G. L. Pease Robusto

I like cigar blends in general,and this one specifically.I normally favor Robert Lewis' "123" Mixture. This is equally as good, but a totally different style of blending is employed.In "Robusto" cigar leaf is the dominant flavor with an oriental/latakia component for support.This has a very American quality to it.The flavors are bold and strong. There is not a lot of subtlety going on here. Where "123" is an English blend with a cigar note,"Robusto" is is a cigar with a nice English pipe blend attached to it. Very good stuff! 3.5 of 4 stars.

What a great cigar leaf blend! The flavor is spicy and rich with just the perfect amount of Cyprian latakia.This blend will NO doubt cellar well,and I've purchaed many tins for this purpose.If this blend appeals to you try "Fox's Banker's Mixture" and "Robert Lewis 123 Mixture" *****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED***** prep

I smoked this blend for a number of years, having been at the time, both a cigar and pipe smoker. The fullness gave off a nice cigar sensation, although it didn't smoke like one. One problem, was that the leaf dries quicker than usual, even if the can is kept closed and that dryness made the smoke harsher. The initial smoke is plesant and different, and the fullness is satisfying, particularly to one who likes cigars. As one reaches the middle, the taste becomes noticably stronger, and can be too much for someone who only smokes pipes. I still like it now and then, but it's a blend best smoked relatively fresh and not kept around for a month or more.

(5/10/03) WOW! What a difference. I have openned a second tin of this tobaccy and after only five bowls, I am amazed at how good it is. I am convinced that the first tin I had was tainted/bad. I don't know how but the tobacco in the first tin must have been spoiled or something. Anyway, this new tin is great. The latakia plays a distint roll and I'm not found of latakia but the virginia and cigar leaf balance this smoke very well. As the name implies, this is a Robust smoke, not an all day tobaccy. For me, it starts out smooth and easy, like a good cigar and then builds in body and strength. It never becomes harsh but it does become quite Robust by the end of a bowl. This tobacco does not respond well to DGT but neither do cigars. My first review which follows, was based, I believe, on a bad tin of tobacco. (1st Review) Let me first say that I agree that Greg Pease is truly a Master Blender and maybe that's the reason I was kind of disappointed with this blend. My only hope is that aging it for six months to a year will help! Like I said, I may have been expecting too much but I was hoping for much more of a flavor with much more of a cigar leaf infusion, especially with what I believe is a Maduro Leaf. I've smoked about half a tin and this tobacco taste very much like an off tilt english blend, at least in my opinion. I rarely pick up on the cigar leaf flavor. Whatever the percentages of the blend are, I believe the orientals and the latakia should be cut in half and the cigar leaf doubled. Sorry!!! I really wanted to like this blend but it just doesn't work for me.

no use going into a long discourse on the taste of robusto, because the description above does a very good job of that. greg did name it properly, it is ROBUST. not a blend that i would smoke all day, but i rarely do that with any of them, i like variety. this is a tobac that goes well with a good dark beer. one thing that i don't believe i've ever mentioned in my previous GLP reviews is that greg gives you a FULL two ounces. those tins are really packed tight! this also helps the flavors to interact with each other, almost like pressed tobacco. what else is there to say? another great one from the master. four stars for robusto.

Presentation: Tin looks the same as all the others in the Pease Original Series. Black and white label with blue accent and pipes photographed in the background.

Cut: Cut is a coarse cut, it's like a super broken flake. Perfect moisture.

Tin note: A figgy, raisiny, fruit smell.

Tasting notes: A full earth upon lighting, and also on the finish of most puffs. Nutty, very slightly sweet hay, some spice. There's a subtle breadiness on the finish sometimes. There is obviously smokiness but it took me a bit to notice it because it fused so well with the earth. Occasional tanginess. I hope I'm decribing this right, but there is a mineral kind of flavor in here that I taste on a

Mechanics: N/A -- A well behaved blend.

Extra Remarks: A delicious, easy to handle and smoke, complex, med-full flavor blend. If you like cigars or are on the fence, this blend is a must try. This blend is similar to another cigar leaf blend of Pease's, Key Largo. Key Largo is more subtle and nuanced in flavor, so consider that blend instead, or in addition. Outstanding job Mr. Pease. 4 stars!

I would call this blend, "cigar in a bowl". It is delightful and full flavored with a clear strong cigar kind of flavor this is not for the weak-hearted, but those who appreciate a nice cigar.The other components, the Red Virginia,the Latakia and the orientals are present and they play second fiddle as they should. Flavor remains,true to the end of the bowl. Mixture burns well. I highly recommend Robusto. Aged about 6 months. Read on below about an aged tin I have sampled.

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EDIT: I purchased a factory sealed tin of Robusto at the IASPC convention this past weekend (10/28/2018). The bottom of the tin was labeled,"010103". I opened the tin. There was a big "woosh", and the aroma from the tin filled the room. The moisture in the tin was perfect., and I packed and lit up a bowl. I as bowled over by the complexity of the flavor, with all of the components perfectly doing their part. While the cigar leaf was still present in the flavor profile, the marriage of the flavors in this almost 15 year old tin was the most perfect I have ever experienced. Buy this stuff and stock up.

Some time ago I was a cigarette smoker, basically I smoked "Habanos" made with cigar leaf from "Vuelta Abajo", cigarettes "Montecristo" and "Davidoff". This mixture reminded me a lot, the "blow to the chest" is present. The cigar leaf used is Cuban or similar, dry and astringent, different from the Sumatra cigar leaf used in much sweet and softer R. Lewis 123Mixture. The cigar leaf is omnipresent from the beginning to the end of the puff. It is not overwhelming and balances with latakia, virginia and orientals, providing a creamy, cold and dry smoke. It ignites well and ends in a fine white ash. If you are a cavendish smoker or virginias maybe you do not understand it but if you are a smoker of English mixtures I recommend it.

What a nice blend. I truly enjoyed this smoke. I will say it has a nic hit as nicotine is considerably above a normal pipe tobacco. Opening the tin I got more Latakia smoky smell than anything else. Once lit which was very easy this began nice and sweet with just a very slight hint of cigar. As the bowl burns you get more and more cigar flavor and the sweetness vanishes. I never got any Latakia smoky flavor and would consider adding just a bit more to this mix. You get a pretty decent nicotine push about half way through the bowl. Does burn very cool throughout the smoke. The room note is very close to a cigar. I will smoke this again although I may add just a bit more Latakia. It is very very close to smoking a nice powerful cigar. If you lie cigars this is right down your alley.