Wrapper : Ecuadorian Habano
Binder : Dominican
Filler : Dominican
Source : Samples sent from Rodrigo Cigars
I have a treat for you today with the Rodrigo Cigars in the toro size. This is a boutique brand that is only available in select places right now. I was given these cities that it is available as of 2-10-2011: Pittsburgh, PA, Houston, TX, Warwick, RI, and upstate New York. I know of only one store that definitely has them and that is Badger’s Cigar Den in New York (it was on the back of the description card they sent with the cigars). If you know of any other stores that are willing to ship these, please let people know in the comments.
These cigars are available in three sizes, Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), and a Belicoso (5 3/4 x 52).
Pre-Light
Looking at this Rodrigo cigar I am pleased by how nice the veins seem to blend into the wrapper. I notice a few wrapper blemishes but nothing that will cause problems or concerns. After taking a whiff of the wrapper I get a scent of hay and chocolate while the foot produces a slight scent of wood and sweet hay.
Clipped the cap, lit her up and was met with a very nice open draw.
First Third
Getting down to business with this Rodrigo toro cigar and the first few puffs give me a nice spice across my palette with a bit of wood coming through. Retrohale produces the same spice right now.
I will say, this third really had a lot of flavor to it. I was getting chocolate, coffee, charred wood (which I associate with ligero), spice and even a nutty taste but I could not identify the specific nut.
I noticed the spice seemed to taper off a bit as I was smoking through this third and the coffee and chocolate would almost take turns appearing as I would puff on it. I never got them at the same time or else one overpowered the other and I did not notice the latter.
I would say the cigar is a solid medium at this point. I hope it does not get too powerful towards the end because, as you know, I am a wuss and like mild to medium sticks the majority of the time.
I did touch the cigar up right after I started but it burnt through the first third with no problems after that. I may not have had it lit properly in the beginning.
Second Third
Starting off this second third of this Rodrigo and I had to do another touch up as I let the cigar sit in the ashtray as I was typing the first third stuff and it almost went out. Seems you have to pay attention to this cigar which is the case with most cigars with ligero in them.
This cigar is producing tons of thick dense smoke but it seems to have a nice aroma to it. It is not foul at all.
Really getting some nice flavors through this third also. I pinned the nutty taste down to a cashew that was very noticeable on the aftertaste until the salt took over. I am also getting a bittersweet chocolate and a heavier black coffee taste. I associate the coffee building as having a cup with creamer for the first third and taking away the creamer for the second.
Body has built to a high medium or low full right now.
Final Third
Into the home stretch of this Rodrigo toro and I am enjoying it very much so far. I am more comfortable in the mild to medium range but this is really not bothering me at all and I am getting no noticeable nicotine effects.
Cigar got quite a bit fuller for me along with the chocolate turning into a dark bitter chocolate taste and the coffee becoming even stronger than it was. It may be an espresso taste but i have never had espresso so I am not sure.
I lost all of the nutty taste and the salt taste towards the end.
Cigar is a full body for me.
Wrap-Up
I have to say I was surprised at the Rodrigo. I thought with the ligero I would not care for it very much but it was really a good cigar. I seemed to like the robusto the best out of the three production sizes as it did not seem to get as full or as bitter towards the end. Again, that surprised me since i tend to favor the larger cigars.
Would I buy it, oh yes. I could easily see having these in my humidor to smoke. I think the price point for a boutique blend such as this is very nice. I can not complain about these cigars under $8 before taxes (sorry New Yorkers).
I smoked this cigar at around noon and had no ill effects from nicotine so that is a very good thing for me.
Let me know if you have smoked them and if you smoked any of the test blends, let me know how you liked them compared to the production line
I forgot to add this – Badger’s Cigar Den – (518) 507 6464 – put in a good word for Stogie Review when you call 😉
UPDATE
George Rodriguez just offered this in the comments, in case you missed it – if anyone would like to try them I will send them a sampler pack myself. $32.50 including s&h for a 5 pack and I’ll include the prototype blend that is a tad bit stronger. I enjoy talking directly to smokers so feel free to contact me if you want to try our cigars george@rodrigocigars.com .
Very nice offer George, thank you!
AUDIO –> Right-Click: Save As
Purchase this album – Watchmen: The Motion Picture Soundtrack
Their website is so indepth.
