JC Newman

September 20, 2022

Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto (5 x 50)





Video review HERE.


(Description provided by General Cigar)

The entire Sancho Panza line has been modernized and the brand’s three updated collections have begun shipping this week.

Matt Wilson, senior brand manager of Sancho Panza said, “Sancho Panza has always been a dependable, tried and true smoke, where the first puff is the same as the last. Cigar culture has evolved and so has the desire for dimensional smoking experiences that deliver a multitude of experiences in one cigar. With this in mind, we tapped the creative juggernaut known as Matt Booth to collaborate on the Sancho blends, and the look and feel of the brand. With Sancho, it is as important to us to respect the traditionalist as it is to embrace the modern smoker, and we feel we’ve ticked the boxes for both.”

Matt Booth, Justin Andrews and the HATSA blending team built three distinct Sancho blends, each unified by a bedrock of stellar blend composition and backed by an aesthetic personality to capture the smoker’s attention.

Matt Booth said, “The re-launch of Sancho Panza marks an exciting turning point for this iconic brand. By elevating brand aesthetics, investing ourselves into the realization of intelligent blend expressions and putting the force of our ground pounders behind this brand in the streets, we are taking Sancho Panza to a new lifespan and beyond. I am extremely proud of the work that the entire team has done to bring these new expressions to life. And I look forward to witnessing the brand’s newfound potential.”

Each Sancho Panza blend is medium to medium-full in body and delivers layers of complexity that are apparent from the first puff to the last. All cigars are presented in 20-count wooden boxes emblazoned with the new Sancho Panza logo that was created by Booth to give a nod to the Latin culture and vibe of West LA (CA).

Sancho Panza Double Maduro is a hearty smoke made with a sungrown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper that sits over a Nicaraguan Esteli binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos chosen from a range of growing regions and primings. This blend expertly balances strength and complexity, opening with notes of espresso and progressing to decadent hints of dark chocolate. Sancho Panza Double Maduro is a medium to medium-plus smoke.

Sancho Panza Double Maduro Robusto (5” x 50); SRP per cigar $7.49 REVIEWED TODAY

Sancho Panza Double Maduro Toro (6” x 52); SRP per cigar $8.49

Sancho Panza Double Maduro Gigante (6” x 60); SRP per cigar $9.49


The cigar is very dark and has an average feel in the hand.




The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The caps on these cigars come off when you cut them. It happened on all the samples I had. The initial flavors at light up were a little citrus and more peach, a little citrus peel, brown sugar, roasted almonds, and earthy black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7. Nice start but not much in the way of double maduro flavors.



At the first third (29 minutes) the notes were citrus, peach, cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg, and earthy black coffee. The sweeter notes make a liqueur like flavor. It's very nice and rich. The finish is primarily peach with a little brown sugar with average to good lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied. The notes at this point are great. Very rich and sweet. I rated the first third 94.




Moving through the second third (54 minutes) the black coffee dramatically increased and it's quite earthy. There are dry cocoa notes also. There are only hints of peach and brown sugar. The finish still has peach and black coffee with very good lingering black pepper. It's almost like 2 different cigars. The first third was great but all those rich, sweet notes have disappeared. Quite a change. I rated the second third 87.




The cigar lasted 1 hour 13 minutes. The cigar boiled down to dry cocoa and earthy black coffee. That's it. Even the finish was dry cocoa and black coffee. The lingering black pepper was very good. The cigar is medium to full bodied. This cigar represents one of the biggest changes I've seen. I rated the final third 80. The first third was great. After that...it's downhill.




Overall Score: 87

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