The Casa Magna Robusto was a feat of economics. Named the cigar of the year in 2008, it came in at under $6. There probably hasn't been that kind of demand for a #1 cigar ever. Consequently most of the big suppliers don't carry it and there are nearly always limits on the number you can buy when you do find it.
I bought a few and and insisted on smoking all of them before I weighed in with my opinion. I had the same experience with all 3 which makes this easier. Aesthetically it is something to behold. The colorado wrapper with reddish brown hues has a nice oily sheen. It was a bit lumpy with veins which gave it a rugged look balancing the soft beauty of the wrapper. The foot smelled of hay and coffee and the pre-light draw was a little tight but still nice. The initial flavors were quite complex with wood at the core with notes of dried fruits and coffee and hints of nuts. By 1/3 of the smoke the draw tightened and the wood undertone took on an earthy character while coffee and fruit persisted. At 1/2 way cedar notes prevailed and continued until the end. The finish was smooth and mellow. The aroma was full and woody and the ash was firm and light gray. There were a few points where it burned uneven and the draw could have been loosened up which I think limited my appreciation of the flavor. Smoking a cigar should be relaxing, not work.
I suppose I expected more from the "cigar of the year" but perhaps it was my expectation that let me down. It is lovely to look at and had nice complexity in flavor but the real disappointment was with the construction. Overall still great value and worth picking up when they can be found. Just don't expect too much.
Wrapper: Nic
Filler: Nic
Binder: Nic
Rating: 91
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