Review: Cusano 18 Double Connecticut Robusto

[aceswired]

The Cigar: Cusano 18 Robusto

Acquired: May 2006 (a single)

Strength: Mild

Setting: Late afternoon, front porch with a diet coke & some work

Construction: To the eye, this cigar was very well-constructed. The Connecticut wrapper was smooth and flawless. No blemishes, no tears.

Pre-light: Pre-light draw was loose. Much looser than I like - not quite drinking straw loose, but close. Flavor was good, with notes of coffee.

First third: Upon lighting, I got a nice volume of slightly sweet smoke. I was quite pleased with the first few puffs. But thereafter, the sweetness was a bit overwhelming. It did fade within the first five minutes, but the problem was that it wasn't really replaced with other flavors. An inch into this cigar, the flavor profile was quite flat. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was just very thin. This may have been the result of the very loose draw.

Second third: Still nothing objectionable about this, but it completely lacked any "wow" factors. A cigar should have me closing my eyes after a draw and savoring the flavors. This just didn't inspire that. There was still a subtle sweetness, but none of the nice coffee overtones the pre-light draw had suggested.

Final third: Put it out with about two inches left, so I really didn't get into the final third.

Overview: I knew I was getting a mild cigar here, so I wasn't looking for tremendous depth. I'm a bit of a nicotine lightweight, and even on a virtually empty stomach, I didn't feel a bit of the nicotine (this isn't a bad thing, but it is worth noting). I enjoy a good mild cigar - 5 Vegas Gold and Mac Gold are both examples of how to do mild right. Mild doesn't have to mean "lack of flavor," but that's what I got out of this. I've smoked and enjoyed the Cusano 18 Double Maduro, which suffered from the same loose draw, but delivered a much fuller flavor profile. For anyone eager to try this line, I'd highly recommend starting with the Double Maduro.

Score: 3/10 - I couldn't give it any lower, since the flavor wasn't bad, just lacking. But if you want a good mild cigar in a similar pricerange, definatly go with the 5 Vegas Gold - you'll be much happier.

[Teninx]

You might be more pleased by the C18 'paired maduro' line. I really like the churchill, and the price is right as well.

[jsteel508]

Nice review, I have not tried this one. I do like the Corojo 1997 and tried the above mentioned Maduro Saturday night. I have to say I did not like it. I had two in the humi and gave one to a friend the same night and he had the same opinion. Burn and construction was better than most cigars I have tried lately but we both let them go out early and went to a La Glorria Cubana.

[qwerty1500]

Never tried the Dbl Conn. What impressed me was that the final 1/3 did nothing for you. Hmmm.

Enjoy the final 1/3 of most cigars ... even the mild ones ... love the subtle 2/3 but count on that last 1/3 to give me a punch.

[aceswired]

Originally Posted by Teninx

You might be more pleased by the C18 'paired maduro' line. I really like the churchill, and the price is right as well.

Yup - as mentioned in the review, the maduro is much better.

[Danbreeze]

I still have yet to smoke the maduro, but the natural is a great mild smoke. That is weird that the flavor was not present-the natural is one of the creamiest smokes I ever had. I would suggest trying the natural or even the corojo-nice spicy stick.

[aceswired]

I've had the corojo. It was better than the 18 natural, not quite as good as the 18 maduro. I've also got a C10 in the humidor that I'll smoke when I get around to it.

[Teninx]

The little C10 petite corona is a powerhouse of a smoke that I've enjoyed. There's a C10 robusto out now that I haven't tried yet.

[dgott20]

I made this my first purchase from the local cigar company. Smoked it last night and have to say that it was decent, pretty spicy. Since this was my first cigar in ages I'll hold off on an official review, but I wouldn't buy another of these.

[Fireman_UK]

It breaks my heart reading this LOL! The Cusano 18 is one of my favorite smokes...I love the creaminess of it. But to each their own, it'd be pretty boring if we all liked the same things.