Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown with a slight red tint to it. There are a few veins present and they are easily visible as they carry a lighter color than the rest of the wrapper. The seams are flawless and only visible due to the color variations previously mentioned. The head is finished off with a very well applied triple cap. There are two bands with the first being the traditional La Gloria Cubana band. The second is an orangish-red strip band that has Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s name and the line name. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of leather and light barnyard while the foot aroma is a mix of pipe tobacco and plum like sweetness. The pre-light draw brings that same pipe tobacco and plum like sweetness that I got from the foot aroma.

Pre-light Experience

The La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva Robusto has a medium brown wrapper with a slightly rustic red hue. The cigar’s veins are well pressed and seams tight. Bunch and roll feels well done as there is a uniformed give throughout. The head is finished off with a thick triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives cedar and nuts. Smelling the foot tells white pepper, spicy cedar and soy sauce. Cold draw consists of namely dry cardboard.

First Third

As the cigar begins, it brings a slightly spicy cedar along with a general stone fruit sweetness. After a few draws, the sweetness goes away as some cream joins in with the slightly spicy cedar. At a half inch in, the cedar mellows a bit and creates a really nice and subtle mixture with the cream. The retrohale carries a fairly spicy cedar with a nice zing. At an inch in, a slight sweetness is present in the background while the slightly spicy cedar and cream dance in the forefront. As the third comes to a close, the cedar begins to take the lead from the cream while there is still a slight sweetness in the background. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

First third has a very tasty combination of spice, sweetness and earthiness. Flavors of sweetened cream nuttiness, spicy cedar, baking spices and graphite minerals. Retrohaling brings greater depths of sweetened cream nuttiness and spicy cedar in addition to bread. The finish has a nice lingering white pepper spice and cedar. Strength is medium-full and body medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the slightly spicy cedar is up front with a slight creaminess in the background while the sweetness has gone away. The retrohale continues to be a prominent spicy cedar. At a half inch in, the creaminess increases a bit which creates a better profile with the cedar. At an inch in, the cream recedes again, leaving the slightly spicy cedar up front. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Second Third

The second third’s main difference is the wood transitioning from a cedar type to a charred oak. This, in combination of graphite minerals and spicy cedar, gives the profile namely an earth dominant tone. The retrohale is by far the best part of the second third as it gives deeper notes of white pepper, spicy cedar, sweetened creamed nuttiness and bread. The finish carries over the same charred wood note from the mouth draw flavors as well as spicy cedar. Strength maintains medium-full and body medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, quite a bit of mintiness joins in with the slightly spicy cedar. At a half inch in, the mintiness fades a bit moving the cedar back up front. At an inch in, the cedar gains some char while the mintiness remains in the background. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third remained at medium-full.

Final Third

The last third brings back some of the sweetened cream nuttiness lost from the second third. Aside from that, the profile is exactly like the second third. Mouth draw flavors of sweet cream nuttiness, charred oak, graphite minerals and baking spices. Retrohaling still being my favorite aspect of the cigar with sweet cream nuttiness, spicy cedar and bread. Finish still lingers long with white pepper and charred wood. No changes to the strength and body as it is still medium-full and medium, respectively.

Burn

The burn was very straight most of the way except for one touch-up that was needed in the second third. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

Burn performance was very good. The only negative was a flaky ash in which it kept falling on my lap. Other than that, cool and slow burn, 1.5 inch ash retention, and fairly straight burn line.

Draw

The draw was perfect with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer. One interesting note is that under the cap, there is a piece of tobacco that covers the head and once you get past that, the filler is concave under there.

Overall

This cigar was pretty interesting. It has some unique pre-light aromas which were present right at the beginning of the smoking experience but quickly went away. The flavor profile was pretty solid through the first two thirds. Strength is medium plus the entire way, so smokers that prefer a higher strength offering would enjoy this. I think this is a very good reunion with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo back to the LGC brand and a good offering overall. I’ve smoked a few of these and would gladly smoke more.

Draw

The draw was also very good. A bit loose for my liking but the cigar never heated up and I was able to taste all the flavors without a hiccup.

Overall

I’m pleasantly surprised by this cigar. The La Gloria Cubana brand has been an overall mediocre experience for the last few years. Luckily, with the talented blending skills of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo (and Jhonys Diaz), this brand is worth giving a serious look. A definite fly under the radar cigar that I will happily smoke more of in the future.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$1.13

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.92

Cost/Point

$1.10

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: La Gloria Cubana Colección Reserva Robusto