Review: The Griffin's Robusto Natural

[nozero]

Cigar:The Griffin's Robusto Natural
(sorry no picture, I didn't feel like messing with the camera)

Size: 5 X 50

Construction: Attractive slightly rough looking natural wrapper with a couple of medium sized veins running the length. A good solid firm feel with no notable soft spots, but a minor flaw at the cap.

Where: Out on our patio at 54°, with winds from the NW at 18 and gusts up to 30 after a good rain. The dogs didn't want to stay out with me for a change.

Drink: Makers Mark Bourbon

Prelight Aroma: Slightly sweet, but otherwise very average. No chemical scents.

Prelight Draw/Taste: Very easy draw, good tobacco taste.

Light: Ronson Jetlite with Ronson fuel. Hey, it works for me and it does not cost an arm and a leg, leaving more bucks for more sticks!

First Impressions: Stale tobacco taste at first, but a sip of the Makers Mark cleared that quickly. Very dry, earthy and leathery taste and I'm still getting something else I don't care for, causing me to wonder if I got a bad one?.

First third: I'm still not caring for the taste in general. Still a very dry and stale taste to me, if it weren't for sips of the Makers, I'd probably be far less apt to finish it. I removed the label with slight difficulty but no resulting issues. Maybe this is too earthy for my taste? I also noticed that it seems to soften significantly for a good inch and a half behind the burn line giving an spongy feel.

Second third: I'm reasonably certain I would not buy this cigar, though I'd try another just to be sure it was not a "bad one". The stale taste has left, but has not been replace by anything boldly prominent. At close to the half way point, the tobacco flavor got a little better with maybe an ever so slight nutty taste. I'm finally getting a little enjoyment from it now, but there is just over two and a quarter inches remaining.

Final third: Now getting an unplesant aftertaste and soooo wishing I'd picked anything else. I'd rather be smoking the "buck a stick" Taboo Factory Value Blend #1 or better yet a Famous Nicaraguan 1000 freebie I got with the 3000's. This is the first one I had to force myself to finish since smoking the Paso Doble from Thompson and I returned those after trying three.

Ash/Burn: Flaky charcoal and gray outside tan and gray core, dropped at the first half to three quarters while in the ashtray and other subsequant drops were at about the same length. Viewing the ash head on shows the very thin darker layer of charcoal colored binder and light gray to tan filler color variation. The burn was perfect.

Final Comments: It's attractive and looks good in your humidor. Sorry, but I've got nothing good to say about the flavor of this stick. There were brief moments when the flavor was better than others, but they were too few and far between. I'm certain that if I'd had only water to drink, I'd have probably drunk two or more bottles. The Makers Mark was the only thing that made me stick with this stick.

Price: I paid about $4.11 for this in the Famous sampler, but found them listed for $6.99 for a single at Two Guys Smoke Shop on-line. I'm very glad I didn't spend that much for mine given the multitude of others costing far less.

Burn Time: 1:50 PM to 3:04 PM 10/22/2007

I "thought' I posted this earlier, but can find any evidence...

[muziq]

Thanks for the review...can't say I've tried one of these...and your review isn't lighting a fire under me to get to the B&M. Thanks!

[gvarsity]

Thanks for the review. It's good to see the bad reviews as well as the wow this was amazing reviews.

[LORD PUFFER]

I may have to try one again. When i was younger and worked at the shop, the Griffin 500 was one of my favorites. Now that my selection and knowledge has changed I will have to give them another chance. Definetly more expensive than they used to be.

[gary106334]

Thanks for the review.

[OldCode]

Originally Posted by gvarsity

Thanks for the review. It's good to see the bad reviews as well as the wow this was amazing reviews.

here here! good review

[Darrell]

Nice job on the review, thanks.

[KASR]

Nice review. I liken this to a Diamond Crown - similiar dryness to it and lotsa smoke. Might give the Griffin Fuerte....might be more up your alley.

[Marlboro Cigars]

Thanks for the review.

[Kidrock387]

Thanks For The Review But...... This Stick.......

[SmokeyJoe]

Thanks for the review... I am not a big fan of these, personally.

[ScottishSmoker]

Unfortunately every cigar maker has to have a piece of crap on the market...and the Griffins is Davidoffs...

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by nozero

Cigar:The Griffin's Robusto Natural
(sorry no picture, I didn't feel like messing with the camera)

Size: 5 X 50

Construction: Attractive slightly rough looking natural wrapper with a couple of medium sized veins running the length. A good solid firm feel with no notable soft spots, but a minor flaw at the cap.

Where: Out on our patio at 54°, with winds from the NW at 18 and gusts up to 30 after a good rain. The dogs didn't want to stay out with me for a change.

Drink: Makers Mark Bourbon

Prelight Aroma: Slightly sweet, but otherwise very average. No chemical scents.

Prelight Draw/Taste: Very easy draw, good tobacco taste.

Light: Ronson Jetlite with Ronson fuel. Hey, it works for me and it does not cost an arm and a leg, leaving more bucks for more sticks!

First Impressions: Stale tobacco taste at first, but a sip of the Makers Mark cleared that quickly. Very dry, earthy and leathery taste and I'm still getting something else I don't care for, causing me to wonder if I got a bad one?.

First third: I'm still not caring for the taste in general. Still a very dry and stale taste to me, if it weren't for sips of the Makers, I'd probably be far less apt to finish it. I removed the label with slight difficulty but no resulting issues. Maybe this is too earthy for my taste? I also noticed that it seems to soften significantly for a good inch and a half behind the burn line giving an spongy feel.

Second third: I'm reasonably certain I would not buy this cigar, though I'd try another just to be sure it was not a "bad one". The stale taste has left, but has not been replace by anything boldly prominent. At close to the half way point, the tobacco flavor got a little better with maybe an ever so slight nutty taste. I'm finally getting a little enjoyment from it now, but there is just over two and a quarter inches remaining.

Final third: Now getting an unplesant aftertaste and soooo wishing I'd picked anything else. I'd rather be smoking the "buck a stick" Taboo Factory Value Blend #1 or better yet a Famous Nicaraguan 1000 freebie I got with the 3000's. This is the first one I had to force myself to finish since smoking the Paso Doble from Thompson and I returned those after trying three.

Ash/Burn: Flaky charcoal and gray outside tan and gray core, dropped at the first half to three quarters while in the ashtray and other subsequant drops were at about the same length. Viewing the ash head on shows the very thin darker layer of charcoal colored binder and light gray to tan filler color variation. The burn was perfect.

Final Comments: It's attractive and looks good in your humidor. Sorry, but I've got nothing good to say about the flavor of this stick. There were brief moments when the flavor was better than others, but they were too few and far between. I'm certain that if I'd had only water to drink, I'd have probably drunk two or more bottles. The Makers Mark was the only thing that made me stick with this stick.

Price: I paid about $4.11 for this in the Famous sampler, but found them listed for $6.99 for a single at Two Guys Smoke Shop on-line. I'm very glad I didn't spend that much for mine given the multitude of others costing far less.

Burn Time: 1:50 PM to 3:04 PM 10/22/2007

I "thought' I posted this earlier, but can find any evidence...

As always, thanks for a great review on this cigar. Have always had my eye on this brand but never took the plunge and after considering your review,,,,,probably a good idea that I never bought. I appreciate such a solid look and trial of this cigar,,,it's people like you who give those of us who haven't bought a great review so we don't waste our money on these precious sticks.

[despot]

Great review, thanks.