Initial Thoughts:
Today we continue our series of blind cigar reviews, where our goal is to provide you with a totally objective, completely neutral review of a cigar. Ellory went into this review completely blind; that means without knowing what it is, who made it, how much it costs, or what's in it. To see the entire series of blind cigar reviews, click here.
The first thing I noticed about today's cigar, the La Palina Bronze Label Robusto, was that it looked delicious. The wrapper leaf was just about perfect, and I couldn't find a single flaw in the cigar. In addition to looking great, the La Palina Bronze Label Robusto also had a wonderful pre-light aroma.
Once lit, the Bronze Label Robusto had a very woody smell with hints of something like an over-roasted, almost-burnt coffee, and an earthy clay. The flavors were earthy and spicy.
Regarding the construction, the initial draw was really nice, and the burn in the first few minutes was excellent. The smoke itself was also very thick – a feature I had never noticed on a cigar in recent memory and one that really tingled my sinuses.
CigarScore:
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Smoke Time: 60 minutes
Through the first third of the cigar, the flavors were like yeast and hops and fermented beer, much like the Belgian Tripel style I've come to enjoy.
Final Thoughts
The first two-thirds of the La Palina Bronze Label Robusto was really good. But, the burn was uneven and had to be torched about three times so I could even that up.
However, in the final third, I think there was a hollow spot that had a negative impact on the draw. Additionally, the flavors in the final third were not as good as they were in the first two-thirds.
If the cigar had finished as strong as it had started, it would have scored better. However, the complex blend fell short, so the La Palina Bronze Label Robusto earns a CigarScore 3.