LOL – yes, the Rodrigo site is amazingly in-depth 😉
Mike – thanks for doing the review! Very thorough and informative! Glad you enjoyed the smoke!
I know, I get dinged on the website all the time and to make matters worse I used to write code for a living (long time ago). But I am deliberately taking things slowly with the cigars and the company as I figure out how we want to evolve the product, the packaging, our web presence strategy and how we want to go to market with the right b&m’s. I’m glad you enjoyed your Rodrigo and since they are not available in every shop, if anyone would like to try them I will send them a sampler pack myself. $32.50 including s&h for a 5 pack and I’ll include the prototype blend that is a tad bit stronger. I enjoy talking directly to smokers so feel free to contact me if you want to try our cigars george@rodrigocigars.com.
Mike great video and a great cigar. My understanding is if you purchase in NY you will be charged the tax. Keep up the great work.
Liked the way you did the no-look light! Very nice!
Good cigar review on a difficult item to find.Thanks Now we just need to work on your meglomania (ha ha) If your writing the review you do not need to use the pronoun “I” over thirty times. Obviously you wrote the review so of course we know these are your opinions. And your opinions are valuable to others, like me! so just talk about the cigar. It had hint of leather….the ligero was powerful…..yada yada. this way people gravitate towards your excellent tasting notes and not the 14 “I”s used in the First Third.
Thank you for the tip! I will try and do that next time. My writing is horrible, I never liked English class in school. Bring on the math 🙂
Nice review Mike, I’d love to get my hand on a few of these and avoid that NY tax if possible.
See update or reply from George Rodriguez above who has fulfilled your wish.
I concur. I was gifted one of these at my local B&M and smoked it last night. Nice cigar for the price point. I did not have any burn / needs for relights (but in all fairness its cold here in the NE so I didn’t put it down long). I wasn’t expecting as much complexity in flavors as I found (pleasant surprise) and after the first few puffs, I was fearful this may be too powerful (a fear I found was unwarranted). Great amount of smoke. Towards the end of the second third I completely lost myself in creaminess that came on. I will be revisiting soon.
I’m gonna have to get me some of these they sound pretty good. Good job as usual michael
Rodrigo was just added to Allegheny Smokeworks in Blawnox, PA (Pittsburgh area)
Sweet. I love that shop. Will have to ask about them when I stop in sometime.
Nice review and great to see Rodriguez is interested in having contact with his potential customers! A shame that in the Netherlands we don’t have many boutique brands on offer…
Rodrigo Cigars event in North Jersey on 22JUL2011 –>
http://www.rubenssmokestack.com/2011/07/19/rodrigo-cigars-event-3/
Rodrigo just added at King Beaver Cigars in Monaca, PA.
I attended a promotional event at the Leaf and Bean in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago and tried these cigars.
I have to say as a first time toro smoker…this was very good.
George was on hand and explained what to expect from his brand to a “T”.
Met George at an event at the Smoke Ring in Webster, Texas, a Houston suburb. Very nice stick and as he said, designed to be good any time of the day. The last part of the cigars very creamy. It is nice seeing a guy go after his dream and using the thoughtfulness George has in marketing this product going forward.
Rick – thanks so much for the kind words! It was great meeting you and the crew at Smoke Ring. Looking forward to getting back there, maybe some time this fall.
Smoke well… live rich…
Those who choose to sample this line of cigars will not be sorry…in fact what will likely happen is that you will end up becoming a big fan of Georges cigars. Being a fan for over 50 years of cigars there comes a time when an epiphany comes and you thank the Cigar Gods for bringing a cigar into your life that pretty much changes how you look at cigars. It’s not an easy business to get into and a lot of new cigars that come into the market often times are just the same ole same ole….not this cigar. It’s like a blend that has been a staple that’s dependable and guaranteed to give you pleasure no matter what.
I’m pretty sure George knows he has a winner but the hard work is to get it into the mainstream which takes time. It’s in our best interest as consumers to get the word out about this line of cigars to keep it going…it needs our support to get traction in a very competitive market. There’s far too many POS already out there that clog the marketplace with dull and unimaginative product and it stays in the marketplace with advertising dollars from the Big Boys. When a great cigar emerges ( Rodrigo Cigars ) it needs constant chatter to keep it in play and that’s where consumers like us need to keep it going. Needless to say…I love this cigar line.