The Dominus Robusto is a very attractive cigar.  The Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper gives it a unique reddish-brown tint that really stands out under light.  There are a few noticeable veins and it is firm to the touch.  While the cigar itself is attractive, its large band near the head is really a sight to see.  Mr. Padilla himself is a graphic designer, and one can’t help but wonder how much of his expertise helped in the design of the band.  It’s a classy combination of black, white, gold, and red, and features a large lion’s head at the top that gives the cigar a bit of an intimidating look.  The band also showcases the Padilla logo, as well as the company name and Dominus in attractive script.  Giving the Dominus a once-over before lighting you notice that it has a tobacco scent and a tad of sweet taste.

The Padilla Dominus Robusto burns evenly for the most part.  The draw is solid and it produces a nice light-colored ash.  The flavors experienced are really enjoyable.  You get a good amount of pepper from the start that mixes in with some coffee flavor.  The cigar lightens up a bit and starts to give a nice sweet flavor that tastes like syrup.  There’s also some creamy caramel that comes into play.  A little bit of a fruity taste shows up to make things interesting.

Overall, the Dominus Robusto is a solid stick.  The flavors are really varied and should appeal to fans of full-bodied cigars.  The burn remains even throughout without the need for any touchups, either.  The Dominus Robusto is more of a premium release by Padilla, and it’s retail price of about $9 for a single reflects that.  That’s almost twice as much as the Cazadores Robusto, but you are getting a quality cigar with great flavor.  You can also pick it up in packs of five or a box of $24.  If the price is a bit high, you should at least give one a try for a special occasion or shop around to see if you can get a bargain.  The Padilla Dominus Robusto earns a rating of 3.5 out of 4 stars.