Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto
Sometimes you happen upon a diamond in the rough. Indeed, that is the case for me and the Aladino cigar line. I cannot recall exactly when, or where, I saw the brand for the first time, however, admittedly, the simple labeling and packaging reminded me of some familiar Habanos S.A. brands for a time long gone (old Montecristo bands). Anyhow, I decided to pick up a few different options of the Aladino line at my local tobacconist and give them a try. Before going any further, let me be clear, I have yet to be disappointed with the cigars in this brand.
Aladino cigars are produced by the JRE Tobacco company, a father/son operation dedicated to growing and producing the best Corojo cigars from Honduras. The following message about the company and their mission can be found on the JRE webpage (https://www.jretobacco.com) and reads as follows:
“JRE Tobacco is a family centered company, founded by Julio R. Eiroa and his son Justo M. Eiroa, together they manage all aspects of the cigar growing and manufacturing for your enjoyment. This is a crop to shop operation as we like to call it. We are fully committed to providing sustained quality and satisfaction on every Aladino, Rancho Luna and Tatascan we make. This self-impossed standard covers the entire cigar manufacturing process. Our commitment to quality and consumer satisfaction is never compromised or circumvented. As the premier Corojo grower in the industry, I, Julio Eiroa, Master Cigar Blender and Tobacco grower, guarantee that all our brands will provide you the opportunity to enjoy an authentic Corojo taste, the same as cigars from the 1960s. Join us on this journey and be part of a history-making cigar smoking experience like no other.”
The Aladino Corojo Reserva portfolio contains the following sizes and are readily available at your local brick and mortar store or friendly online tobacconist.
- Corona 5 x 44 (Limited Production)
- Robusto 5 x 50
- Toro 6 x 52
- Box Pressed Figurado 6 ¼ x 54 (Limited Production)
On to the review….
Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto Attributes
Size: Robusto
Length: 5
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Honduran Corojo
Binder: Honduran Corojo
Filler: Honduran Corojo
Country: Honduras
Price: $11.50 USD ea./$215.00 Box of 20
Pre-light Inspection: Although the bands are simple in nature, the tissue paper added to the body of the cigar gives the consumer a feel of delicate elegance. The cigar’s wrapper had a few veins running throughout and the cigar was very firm to the touch yielding no soft spots. The cigar displayed a Colorado colored wrapper leaf and the cap on this example was an uneven, lumpy, double seam. The cold smell showed sweet cedar and chocolate notes and the cold draw was medium tight with cold sweet notes of fresh Earth.
Opening and First Third: Cigar opened with a bold spice and lots of thick, full, white smoke. The draw gave almost perfect resistance, and the burn did require a touch up, however, nothing that would negatively impact the cigar’s overall performance. Tastes in the first third noted an earthy forward taste with touches of cocoa powder and splashes of pepper spice (similar to a clove). Aroma was outstanding, yielding sweet, creamy, bready notes. Cigar’s strength and body were both medium/full moving to the full range.
Second Third: The second third of my Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto continued to have a magnificent aroma of sweet cream and baked deserts. Truly wonderful! The burn on the cigar continued to be wavy but did not require any touch-ups. The pepper and spiciness of the cigar enhanced during the second third with the chocolate/cocoa tastes fading away. The earth notes remained solid, and a minor floral note began to appear as the cigar moved into the final third. Body of the cigar remained medium/full while the strength of the cigar actually pulled back to be straight medium.
Final Third: The final third of my Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto was nothing short of amazing. The aroma continued to be memorizing with its creamy, baked sugar sweetness. The Earthy tasting note persisted throughout the entire smoke and was truly the foundation for the cigar’s flavor profile. Notes of mint and chocolate splashed in and out during the final third and a very, but pleasant, buttered, nutty sweetness started to stand out near the finale. Cigar closed more toward full in body with continued mouthfuls of creamy, thick, white smoke, and the strength I would classify as a solid medium. The burn remained wavy and required two more touch-ups to close out the smoking experience.
Overall Impressions: Overall, I must admit that the Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto is very much in the running for my 2022 Cigar of the Year. The cigar has just enough complexity to remain interesting, while offering a very enjoyable smoking experience. I would be remiss to not tell everyone that I have indeed ordered a full 20 count box of this cigar as it is very much box worthy. If you are looking to get someone into cigar smoking, or would like to impress a guest with a quality cigar without breaking the bank, the Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto is a perfect match for you. Pick some up and give them a try for yourself. It will be a guarantee payback on your investment of time and money.
Cigar Score: 4 out of 5 boxes
A full video review of the Aladino Corojo Reserva Robusto cigar can be found on The Pipe Professor YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/qHXuCzMw5fw
The Pipe Professor 