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.

Burn

The burn line was a bit wavy throughout the cigar. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

Burn performance was great except for a semi-flowery ash the entire time. Cool and slow burn, even burn line and solid ash marks averaging 1.5 inches.

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.

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.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

7.07

Cost/Point

$1.34

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.92

Cost/Point

$1.37

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Robusto