Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a fairly dark brown. There are some significant sized veins visible which you can also see the smaller veins branching off from. The three caps are applied fairly well, with the first two being very smooth and the final one with some slight raised edges. The seams are easily visible but smooth. The cigar has two bands, the large primary band with the company name and initials on it and a red foot band with gold accent lines and white lettering stating the name of the line. The aroma from the wrapper is a faint dark wood. The aroma from the foot is a sweet dried fruit aroma like a prune. The pre-light draw is a fainter version of the same prune sweetness from the foot aroma.

Pre-light Experience

The Sacra Folium Malus Robusto has a dark and rustic oscuro wrapper. The seams are tight and veins slightly protruding but not enough to make it an eye sore. The cigar packs an abundance of tobacco as there is little give given the pinch test. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. The wrapper smells of construction paper, a sweet floral aroma and slight cedar. The foot aromas consist of damp earth, dark chocolate and faint white pepper spice. The cold draw yields lip tingling white pepper spice, salt and cedar.

First Third

Initial draws bring some aged wood flavor in the mouth and on the retrohale. A half inch in and the same aged wood flavor remains without any changes. The warmth of the smoke is something that adds to the flavor though. Three quarters of an inch in, the smoke becomes a bit drying along with the continuation of warm aged wood. Interestingly, there were really no transitions until right before the third came to an end where the retrohale became a slightly spicy cedar. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

From first draw, there is a dominating amount of wood bitterness. The wood bitterness is so overpowering that it is difficult to taste other flavors. Following the bitterness, some airy bread creaminess and bitter roasted nuts. In an intermittent fashion, notes of slight barnyard is realized. Through the nose, notes of cedar, white pepper spice and faint cream. The finish consists of mouth engulfing wood bitterness followed by oak. Strength and body within the first third is at a solid medium.

Second Third

This third continues with the aged woodiness and slightly spicy cedar on the retrohale. At a half inch in, some mustiness joins the aged woodiness. The mustiness takes over the retrohale as well with a little bit of the aged wood in the background. Three quarters of an inch in, a slight bitterness becomes present which enhances the profile with the mustiness and wood. An inch and a quarter in and some char comes in with the wood and pushes out the mustiness. There is still some bitterness present, but not detracting from the profile. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

The second third thankfully has less of a mouth engulfing wood bitterness, although it is still a core flavor. Aside from this, the same bitter roasted nuts, a new note of faint white pepper spice and creamy milk chocolate in place of the airy bread creaminess. Through the retrohale, cedar, white pepper spice and sweet cream. The finish still consists of dominating wood bitterness and oak. The strength and body continues to be a solid medium.

Final Third

This third continues with the slightly dark profile of charred wood and slight bitterness. An eighth of an inch in, some earthiness joins in with the charred wood and lessens the bitterness. The retrohale consists of a slightly bitter wood. A half inch in and the flavor profile becomes fuller. The charred wood is more intense and the retrohale carries a higher strength level to it. Three quarters of an inch in and the earthiness has moved to just the finish with the dark charred oak the primary flavor. An inch in, the char disappears, leaving the woodiness as the lone profile component. The retrohale is a musty woodiness. This profile is how the cigar finishes. The strength in this third was medium-full.

Final Third

The last third mimics the second third in every single way. Still plenty of wood bitterness, faint white pepper spice, creamy milk chocolate and bitter roasted nuts. Through the nose, cedar, white pepper spice and sweet cream. The finish still consisting of overbearing wood bitterness and oak. Strength and body still at a solid medium.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy, but always stayed inline. The first ash dropped at 2 inches and the second at one and a half, then burned until the nub.

Burn

The burn was very good. The cigar burned cool for 159 minutes of smoking time. The ash was a bit flowery (but never falling on my lap or floor), averaged 1.5 inch increments. The burn was fairly razor sharp, never needing a touch up or re-light.

Draw

The draw was very good through the first half of the cigar and then tightened up a little more, but didn’t cause any issues with getting great smoke production.

Overall

The cigar started out as a single flavor through the first 2 plus inches and then became more complex and dark. The body really picked up in the final third. The way the cigar began, I would have said it would have been a great beginners cigar with the flavor profile and low strength level, but as the complexity, body and strength picked up the rest of the way, it might scare a beginner away from the rest of the smoke and would be more inline with a more seasoned smoker. For a five inch cigar, it really did escalate levels, so it does keep your attention. The first part might bore more experienced smokers, but I’d recommend giving one a try to see what your thoughts are to see if it’s something you might want to try more of.

Draw

The draw was a bit tight. The pre-light experience of feeling too much tobacco and very little give to the cigar proved to be an issue. Even cutting to the very bottom of the cap proved no relief.

Overall

This was an average cigar for me. I believe the overwhelming amount of wood bitterness unfortunately overshadowed the other tasty notes. It caked my palate, especially on the lingering finish. Not my favorite of the newly released from Sacra Folium but would like to re-gauge down the road to see if the dominating bitterness still resides.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.80

Cost/Point

$1.71

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

4.73

Cost/Point

$2.09

Scoring System