Review: Brickhouse Robusto

[Herf N Turf]

Brand: Brickhouse
Vitola: Robusto 5x54
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Havana Subido
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Construction: Excellent
Draw: Medium-Light
Strength: Medium-Full
Body: Medium
Flavor: White pepper, wood (oak), grass, spice, spice, spice.
Burn: Excellent
Price paid: $4.25 (B&M)




I've been reading, here and there, about the Brickhouse line of cigars. Just little snippets, here and there; like Cigar Insider's 91 rating. I finally saw one at a local B&M, but passed. I saw them again today at my favorite discount B&M and took the plunge; for a lovely little robusto.

Prelight:

The construction is very nice. It touts a smooth, oily wrapper, which lays very attractively "flat" along the entire body of the cigar. The cap is very nicely done.
Prelight nose and draw actually worried me a little. I just didn't smell or taste anything much at all. Very blase' actually. My initial impression was, "Oh hell, a mildie."

Light-up:

My BOTL, Ron (Shuckins the Mad), posted that the first puffs would throw enough pepper at me to clear my sinuses. He was dead-on! I couldn't believe it, but it was just as though I had snorted a line of white pepper. Cool!
The draw on this baby is absolutely perfect. There is just enough tension that you know youre smoking a well made hecho e mano, but you don't have to work for it at all.



Ever-so-slight hints of creaminess tease the smoker, but the first third of this stick is still all about white pepper and a little leather. This starts to become more tamed towards the end of the first third, but youre rewarded with more complexity, body and earthiness.

WOW! Something really amazing happened at the demarcation of the first and second thirds. The ash just spontaneously plopped off and the foot literally ERUPTED in flame! COOL! Man, I tried to grab the camera to record this, but it went out too quickly. I would have loved to share this event. I have never ever had that happen before.

Second third:


After the above eruption, things got kind of anti-climactic. The cigar smoothed out tremendously, but the spiciness still hung in there. There are slight hints of walnuts, oak and caramel. The ash doesn't seem to want to hold on at all, but the burn-ring remains laser-sharp.
I love a cigar that changes as I smoke it. The Brickhouse robusto does this, in spades. While the inimitable spice remains constant, there is something new to discover in every series of puffs. The finish on this stick is extremely nice.

Final third:



This is where this stick builds its full power. The finish is still complex and delicious, but the strength and body are forces to be reckoned with. Massive, billows of smoke, emerge from every puff, slamming me with walnuts, oak and spice.

Conclusion:

This is a Nicaraguan puro for the Nicaraguan puro fan. It's bold and complex and offers the sophisticated palate a real treat in complexity and change. I do not generally like to render an opinion of any cigar after one experience, but this is a real treat for any smoker seeking a stout, well constructed, full-flavored Nicaraguan puro. I'd really prefer for this smoke to begin giving up its secrets earlier; not having to nub it to get there. However, all-in-all, this is well worth smoking and it may just begin taking up some valued real estate in my humidors.

[ncstogie]

great review I enjoyed the one brickhouse I had as well, tough to beat for the price.

[Cigary]

Glad you did this review, Don. I have been debating about getting this stick and just pass by every time. I have read more than my fair share of reviews on this cigar but I keep getting different takes on it. I like your review because it's like I was there smoking it as well. This is hard to do as a reviewer because a good solid review will transport the reader to a place where they feel they are enjoying the same thing. You just sold me this cigar and you should really start your own blog as a reviewer my friend. You are better at this than you are even aware of. You could call it "Herfs Cigar Hut."

[roughrider]

Great job on the review.

[cigarlvr]

Great review need to go to the B&M in the am to pick a few up to try

[bdw1984]

great review my brother... prob gonna buy a box of these or the toro sometime this week

[LincolnSmokes]

Awesome review. Will look for those the next time I'm in the B&M.

[fuente~fuente]

Really, really good review Don! This a great cigar.... Ecspecially for what you pay for it.

[Jumes]

Nice review. I've been wanting to run into this one in a b&m but so far no luck.

[Herf N Turf]

Thanks for all the props guys! Bear in mind that the only reason I gave this cigar a "medium" in the body catagory, it that that's how it balanced overall. There were certainly times, especially near then end, when it was certainly Full.

[Rubix^3]

Great review. I picked one up recently and am excited to give it a burn.

[SmoknTaz]

Been hearing a lot of good things about the Brickhouse. Thanks for the review Don.

[SMOKE20]

Great review. I am loving this cigar right now. and the price point is fantastic.

[zeavran1]

I'm sold. Great pics and great review.

[necrozen]

I've had around 7 of these in the last 2 weeks (it is slowly becoming my daily of choice) and you really nailed the experience! In fact, the review was so good that I almost reached in my humi and grabbed the last one I have on hand and burned it, but I exercised self control. I want to wait until I get more! I think I'm to the point where I am going to grab a box of these guys, they are just too good!

I agree that you should have your own blog, I really like the way you write reviews. Thanks for sharing!