G. L. Pease Robusto
(3.12)
The chocolate brown wrapper leaf would make an overly bold statement if blended with a heavy hand, but if just the right amount is used, it provides an alluring spice, a suggestion of the richness of a great cigar, and a creamy texture to the smoke. A little Cyprian Latakia rounds out the flavors, and smooths the edges just enough. Ripe, red Virginia leaf provides a modest sweetness while giving a backbone to the body. A variety of Oriental tobaccos fill in the gaps. Robusto is complex, full flavored and spicy, yet very gentle on the tongue. It's perfect with the afternoon coffee, as a delicious finish to a wonderful meal, or as a stout companion throughout the day.
Notes: From GL Pease: For years, I've been intrigued by the idea of cigar leaf blends, but with one notable exception, nothing has really hit the mark for me, and the one that did, the celebrated Sobranie Virginia #10, has long been out of production. In mid-2000, I began flirting with different ideas, experimenting with different leaf, concocting prototypes, and quickly tiring of them, until, finally, I was shown samples of some exquisite maduro wrapper leaf that stimulated a new interest in finding my perfect cigar leaf blend. After months worth of experimental recipes, I zeroed in on the blend I'd been searching for, and Robusto was finally born.
Robusto was introduced in November, 2002.
Details
| Brand | G. L. Pease |
| Series | Original Mixtures |
| Blended By | Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Cigar Leaf Based |
| Contents | Cigar Leaf, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Coarse Cut |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium to Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.12 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 41 - 50 of 81 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 28, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I am a particular fan of blends with cigar leaf. In Robusto, the cigar leaf is present but not prominent. It adds a bittersweet coffee-chocolate taste and spice, along with a bit of cedar. The Red Virginia adds a tangy sweetness. The latakia's smokiness and the spicy-floral orientals marry the blend into a traditional English mixture with a twist.
I wouldn't describe the cut as "coarse," as stated in the above description. My most recent tin was more of a broken flake--which for me, is a bonus. Previous tins (five or six years ago) were more of a rough/broad cut--a hodgepodge of roughly chopped leafy fragments that were light and packed with some difficulty since it had a tendency to decompress. As a result, the earlier vintage burned a little more hotly than the broken flake.
Robusto is a solid entry in the English mixture with some added cigar-leaf subgenre. If you're inclined in this direction, give it a try--it may well become one of your favorites.
I wouldn't describe the cut as "coarse," as stated in the above description. My most recent tin was more of a broken flake--which for me, is a bonus. Previous tins (five or six years ago) were more of a rough/broad cut--a hodgepodge of roughly chopped leafy fragments that were light and packed with some difficulty since it had a tendency to decompress. As a result, the earlier vintage burned a little more hotly than the broken flake.
Robusto is a solid entry in the English mixture with some added cigar-leaf subgenre. If you're inclined in this direction, give it a try--it may well become one of your favorites.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19, 2014 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
First cigar leaf pipe tobacco that I've quite liked, and above all, have been able to taste the cigar leaf. Greg wasn't kidding calling this blend well rounded. The richness of the cigar with a bit of Latakia makes for a great combo. The Virginias are a tad lost on me, but actually works out to my preference since I don't love VA's. I'll be putting this blend in my regular rotation, very good stuff.
Pipe Used:
Eric Klodt Billiard and Dublin
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 05, 2013 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
I hate giving blends two stars, especially a GLP. This is three or even four for quality, but cigar blends just ain't my thing.
My tin is from 2002, opened in 2012. I can take it if I take it slow.
Of course, some say these tins from the early 2000s can deteriorate a bit...
At any rate, I'm smoking one more bowl, and giving the rest away.
Sorry, Greg.
Naw; it's not so bad. This pipe is nice. Maybe it needed this big Orlik pot. I'll give it my usual three stars, but I'm still giving the rest away. Only three bowlpacks left anyway, but then again, I already gave some away!
My tin is from 2002, opened in 2012. I can take it if I take it slow.
Of course, some say these tins from the early 2000s can deteriorate a bit...
At any rate, I'm smoking one more bowl, and giving the rest away.
Sorry, Greg.
Naw; it's not so bad. This pipe is nice. Maybe it needed this big Orlik pot. I'll give it my usual three stars, but I'm still giving the rest away. Only three bowlpacks left anyway, but then again, I already gave some away!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 17, 2012 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Because Mr. Pease releases so many new and excellent blends, it is easy to overlook his original series. I like cigar blends in general and his Key Largo blend in particular but I ignored Robusto until recently. Fortunately for me, Pease blends move slowly at one of my local pipe stores so I've been able to secure several Robusto tins from 2009, one of which I've just finished.
