Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a light brown with a few darker splotches mixed in. There are a couple of small raised veins and the seams are smooth but visible due to some of the color variations on the wrapper. The head is finished off with a single cap that is twisted on the end with a very small tag that is folder over. It creates a nice fan looking effect on the end. There are two bands with the primary being red with gold lettering and artwork and the company logo. The second band is a strip band that is the same color combination and caries the line name. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of cedar and hay while the foot is similar but the cedar is slightly damp that mixes with the hay. The pre-light draw is just a very smooth cedar note with a slight spicy tingle on my lips and the tip of my tongue.

Pre-light Experience

The D’Crossier Golden Blend Robusto has a fairly oily medium brown wrapper. Veins are well pressed, seams tight and head finished off with a well applied thick double cap. Nosing the wrapper tells minerals, cedar and dry barnyard. Nosing the foot gives namely cedar. The cold draw gives hay and cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with a full cedar up front and some black pepper in the background. At a quarter inch in, a fair amount of cream joins in which enhances the cedar and smooths out the black pepper. At three quarters of an inch in, the creaminess drops back a bit letting the cedar take the lead again as the pepper also decreases quite a bit. The retrohale is a mix of cedar and black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the cream increases again to become even with the cedar while the black pepper is still very faint in the background. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

The first third exhibits some familiar and unique flavors. The profile is nuanced with familiar mouth draw flavors of prominent creamed bread, barnyard and well balanced black pepper. There are also unique flavors such as vanilla and dried apricots. Retrohaling gives sharper notes of black pepper and dried nuts. The finish is long and lingering with cream, bread, dry wood and faint vanilla. Both strength and body are medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the cream drops back again letting the cedar take front stage as the black pepper has completely left the profile. At a half inch in, the cream again increases to even out with the cedar. The retrohale now consists of a dry oak note. As the third comes to a close, the cedar takes back over while the cream is working well as a good supporting note. The strength in this third remains at medium.

Second Third

The second third loses out on some complexities such that the profile is now namely creamed bread, cedar, baking spices and barnyard. The unique notes of dried apricots and vanilla, unfortunately, are entirely gone. The finish also changes such that it is earthy with lingering baking spices and cedar. Strength and body remains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the cedar remains up front with the cream as a supporting note. The retrohale is now a creamy oak note. At a half inch in, some the cedar transitions to a general woody note that now has some char along with the cream in the background. As the cigar comes to a close, the charred wood remains up front while the cream is present in the background. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Final Third

The last third becomes that much more spice driven giving off baking spices and black pepper with background notes of barnyard and creamed bread. The retrohale is unchanged from the first third and finish is unchanged from the second third. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

I really struggled to keep this cigar lit and performed multiple touch-ups and re-lights which is a shame as I’m sure that didn’t let the cigar present the flavors it intended. The burn line was pretty wavy and the ash held on in about three quarter inch increments. When the cigar was burning well it did produce lots of flavorful smoke.

Burn

The burn was disastrous. Past the first third, 2 full re-lights, jagged burn and multiple touch-ups.

Draw

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

Overall

Cedar and cream were the primary components of the flavor profile. There was some black pepper in the first third that provided some nice supporting notes and some char was present in the final third. The burn is where this cigar really struggled and I’m sure it masked some of the flavor that the cigar wanted to produce. I’m hoping this is a one-off issue and Jiunn has a better experience. I would definitely like to revisit this cigar and hope for better construction as it provided good flavors. The price point is steep on this one, so if better construction is the norm, then it’s worth a shot to see if you like the flavors.

Draw

Slightly tight for my liking but still not a major issue what so ever.

Overall

A nuanced and downright delicious tasting profile unfortunately leveled by a poor burn performance. The shift from highly nuanced first third to more spice and earth driven last two thirds makes me wonder if that was what Santana was intending or a result of the disastrous burn performance. Even factoring that, I did enjoy the flavor profile and will gladly smoke more, even if I have to light it again (and again).

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.05

Cost/Point

$3.64

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.87

Cost/Point

$3.20

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: D’Crossier Golden Blend Robusto