Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown with some darker marbling to it. There are a few small veins running across the wrapper. The seams are smooth but easily visible due to the wrapper’s color variation. The head is almost a 109 style and is finished off with a well applied triple cap. The foot is tapered and also enclosed by the wrapper with just a pin hole opening, most likely to let the filler breathe better. The cigar has two bands with the primary being the standard Sacra Folium band. The foot band is brown and carries the line name. The aroma from the cigar since the foot is entirely enclosed is a sweet hay and red pepper. The pepper gives a nice spice when you take a sniff. Pre-light draw is really snug as one can expect from a closed foot, but the red pepper from the wrapper is immediately evident on my lips and tongue as some slight hay sweetness is detected in the background.

Pre-light Experience

The Sacra Folium 4th Density Robusto Grande has a somewhat blotchy medium brown wrapper. The wrapper feels lively as there is a nice slick and oily feel. Bunch and roll feels very tight as there is virtually no give. Seams are tight and veins are well pressed. The head is finish off with a thick triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives a fairly muted experience providing namely a soft, dry wood. Nosing the foot tells the same thing. Cold draw reveals once again soft, dry wood and slight black pepper.

First Third

The cigar begins with a good dose of red pepper backed up by some wood. As the tapered foot reached the full ring gauge, the red pepper reduces some and the wood creates a better mix with it. At an inch in, the wood overtakes the red pepper for the lead. The retrohale carries a creamy red pepper. As the third comes to a close, the red pepper increases a bit to become even with the wood. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

After burning through the initial enclosed wrapper portion, the flavors are distinct with rich notes of roasted dried nuts, black coffee and balanced black pepper spice. With an inch in, there’s a nice subtle creamed sweetness coming through. Retrohaling, the flavors are the same as the mouth draws but more distinct and intense. The finish is medium in length with a lingering wood bitterness and dry wood. Strength and body is for the most part medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, some black pepper joins the red pepper and wood creating an interesting mix. At a half inch in, some mustiness joins the pepper and wood mixture. At an inch in, the red pepper has gone away while the black pepper and wood remain along with the mustiness. Nearing the end of the third, the wood gains a toasty note as the musty black pepper is in the background. The strength in this third is slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third maintains the first third’s richness in roasted dry nuts and black coffee and at the same time becomes more dry wood centric. Retrohaling still gives intensified dry roasted nuts and black pepper, with the addition of baking spices. The finish is still medium in length with lingering wood bitterness and dry wood. Strength and body continues to be medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, some bitterness joins in with the wood as the mustiness and pepper disappear. At a half inch in, some red pepper rejoins in the background while the bitter wood remains up front. The cigar begins to heat up in the final inch and the wood gains a youngness to go along with the bitterness. This is how the cigar finishes out. The strength in this third was medium-full.

Final Third

The last third mimics the second third. Mouth draw notes of rich roasted dry nuts, black coffee and dry wood. Retrohaling still giving deeper dry roasted nuts, black pepper and baking spices. Finish is still medium in length with wood bitterness and dry wood. Strength nears medium-full and body stays medium.

Burn

The burn was pretty wavy through the first two thirds, but always caught up with itself with no intervention. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

The burn was overall good. A couple minor touch ups were needed within the first third and last third. Other than that, the burn was cool and slow with sturdy ashes averaging almost 2 inches.

Draw

The draw was good in the first and final thirds and was a little snug through the middle.

Overall

With the red pepper evident from the pre-light and in the start of the cigar, I was hoping it would be showcased throughout. Unfortunately, it only lasted a short time and the cigar settled into a predominantly woody profile. There was some black pepper and mustiness that was present at times, but it never created a spectacular profile. This is the fourth cigar from the portfolio that we’ve tried and I think it’s probably the most unique as we still have the fifth to try. I’d be up for smoking another one if I came across it, but probably not something I would go seek out.

Draw

After the initial enclosed foot burned, the draw was very good. Slightly tight for my liking but nonetheless great.

Overall

Although the final score may not precisely reflect this, but this being the fourth blend reviewed, this is my favorite tasting cigar in the Sacra Folium portfolio. The richness in roasted nuttiness with a hint of creamed sweetness mixed with black coffee was consistent and tasty. The unique double tapered vitola was unique but was a bit annoying. Smoking through the first half inch or so, the draw was almost plugged and made the pre-light experience dull and muted. With all that said, this one is well worth a few to try.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.53

Cost/Point

$1.92

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.87

Cost/Point

$1.54

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Sacra Folium 4th Density Robusto Grande