In 2003 Habanos S.A. released the Combinacciones Selección Robustos 5s case. This case contains five robustos of the most well known Habanos brands including Montecristo, Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey and Partagas.

The Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo robustos are only available in the Selección Robusto case and are not included as a standard offering. The Selección Robusto case is totally handmade with specially selected leaves from the region of Vuelta Abajo. The robusto vitola (124mm x 50 ring gauge) has been one of the most popular sizes released from Habanos and for the review we’ll look a little closer at the Montecristo Robustos.

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Partagas is Cuba’s second highest selling Cuban cigar behind Montecristo and is probably the most diverse of all Habanos brands. Partagas encompasses ninety five different vitolas with thirty two currently being produced. The largest production Partagas cigar currently is the Series D No. 4 robusto, which currently averages around 360,000 cigars per annum. Partnering the Series D No.4 for the review was the delicious Trentham Estate Pinot Noir 2006. Construction of the Series D No.4 is flawless and very appealing with its gorgeous oily and silky smooth maduro wrapper. I cut the head with a twin blade cutter and lit the foot using my Vector Tri Pump butane table lighter.

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The Cuaba brand was first introduced in London in 1996. Cuaba is the Taino Indian word for the special Cuban bush used to light the “Cohiba” or “Tobacco”. The whole Cuaba range including the Cuaba Distinguidos is in the uncut figurados format which was popular in England at the beginning of the 20th century. The drink accompanying my Distinguidos once again was the fantastic new low carb Tasmanian beer; Cascade Green . The uncut figurados are apparently particularly hard to make and demand a lot of skill from their torcedores.

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The Cohiba Robusto is one of the original six cigars from the Línea Clásica range. When released this range was made available for diplomatic use only.

From 1982 three sizes were offered to the public: The Lanceros, Coronas Especiales and Panetelas. The infamous Esplendidos, the Robustos and Exquisitos were also made publicly available in 1989. The Cohiba Robustos is still one of the most sought after Cuban cigars on the market and with good reason. It presents beautifully with its medium brown oily wrapper and its construction is second to none. I cut the head with my CC cutter and lit up using my new Vector Tri Pump butane table lighter.

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The weather was once again mild and after a glass of T’Gallant 2005 Juliet Pinot Noir the time was right to sit back, relax and enjoy a Romeo y Julieta No.3. A rich, earthy aroma is offered when this cigar is first taken from the tube. Upon inspection this cigar seems to be well constructed with its smooth, medium brown wrapper. With that said it is not the prettiest of Habanos cigars. Once lit however this cigar offered a good volume of smoke with hints of chocolate and coffee present. A taste that can only be described as typically Cuban! Even with its smaller gauge the burn throughout the life of the cigar was consistent and cool with the cigar leaving a solid ash, white in colour.

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