Pre-light Experience

The wrapper has a medium Colorado red color to it. There are a couple of medium sized veins visible. The seams are visible due to a slightly darker color at the edge of the leaf, but rolled very smooth. There are two well applied caps. The cigar has two bands, with the primary being the standard Mombacho band and the second signifying Liga Maestro. Both bands are primarily a matte black with gold lettering and borders. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of barnyard and leather. The foot gives a sweet tobacco aroma along with a very light white pepper. The pre-light draw gives a very light fig sweetness along with a hint of spice. There is also a mild-medium spice on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Mombacho Liga Maestro Doble Robusto has a gorgeous silky smooth Colorado red shade wrapper. Veins are well pressed and seams tight. Bunching and roll feels well executed as there is a structured give throughout the entire cigar. The parejo head is finished off with a well adhered double cap. Nosing the wrapper gives a balance of barnyard, cedar and dry black pepper. Nosing the foot gives dry black pepper, cedar and dry roasted nuts. Cold draw reveals dry cardboard, light cream and a touch of salt on the lips.

First Third

Initial draws bring a mix of cinnamon and woodiness. After a few draws, the cinnamon becomes a bit spicier with the wood in the background. The retrohale carries a milder cinnamon to it. At a quarter inch in, some cream joins the mix which mellows out the cinnamon spice and mixes well with the woodiness. Three quarters of an inch in, the creamy wood is up front with some cinnamon in the background. The retrohale carries an even mix of the creamy wood and cinnamon. At an inch and a quarter, a little bit of coffee comes in to mix with the creamy wood while there is still some cinnamon in the background. As the third comes to a close, it is primarily creamy wood with a little bit of cinnamon, coffee and bitterness. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

First thirds flavors are concentrated and well balanced. Complex and nuanced notes of medium-full bodied cream, dry roasted nuts, dry minerality, tapered wood bitterness and floral notes. Inch in, a well mannered black pepper spice is introduced, working well in conjunction with the aforementioned notes. Through the nose, an abundance of floral notes and medium-full bodied cream. Finish has soft and lingering notes of medium bodied cream, bitter dried nuts, wood bitterness and cedar. Body is slightly above medium and strength at the solid medium mark.

Second Third

As this third begins it is creamy wood with a slight wood bitterness and still some cinnamon in the background. The retrohale is creamy wood with a little wood bitterness but without any cinnamon. A half inch in, the wood moves to the front and tastes a little dirty. The bitterness has gone away, but there is still some creaminess in the background. The retrohale is a smoky wood. An inch in, the dirtiness has gone away and it is primarily wood with a bit of cream in the background. As the third comes to a close it is just wood with the cream having left the profile. The strength remains at medium.

Second Third

Beginning the second third, the flavor profile is a shift towards floral notes, pairing well with especially wood bitterness, well mannered black pepper, and medium bodied cream. Towards the middle of the second third, the profile shifts again to be more black pepper and roasted dry nuts focused. Further, strength increases nearing the medium-full range. Through retrohaling, increased levels of black pepper, floral notes, dry roasted nuts and wood bitterness. The finish still has soft and lingering cedar, wood bitterness and dry roasted nuts. Body stays at the same slightly above medium mark.

Final Third

As this third begins, the wood only profile continues. The retrohale is also just wood. A quarter inch in, some cream comes back to the profile. At a half inch, the cigar begins to heat up a little bringing in some bitterness to go along with the creamy wood. The profile finishes with this same profile of creamy wood and a little bitterness due to the cigar being a little heated up. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

Last third is for the most part a continuation of the latter part of the second third. Well mannered black pepper spice and roasted dried nuts focused. In addition, still distinctive wood bitterness, medium bodied cream and cedar. A handful of draws of burnt sugar comes in an intermittent fashion, a note I wish was more consistent. Through the nose, tapered black pepper spice, medium bodied cream, cedar and barnyard. The finish continues to be soft and lingering notes of wood bitterness, dry roasted nuts, and cedar. Body continues to be a tad above medium and strength moving towards the medium-full mark.

Burn

The burn was never really razor sharp but always kept up with itself. The cigar did go out on me in the final third and required a relight. Ash held on in just under two inch increments.

Burn

The burn was very good. Total smoking time came in at an impressive 3 hours. Burn line was never razor sharp but all leaves burned in unison with zero touch-ups. Ashes held on strong averaging 1.5 to 2 inch increments.

Draw

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

Overall

This was my introduction to Mombacho and it was a good one. The flavor profile in the initial third was fantastic, I just wish that it had continued on throughout the other thirds. I would be very interested in trying this cigar in a smaller vitola to see if I could get that continuation. With the strength level it had, this would be approachable to most smokers. I recommend that people give this a try, especially if they haven’t had anything from Mombacho before. I am now very interested in trying some of their other lines.

Draw

The draw was perfect. Just the right amount of resistance for me to taste everything the cigar had to offer.

Overall

I don’t know much about Mombacho as a brand and its product offerings. All I know is, if Claudio keeps blending cigars with full flavors, balance, building complexities and nuances, I will be a buyer by the boxes with no hesitation. Further, I rarely find a classic Cuban double corona or double robusto outside of Cuban cigars to be worthwhile. Typically, non-Cuban double robustos and double coronas have a tendency to be monotonous, leaving me quickly disengaged past the half way point. But this cigar kept me engaged the entire smoking experience with transitions and building complexities. Awesome cigar!

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

7.07

Cost/Point

$1.55

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

8.53

Cost/Point

$1.28

Scoring System