream joins in with the wood and slight bitterness. At a half inch in, the wood transitions to a more defined pine which carries a slight bitterness while cream rounds out the profile. At an inch in, the bitterness ramps up while the pine and cream retain their level. As the cigar comes to a close, the bitterness retreats a bit, coming back to the primarily creamy pine with slight bitterness. The strength in this third was medium-full.

Final Third

Not much has happened from second third to last third. Right around the gold portion, the cigar picks up a wooded bitterness. Aside from that, still the same flavors of medium bodied sweet cream, tapered black pepper and dry oak. The retrohale consists of deeper black pepper, dry nuts, sharp oak and cream. The finish, still medium in length, is centered around the same dry wood and increased black pepper. Body and strength finishes at the medium point.

Burn

The burn was very sharp the entire way and the ash held on in two and a quarter inch increments.

Burn

Burn was very good. Total smoking time clocked in at a great 1 hour and 54 minutes. Ashes held on strong with slight flowering, averaging 1.5 inch increments.

Draw

The draw was just slightly tighter than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues.

Overall

The flavor profile started very dark with very charred wood with black pepper and continued on until some slight bitterness joined in and then finished pretty bright with a pine note. Performance was fantastic which was a plus, but the flavor profile never really hit on all cylinders for me. I was hoping for a bit more refinement, but it never arrived. For those that like darker flavors and like a medium plus strength profile, this may be a fit for you. I’d be open to smoking this again, but may not go out of my way to acquire one.

Draw

The draw although good, was a bit too restricted.

Overall

I find the Black Series to be similar as the White Series in the sense that it is also a smooth and balanced profile. The Black Series does deliver more earth and spice, which is welcomed. Overall, a consistently tasty profile with a good mixture of sweet cream, spice and wood.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$1.79

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.77

Cost/Point

$1.48

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Cavalier Genève Black Series Robusto