Cigar Extra: Roberto Duran Premium Cigars

Vitola: Tainos
Size: 6” x 56 ring gauge
MSRP ~$11
Review samples provided by company

Background

Sometimes time just takes time…or something like that. Leaf Enthusiast was contacted back in September about trying out the new Roberto P. Duran Premium Cigars release. Because of my extra-busy schedule and full review roster I declined but indicated that the other guys on the blog might want to try them out. Jon posted his take on them HERE. When the marketing rep for Duran got back to me, he said he still wanted me to try them so he sent me out a few samples in late November and I decided to put this on the schedule…and “end of year” and new contributors (plus my schedule getting even busier than it was before!) got this pushed out to January. And here we are…

A couple things got my attention when doing some background on this cigar. First is the makeup of the stick: Ecuadorian Habana Criollo wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers from “Nicaragua and other Latin American” countries. I know some companies feel like they need to keep trade secrets, but with the vast range of tobaccos that can come from any one country—all subject to variations in region, farm, rainfall, farming techniques, harvesting time, curing, fermentation, aging—it’s virtually impossible for someone to “steal” a blend. Yes, they can use their knowledge to try to replicate it, but there are just too many factors in play to do much more.

The other thing I noticed was the range of sizes: four vitolas, all 52 ring gauge or bigger, up to 60 ring gauge…just 2 “rings” difference in each one…hell, 3 of the 4 are all 6 inches in length. I saw a similar practice with the Joya Red by Joya de Nicaragua…all the sizes very close to each other. To me, it ends up being hard to tell the difference (visually or in smoking experience) from one size to the next without a score card. I had this conversation with another Leaf Enthusiast reviewer a couple weeks ago…if you were going to start your own cigar line, and were going with 4 initial vitolas, what would you choose? For the sake of my own palate as well as the marketplace, I would choose Robusto, Corona, Belicoso, and Gigante (6×60). That way each one is markedly different from the others…they look obviously different, they smoke differently…and if the line is a success, then go back to fill in the gaps with Toro, Corona Gorda, Churchill, Lancero. Anyway, just thinking out loud.

Notes

I think the overall band design is good, although the exact colors didn’t do much for me…it’s just the blue somehow didn’t look right to me. Meh, personal choice, I guess. Judging from the photos on the website, the boxes and bands all work together well.

The wrapper leaf seemed to be a fairly standard Ecuadorian Habano-type leaf…dark gold in color, with some oiliness to the touch and a combination of sweet hay and ripe earth on the nose.The foot had more of the ripe earthiness to it.

After lightup, what I got most from the Roberto P. Duran was a solid mix of earth and cedar. I got a decent amount of pepper spice on the back of the palate and on the nose, but just a touch of sweetness. It was an interesting profile, though a bit harsh on the throat.

Through 2/3 of the cigar, the flavor didn’t change up much. I still got some earth, but more cedar, with the addition of some grassy and citrus notes, and the pepper tapered off a bit. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t all that exciting, either, which is something that would be nice at this price point.

In the end I just didn’t find the Roberto Duran Premium to be all that memorable or compelling for my palate. Not that it’s necessarily a “bad” cigar…it just didn’t make my taste buds sit up and take notice. I would have liked to see if a smaller ring gauge size (my normal preference) would have made a difference, but the samples they sent were all fairly big, and in fact, the smallest size they make is a 52 ring gauge. I know the trend in retail is for larger cigars to sell well, but I simply don’t understand the thought process that says “we’re going to only have sizes that used to be considered ‘big.'” A broader range of sizes would be more welcoming to more smokers…a Corona or Corona Gorda, a Robusto, a 54 ring Double-Toro, and maybe a Gigante. That way, everyone gets something they are likely to enjoy.