Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown and has a couple of slightly raised veins. Seams are slightly visible due to the veins while the head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. There is one decent sized lump right above the band. Speaking of the band, it is a large one that starts at the foot and runs three inches up the cigar leaving only two inches at the top exposed. It is a pale yellow and black checkerboard with a large red square with the company and line name. The aroma from the wrapper is a funky and slightly sweet barnyard while the foot brings a nice sweetness that is a combination of cherry and raisin. The pre-light draw continues the mix of cherry and raisin sweetness.

Pre-light Experience

The Dominion Classic Robusto has a medium brown wrapper shade, showing traces of oil content on the fingertips. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll uniform and the head is finished off with a neatly applied triple cap. Aromas from the wrapper gives flowers, barnyard and white pepper. Aromas from the foot tells cedar, white pepper and dry nuts. Cold draw tells dry grass and white pepper.

First Third

The cigar starts out with a mixture of oak and cinnamon. At a quarter inch in, a slight wood bitterness joins in with the oak and cinnamon. At a half inch in, a slight creaminess joins the mixture of oak and cinnamon and knocks the bitterness from the profile. The retrohale brings a toasted oak note. As the third comes to a close, the cinnamon has left and a slightly creamy oak remains. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

The first third creates a profile centered around a raw white pepper spice, charred wood bitterness and baking spices. Retrohaling alleviates the bitterness, namely giving sharper white pepper and mixed nuts. The finish has the same charred wood bitterness lingering on for minutes on end. Strength and body is for the most part medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the cream increases a bit to become even with the oak. At a quarter inch in, the oak gains some char to go along with the creaminess. The same flavor profile is also present on the retrohale. As the third comes to a close the charred oak and equal level of creaminess continue on. The strength has bumped up to be right at medium.

Second Third

The second third continues to show a profile that is rich in charred wood bitterness, white pepper and baking spices. The charred wood bitterness thankfully slightly backs off on the finish such that the finish is now namely a dry oak. Strength and body is still medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the char level on the oak increases while the cream remains at the same level. At a quarter inch in, even with the cream present, the profile becomes a bit drying. At a half inch in, the cream ramps up some more to combat the dryness while the oak loses a bit of the char. As the cigar comes a close, things heat up a bit bringing more char to even out with the abundance of cream. Strength moved up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third continues to show improvement on the charred wood bitterness but not enough to not already have it caked onto my palate. The profile does pick up black coffee and hay but unfortunately is overshadowed by the bitterness. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy the entire way, but always kept up with itself. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

Burn performance was very good. Only downside was the flaky ashes. Other than that, 1.5 inch average ash marks, fairly even burn and never a touch up or re-light.

Draw

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

Overall

This was my introduction to the Dominion brand, so I was curious to see how it would go. Sumatra is an interesting leaf and one that is tough to do really well as it can produce a dry profile. This one didn’t exhibit that until the final third. The flavor profile was pretty typical with oak the primary player and it wasn’t anything extraordinary. Construction was great which is always appreciated. Price point is good as it’s sub $8, so it won’t break the bank to try one out. If you’re a Sumatra fan, it’s well worth your time to check it out to see what you think. I’d smoke another one, but probably wouldn’t spend much time seeking it out if it isn’t readily available.

Draw

The perfect balance between air flow and resistance.

Overall

This was an average tasting cigar. As mentioned within the first to last third’s tasting notes, the dominating charred wood bitterness note was not pleasant especially on the finish, caking the palate entirely. I don’t see many cigars made with Ecuador Sumatra and when I do see one, I get excited to smoke it. But in the case of the Dominion Classic, it’s unfortunately an average execution of it.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$1.41

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$1.41

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Dominion Classic Robusto