Cigar Details: Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Robusto
- Vitola: Robusto Extra
- Length: 5.5″
- Ring Gauge: 54
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
- Binder: Ecuadorian Maduro
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Factory: Tabacalera Fernandez
- Blender: Robert Holt
- Price: $9.49
- Release Date: October 2017
- Source: Southern Draw
Aaron Loomis
Jiunn Liu
Pre-light Experience
The wrapper is a very dark brown and has a couple of raised veins present. The seams are pretty much invisible with how smooth they are and how even the coloring of the wrapper is. The head appears to be a well applied double cap. The foot is closed with excess wrapper that is folded over. There are two bands with the primary being the standard Southern Draw design and the second being a strip band that designates the line. The color combination of them is very nice as it’s a purplish blue with gold artwork and lettering. There is also a cedar sleeve covering from the bottom of the strip band to the foot. The aroma from the wrapper and foot, since it’s a closed foot, is a mix of dark chocolate and earthiness. The pre-light draw is a mix of leather and some white pepper and there is a decent spiciness present on my lips.
Pre-light Experience
The Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Robusto has a dark and hearty oscuro shaded wrapper. Veins are roughly pressed but seams tight. Bunch and roll feels great as there is an even give throughout. The head is finished off with a well adhered double cap. Nosing the wrapper tells cedar and sharp white pepper spice. Nosing the semi-enclosed foot gives strong white pepper and charred wood. Cold draw reveals white pepper, hickory chips and hay.
First Third
The cigar starts with some cocoa, dark wood and baking spice notes. At a quarter inch in, the dark wood takes the lead with the cocoa and baking spice moving to the background. At three quarters of an inch, the cocoa increases to become even with the dark wood while the baking spice has settled down even more. At an inch and a quarter, a slight cream joins in with the dark wood and cocoa while the baking spice is still present in the background. The retrohale is pretty creamy along with the dark wood note. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.
First Third
The first third shows deep hearty flavors of cinnamon, gritty earth, Mexican chocolate, baking spices, dry wood and just enough natural sweetness from dried nuts to not make the cigar too spice oriented. Retrohaling gives black pepper, dry nuts, dry wood and stone fruits. The finish is earth heavy with a lingering dry wood and cinnamon on the rear palate. Strength is medium-full and body medium.
Second Third
As the second third begins, some wood bitterness joins the dark wood as the cocoa and cream are in the background. The baking spice has now left the profile. Halfway through the third, the bitterness is very mellow while the dark wood remains up front. There is still a slight creamy cocoa note in the background. At an inch and a quarter, a slight nuttiness joins the profile while the dark wood remains up front. The retrohale has an earthy and woody combination. As the third comes to a close, the nuttiness and cocoa have left and the cream has increased around the dark wood note. The strength in this third has bumped up to medium-full.
Second Third
The second third continues to show a mixture of dry wood, gritty earth, cinnamon, baking spices, black pepper and naturally sweet dry nuts. The retrohale becomes more sweet, dried nuts focused as compared to black pepper focused. The finish lingers with heavy earth and soft charred wood. Strength is still medium-full and body still medium.
Final Third
As the final third begins, the wood loses some of its darkness while the cream is still playing a significant role. At a quarter inch in, the creamy wood combination is working quite well. Halfway through the third, the cream takes the lead over the wood note. At an inch in, the cigar begins to heat up which brings some bitterness into the profile with the cream and wood. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third remained medium-full.
Final Third
The last third shifts slightly away from earth and spice and picks up softer notes of bread and is more sweet, dry nuts focused. The retrohale however, reminds me of the black pepper first and foremost and sweet dried nuts. Strength and body finishes full and medium, respectively.
Draw
The draw was perfect with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.
Overall
Lots of cocoa and woody notes to start out along with some baking spice and then things settled into a creamy wood note for the remainder of the cigar. Construction was very good which is to be expected from the factory this originates from. Definitely a fuller strength cigar that also delivers on flavor. This is a great addition to the Southern Draw portfolio and one I’m looking forward to smoking more of and trying the other vitolas. If you’re a fan of the brand and like fuller strength offerings, then this is a must try. It’s also one to try if you are a broadleaf fan as well.
Aaron | Jiunn | |
Very Good | Pre Light | Good |
Good | First Third | Good |
Good | Second Third | Good |
Good | Final Third | Good |
Very Good | Burn | Very Good |
Amazing | Draw | Very Good |
Good | Overall | Good |
Draw
Draw was overall very good. Just a tad snug for my liking for two samples smoked.
Overall
I typically find Pennsylvania Broadleaf to be too drying on the palate and spice focused. In the case of the Jacobs Ladder robusto, thankfully it wasn’t. The cigar has a nice array of darker and deeper flavors without being too heavy nor too sharp. This line fits nicely into Southern Draw’s portfolio as a nice night cap to enjoy.
8 comments
Join the conversationJeremy - December 13, 2017
Thanks Guys, and well done
William Manasseh Reese - December 13, 2017
My goodness this stick sounds delicious! I hope my local b&m gets them in soon
Steve C - December 13, 2017
Sounds great, thanks for the reviews.
Mike Jones - December 14, 2017
Thanks for another great review guys! Time to go shopping, these sound good..
Bruce - December 19, 2017
OK I amin
Larry - December 19, 2017
This is a great review… Haven’t tried any Southern Draw yet but I’m curious now.
Doug Sevier - December 19, 2017
I’ve enjoyed Southern Draw since their inception. And as I’m a bit of a broadleaf freak, the Jacobs Ladder piques my interest to say the least! Thanks for the opportunity to win some!
Aaron Loomis - December 20, 2017
Jeremy M. has been picked as the winner and he has been emailed. He has 72 hours to respond with his shipping details or we’ll pick another winner.