Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is light brown and has a network of fine, slightly raised veins. The seams are smooth but easily visible and the head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. The band has the traditional layout of the company where it has the company name up top and the line name down below. The aroma from both the wrapper and foot is just a light wood note. The pre-light draw offers a light graham cracker note with a mild spice on my tongue.

Pre-light Experience

The Flor de D’Crossier Selección Suprema No. 560 Robusto has a nice medium brown wrapper shade. Veins protrude in a minor way, seams are tight, bunch and roll even with no soft spots and the head is finished off with a well adhered triple cap. Aromas from the wrapper tell fresh raw cut cedar, fresh barnyard and dried nuts. Foot aromas give cedar and white pepper. Cold draw tells cedar and hay.

First Third

Things start off with a profile of aged wood along with some baking spice. At a half inch in, the baking spice has transitioned to black pepper. At an inch in, the pepper takes a slight lead over the wood. The retrohale is primarily wood and maintains the baking spice as well. As the third comes to a close, the pepper settles back down and the aged wood moves back to the front. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

The first third brings in a well balanced flavor approach. Toast and mixed nuts is most recognizable. Supporting these notes are cedar and well mannered black pepper spice. Retrohaling gives an increase in black pepper spice and also allows the cedar note to shine more. The finish is medium in length with a lingering mixed nuts that is clean on the palate. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the black pepper transitions back to baking spice while the aged wood remains up front. At a half inch in, the wood and baking spice become even and a slight bitterness joins the profile. At an inch in, some char joins as the bitterness increases a bit throwing the profile a bit out of balance. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Second Third

As I get into the second third, the flavors become sharper (not to be associated with unrefined or raw). The sharpness increases the spice delivery and brings attention to baking spices. The baking spices paired with the toast note work especially well together. Strength and body is still a consistent medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the bitterness settles down a bit while the char remains while the wood and some baking spice is still present in the background. At a half inch in, some minerality joins the profile. The retrohale carries a slightly charred aged wood. At an inch in, the cigar warms up bringing some mintiness to the charred wood and minerality. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Final Third

The last third gives off a nice effervescence to the baking spice and minerals.The melding of flavors continues to be enjoyable with toast, mixed nuts, baking spices and minerals all wrapped up in a clean finish. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn line got off pretty far in the first third and required a touch-up and was a bit wavy after that. The ash held on to the halfway point when I knocked it off as the cigar started to want to go out but then kept going after the ash drop.

Burn

The burn, although overall good, needed improvement. A couple touch-ups and re-lights were the main issues. The ash did hold on strong, burning temperature cool and good smoke production.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The first third had a good combination of aged wood and baking spice that transitioned to black pepper. The second third reverted to the baking spice but ended with some char and bitterness and continued that way through the end. Construction was pretty good aside from some of the wrapper not wanting to burn in unison. I just felt that this was an OK experience and would probably look to other cigars in the brands portfolio before returning to this one.

Draw

The draw proved to be tight. Even using my draw tool yielded no relief.

Overall

My expectation (based on smoking a variety of Flor de D’Crossier) was a cigar that is mild on strength, delivering well melded and nuanced flavors. After smoking the cigar, my expectations were undoubtedly met. Thoroughly enjoyed the flavors of toast, nuttiness, cedar and baking spices. The finish is also a key part of my enjoyment as it was clean with no grit or ash after taste. The burn and draw definitely needs work but it did not deter me away from the flavors too much. I would no doubt smoke this again.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$1.57

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.52

Cost/Point

$1.38

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Flor de D’Crossier Selección Suprema No. 560 Robusto