Azorian Robusto by Tradecraft Cigars (5 x 54)

Video review HERE.

NOTE:

After seeing my review Tradecraft Cigars thought I should sample the corona gorda so they sent me 2 samples. There was a marked difference. An update is shown after the robusto review below.

(Description provided by Tradecraft Cigars)

The Azorian, blended by Rob Blumenthal & Wiber Ventura is Tradecraft Cigars Medium-Bodied full flavor offering designed to capture the essence of relaxation and warm tropical sunshine. This cigar delivers a smooth, carefree escape with every draw.  The name Azorian also pays homage to one of the most daring covert mission, Operation Azorian- where the CIA successfully recovered a russian nuclear submarine from the bottom of the Pacific.

Produced by Wiber Ventura at Tabacalera William Ventura in Tamboril, Dominican Republic, The Azorian features the finest tobaccos and flawless construction.

The Azorian is wrapped in a beautifully oily, reddish-brown 7th priming Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, draped over an Ecuadorian Sumatraninder with fillers of PA, Ecuadorian Puntiao, Corojo & Criollo 98'.

The Azorian is wonderfully complex yet balanced, with tasting notes of rich caramel, earth, subtle baking spice and sweet rum. 

Available in 5x54 Robusto and 6 x 54 Toro. There is also a corona gorda in limitada; 5.5x46

The cigar is nicely made and has a nice feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were unripened peach, a little brown sugar, and a lot of earthy black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2. The lead flavor needs to develop and increase in sweetness.

At the first third (20 minutes) the unripened peach flavor has a touch more brown sugar. But there's a lot of earthy black coffee. The cigar is medium bodied. The finish is unripened peach with very good lingering black pepper. I'm not a fan of the lead flavor but the brown sugar helps. I rated the first third 92.

Moving through the second third (45 minutes) there's a little more earthy black coffee which pulls down the sweet notes, which are already a little lower than I'd like. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is unchanged. The front end lead flavor is not developing. I rated the second third 91.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 4 minutes. The peach notes finally developed but in a rather low version. There is a touch of brown sugar there and the earthy black coffee pulled back a little. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is a peach note with black coffee and very good lingering black pepper. The cigar slightly improved. I rated the final third 92. 

Overall Score: 91.67

UPDATE:

Corona Gorda mini-review

Corona Gorda - 5.5x46

Light up

Peach, somewhat unripened

Brown sugar

Light cinnamon

A touch of tanned leather

Black coffee

Earthy

Black pepper rated at 7 1/2.

1^st third

Peach has baked flavor now

Very good brown sugar

Dash of cinnamon

Earthy black coffee

No leather at this point

Black pepper now at 7 1/2-8.

Finish: black coffee w/ slight hints of peach and very good lingering black pepper

Medium bodied

Rating: 94

2^nd third

Same notes for the most part but elevated black coffee.

Finish: Black coffee w/ light peach w/ very good lingering black pepper

Medium bodied

Rating 93

Final third

Back to first third notes.

The peach, brown sugar, and light cinnamon work very well together with the earthy black coffee making a nice base. 

Finish: Black coffee w/ light peach w/ very good lingering black pepper

Medium bodied

Rating: 94

Overall rating: 93.67

Two points better than the robusto!

The smaller ring helped. Better flavors than the robusto.