Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a medium brown color and has a couple of visible veins. The seams are nearly invisible. There are three caps that are applied very nicely. The band is primarily black and silver with a little bit of yellow. The aroma from the wrapper is a light hay and leather while the foot aroma is a sweet grassiness. The pre-light draw gives a light black tea and there is a slight spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Pier 28 Habano Robusto has a medium brown, Colorado Claro wrapper shade. The wrapper feels smooth with slick oil content. Seams are well hidden and veins well pressed. Bunching and roll feels on point as there is a firm and even give. The parejo head is finished off with a well adhered triple cap. Pre-light wrapper aroma consists of namely quality cedar. The foot smells of barnyard, dry white pepper spice and natural tobacco sweetness. Cold draw tells dry cardboard, lip tingling dry white pepper and cedar.

First Third

Initial draws bring a combination of slightly spicy cedar and black tea. At a quarter inch in, the black tea morphs to an herbal note to go along with the slightly spicy cedar. After a few draws, the black tea comes back to make it a bit of herbal black tea to go along with the slightly spicy cedar. At a half inch in, the cedar transitions to oak and a good dose of cream comes in to go along with the herbal black tea. The retrohale is a very creamy oak. At an inch in, the herbal black tea leaves the mouth flavor while the creamy oak remains. The retrohale now has the herbal black tea with the creamy oak in the background. At an inch and a quarter in, the herbal black tea comes back into the profile to mix with the creamy oak. The same profile continues through the end of the third. The strength was right at medium.

First Third

From first draw, my palate is engulfed with richness in spice, wood and sweet creaminess. Specifically, a tongue caking dry black pepper spice, sharp cedar, toasted sweet bread (like Hawaiian bread) and dry and bitter walnuts. Through the nose, fierce nasal clearing black pepper spice, sharp cedar and some residual spicy heat. Finish lingers with a mouthful of rich black pepper, sharp cedar and dry and bitter walnuts. Strength is at medium-full and body in between medium and medium-full.

Second Third

As this third begins, the oak gains a bit of char while the cream remains and the herbal black tea is light and in the background. At a half inch in, the slightly charred and creamy oak remains and the herbal black tea picks back up in intensity. At three quarters of an inch in, the char goes away and the profile is back to creamy oak and the herbal black tea. The retrohale is primarily creamy oak with the herbal black tea in the background. At an inch and a quarter in, the char comes back to the oak and the herbal black tea goes away. The retrohale is just oak. This is how the third finishes. The strength in this third is slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third still has the same richness. The intensity of the black pepper spice has died down around 40%, allowing the dry bitter walnuts and sweet bread to move to the forefront. Through the nose, the spice has not let down, still having that fierce nasal clearing black pepper in conjunction to sharp cedar and residual spicy heat. The finish continues with rich black pepper, sharp cedar and dry and bitter walnuts. Strength is still at medium-full. Body still somewhere in between medium and medium-full.

Final Third

As this third begins, it’s creamy oak with oak on the retrohale. At a quarter inch in, the herbal component returns without the black tea. At three quarters of an inch in, a good amount of cream joins in on the retrohale. At an inch in, the herbal note turns into a bit of mintiness to go along with the creamy oak. The retrohale is still a creamy oak. This is the profile that the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third was medium-full.

Final Third

The last thirds most noticeable transition is the drastic drop of the black pepper spice. Now it is around 80% less intense than the first third. I’m still getting the richness, mainly in the form of sweet bread, sharp cedar and dry and bitter walnuts. The bite of the black pepper is still there on the retrohale, in combination to sharp cedar and some residual spicy heat. The finish now lingers with slight charred wood, dry and bitter walnuts and sharp cedar. Strength is still at medium-full. Body is still somewhere in between medium and medium-full.

Burn

The burn was pretty good. The burn line stayed even although the burn line was a little jagged. The ash held on in about inch and a half increments and was a bit flaky at times.

Burn

The burn overall was good. Total smoking time clocked in at an impressive 2 hours and 40 minutes. Burn line was wavy half the time but all leaves burned in unison. Ash was flaky, falling on the floor multiple times.

Draw

The draw was perfect through the first two thirds and got a little tighter in the final third, but nothing that caused any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

Fantastic cigar. The tea and herbal notes were ones I really enjoyed and the profile was very dynamic over the first two thirds changing up quite a bit. The room note even carried the herbal black tea aroma. I know that not everyone likes herbal or tea notes in their cigars, so it may not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. The strength profile isn’t one that will deter most smokers, so I highly recommend that people give this a try. I’ve smoked a few of these and they’ve all been very enjoyable. Even though it doesn’t factor into our scores, the price point is really good and I see this being something I go back to in my leisure smoking.

Draw

The draw was very good. It was ever so slightly loose for my liking, but no real complaints here as I was able to taste all the flavors with no issues.

Overall

A bold and rich cigar. Most will probably have this cigar fly under the radar as the cigar itself is not widely known, although it is produced at the well known La Zona factory. Tim’s hard work in conjunction with Hector Alfonso has handsomely paid off. I highly recommend this cigar to all as this is one of the most wonderfully balanced, rich and bold cigars I have had this year.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

8.00

Cost/Point

$1.00

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

8.20

Cost/Point

$0.97

Scoring System