Cusano Habano Sun Grown LXI Robusto

Cusano Habano Sun Grown LXI

5 x 50 Robusto

Made in Domincan Republic

Wrapper: Dominican Sun Grown Ecuadorian Habano

Binder:  Dominican Sun Grown Ecuadorian Habano

Filler:  Dominican Ligero

Paid: $12 CDN from Cigar Studio

The first third I get a creamy sweet floral, with slight wood flavour.  Not bad, but certainly nothing special.  I think the wood is what detracts from it.

I saw some reviews that also noted cherry, and I usually call BS when I hear flavours like that.  By the second third the wood disappears, but at the end of the exhale I do get a cherry flavour in there now.  Quite a surprise.   The aroma also has a very sweet vanilla.  This is turning out to be a really good smoke.

This cigar did leave an acidic aftertaste on the tongue, that wasn't overpowering, and bordered on pleasent for some reason.  I usually don't like that taste.

The ash was pure white, but flaked off very easy, and never held for more then a half inch.  The smoke is really thick, and white. It's pretty strong, on the medium to full power end, and definitely full bodied.  I found the best way to smoke this, and get all the flavour was to NOT to retrohale.  As I exhaled, I would slightly breath the smoke in the nose, and would get the vanilla added.

If you read the above, you would think I'm going to conclude this was a great smoke, and highly recommend it.  Not the case.  I had huge burn issues.  This thing went out constantly.  The last half was brutal.  It went out almost every few puffs.  I walked away from the last inch, because I was so annoyed, despite enjoying the flavours.

Almost every review I read, I think every review I read, notes similar burn issues.  It's not a case of it being too wet either.  This thing spent a few months in my desktop humidor which sits at 58-60% RH.  

I would say try this cigar, and hope you don't get the burn issues, and enjoy what this stick has to offer, but I would not buy a box.  I might get a few, I they could be had for a couple of dollars.

Cusano 59 Rare Cameroon Robusto Review

Cusano 59 Rare Cameroon 
Robusto 5x50
Made in Dominican Republic
Wrapper: African Cameroon
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Domincan with a wrapper leaf.

Price: $10 CDN - These were on special, regular $12.

Age: Purchased early February from Cigar Studio, and sat in my humidor for a few weeks.

Drink: Ice Water & Diet Pepsi with Spiced Rum

The cigar lit well, but my torch lighter started to die, and I had to get the flame right on it to get it going.  This also caused an uneven burn right off the hop.  The first few draws were harsh. My first thoughts were, 'This is going to be brutal'. After it settled down, I got a predominant wood flavour, like cedar.  It also had a sweet taste in there with some spiciness.  The burn also evened out nicely by itself after several more draws.

I found I had to really slow my pace.  Taking shallow to medium draws, and not letting to much in or out my nose really allowed the wood flavour to come out, and be enjoyed.  Otherwise a nice full draw came off as really caustic, and harsh.  

At about the half way point, I got a little distracted, and slowed down for a bit. I was surprised it went completely out on me.  After the relight, it was crap tasting really harsh, and ashy.  I ended up digging out the ash to about the last third, and gave it another relight.  This worked, and the wood flavours were out again, but I still kept getting the occasional harsh draw.  A few times I had to gargle some water, and breath in some fresh air to clean out the taste.  I also got a really dry for the final third.

The smoke that came off was fairly thick, but had a fairly bad aroma, one I would relate to a stinky cheap cigar.  I often enjoy the aroma of the lingering smoke, and have no problem temporarily walking through the house with a cigar, but not the case here.  Definitely one I would keep out doors.

I smoked it down to the nub.  All in all I would say it was an OK experience, that may have been better had the cigar not gone out half way through.  The predominant flavour is definitely woody, with sweetness, and spice from start to finish.  I got a moderate nicotine buzz near the end, that bordered on uncomfortable. 

There is nothing that would make me want to go out, and buy more, especially considering there is so much out there to try, and the expense involved.