Pre-light Experience

What you first notice about the cigar is that everything but the top inch of the cigar is covered by the band and a sleeve. The band is black with the Archetype logo and name along with the line name, Just below it is a white and black translucent sleeve that shows the logo and the shadow of one of the characters from this series. After removing the sleeve, you can see the medium brown wrapper that has some darker freckles. There are a couple of slightly raised veins while the seams are smooth and hardly detectable. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of dark wood and light stone fruit sweetness. The foot brings wood along with some light white pepper and tobacco sweetness. The pre-light draw brings leather and a light floral note along with a mid-level spiciness on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Ventura Archetype Crystals Robusto has a band that is largely black, with gold accents on the logo and name. It also has a white band that covers 75% of the cigar. The wrapper is a chocolate brown color, with aromas of mild leather and hay, and intense barnyard.

First Third

The cigar begins with a nice mix of wood, baking spice and cream. At an inch in, not much has changed other than the baking spice mellowing slightly. The retrohale carries a nice zing from the baking spice with the wood and cream behind that. As the third comes to a close, the creamy wood is up front with the baking spice slightly behind. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

My initial puffs produce flavors of powdered cocoa, that finishes with baking spices and post draw cedar. The baking spices and cedar reach just under medium plus strength level on the retrohale. As the first third establishes itself, there is some post draw pepper at medium strength with a lingering finish. At the 10 minute mark, the cocoa falls in intensity.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the wood gains a slight char while the baking spice mellows a bit more. The cream is just right behind the wood note. At a half inch in, the baking spice is very faint while the charred wood definitely has the lead over the cream. At an inch in, the cream picks back up to be just behind the charred wood. The retrohale is a fuller version of the same profile. As the third comes to a close, a slight floral note joins the charred wood and cream. The strength in this third remains at slightly below medium.

Second Third

The middle third profile combines cedar, light baking spices and cocoa. The overall flavor strength is down at least a full level in the middle third, but is enjoyable.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the floral note picks up to become even with the cream while the charred wood is up front. At a half inch in, the cigar heats up slightly, bringing some toast to the wood while the cream and floral notes remain. The retrohale is a warm wood with the cream and floral notes. As the cigar comes to a close, the char drops from the warm wood while the cream and floral notes remain. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Final Third

Toasted earthiness as the Archetype Crystals moves into the last third. Light spices are still coming through on the retrohale with a lingering finish.

Burn

There were two instances where a quarter of the wrapper didn’t want to burn for near one inch increments. I let the burn go and it burnt around these areas and the unburned wrapper fell off. The ash held on for each third.

Burn

The burn is even throughout the entire smoking experience, with no touch-ups required. Ash holds on well in 1.5 inch increments.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar was a bookend of good flavors with an average middle third. It started with wood, baking spice and cream and ended with charred wood, cream and floral notes. Other than parts of the wrapper that didn’t want to burn, the construction was pretty good. I was interested to see what this new series would bring and this first cigar was a welcome introduction. The price point is attractive and has me looking forward to the two others in the series. I would say it’s worth tracking this down to see what you think.

Draw

The draw is one notch into the resistant spectrum, but does not seem to impact the smoking experience.

Overall

The Ventura Archetype Crystals Robusto delivers a light-plus strength, and medium complexity flavor experience. A desert-centric combination of baking spices and cocoa, with some cedar to bring it all together.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.47

Cost/Point

$1.39

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.67

Cost/Point

$1.35

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Ventura Archetype Crystals Robusto