Moving on to the flavor, the cigar begins with just a tiny pop of spice. This spice is joined by wood in the first third. The spice picks up a tad in strength in the second third and is met with more wood plus some sweetness. The final third offers up wood and leather. This is a smooth smoke overall that is not complex, but enjoyable.

While I was not overwhelmed with joy while smoking the H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Robusto, I can’t deny that it is a solid cigar. It offered good construction, a favorable burn, and consistency. I’d call it appropriate for beginners or experienced smokers. At around $5 to $6 per single, it seems like a good value. Look for it in packs of five or boxes of 20 as well.

The H. Upmann 1844 Reserve Robusto receives a rating of 3.5 out of four stars.

CAO Escaparate Ecuador Robusto

CAO sure loves to put out cigars with an international flair, as it has produced cigars carrying themes for such exotic locales as Brazil, Costa Rica, and Colombia. Another one of its globally themed cigars is the CAO Escaparate Ecuador. This line was produced exclusively for Corona Cigar Co. and is said to be smooth. To see just how smooth it is, I decided to pick up a Robusto for this review.

The CAO Escaparate Ecuador Robusto measures 5 x 50.  Here are the other sizes in the line: the 5 1/2 x 42 Corona, 6 1/2 x 50 Corona Gorda, 7 x 48 Churchill, and the 7 1/2 x 54 Double Corona.  The cigar’s filler is a blend of aged tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua.  The binder is Nicaraguan, and an Ecuadorian Connecticut Seed wrapper completes the composition.  Strength-wise, the Escaparate Ecuador is said to be medium-bodied.