Robusto has, to my taste, a bit more cigar note to it than Key Largo and marries superbly with a strong cup of coffee. I like it as a morning or afternoon smoke. Careful packing is a must because the ribbons are broadly cut with some occasional stem material. It produces a cool, slow smoke to be savored. I really like this blend and it, to my surprise, has moved into my regular rotation. It's worth a try for those who favor cigar blends.
Robusto has, to my taste, a bit more cigar note to it than Key Largo and marries superbly with a strong cup of coffee. I like it as a morning or afternoon smoke. Careful packing is a must because the ribbons are broadly cut with some occasional stem material. It produces a cool, slow smoke to be savored. I really like this blend and it, to my surprise, has moved into my regular rotation. It's worth a try for those who favor cigar blends.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 20, 2011 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
This review is based on a tin dated 11-19-07.
Robusto burns cool, but quickly. I noticed that compared to Key Largo, the virginia flavor was more in the background, and when it did show up, it was sweeter and more one-dimensional. KL, on the other hand, has a lot of round, robust, earthy virginia flavor. The latakia is a lot more in the foreground in Robusto as well. I found the flavor a bit sharp and salty for my taste, though this improved a bit over time (a common phenomenon with latakia mixtures, and GL Pease ones in particular). Definitely enjoyable overall and worth a try, just not as good, to my tastes, as Key Largo.
Robusto burns cool, but quickly. I noticed that compared to Key Largo, the virginia flavor was more in the background, and when it did show up, it was sweeter and more one-dimensional. KL, on the other hand, has a lot of round, robust, earthy virginia flavor. The latakia is a lot more in the foreground in Robusto as well. I found the flavor a bit sharp and salty for my taste, though this improved a bit over time (a common phenomenon with latakia mixtures, and GL Pease ones in particular). Definitely enjoyable overall and worth a try, just not as good, to my tastes, as Key Largo.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 20, 2011 | Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Strong |
Tin: mmddy stamp on bottom is 10-2-07, OCT 2, 2007. Ripe fruit smelll of the VA is the main aroma, with perhaps smokey Latakia well in the background. Like other GLP offerings, Robusto has a variegated cut, with stems-poorly cut. Some of the stems were discarded. It is at the correct moisture level.
Packing & Burning: It needs to be packed tightly because it burns quickly.
Taste & Aroma: It definitely has a moderate cigar taste to it. It is smooth, not bitey.
Overall: Does not reflect my notion of what a pipe tobacco should taste like, and it is poorly cut; but Robusto is fairly smooth. 3 stars, if you like cigar in your pipe. The rest of the tin will be smoked in a corncob, to preserve the integrity of my briar.
Packing & Burning: It needs to be packed tightly because it burns quickly.
Taste & Aroma: It definitely has a moderate cigar taste to it. It is smooth, not bitey.
Overall: Does not reflect my notion of what a pipe tobacco should taste like, and it is poorly cut; but Robusto is fairly smooth. 3 stars, if you like cigar in your pipe. The rest of the tin will be smoked in a corncob, to preserve the integrity of my briar.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 15, 2011 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This is the second GL Pease mixture that I've tried. Perfectly balanced is the keyword. Actually that is what I look forward to into when judging most things. So I like this blend especially, even though someone asked me if I am smoking plastic or even if it chases away even cigarette smokers. What I recommend though, to fully enjoy it it needs it's own dedicated pipe.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 06, 2010 | Very Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Very Pleasant |
Here with a difficult mixture. Easy to smoke,quite strong, pleasent sometime but this is all bla bla. Some years ago, in Italy, it was quite common to mix Dunhill Medium with toscano cigar ( kentucky very dry and strong). It was a cult and it showed how macho you can be. It wasn't bad but after a couple of bowls you had to throw up. Even if you smoked the second after a week. Now here comes Robusto, the viable way to Dunhill medium + toscano. Excellent but, again, beware, not for everybody. Let's be serious now. It' s excellent, three stars out of four because I fill my pipe seldom with it. Anyway I love to have it around, ready for a stronger and fuller smoke.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 27, 2010 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Quick impressions: This blend is not as harmonious as many of the other GL Pease blends. I found it relatively light compared to other cigar blends, including Key Largo (which is to my taste buds insanely full). I like C&D Habana Daydreams and H&H Strike Force better. I'm sure I'll smoke more of this, and develop my opinion further, but it almost feels like there's something missing in this blend... Oh, and I highly recommend tearing up the larger bits of cigar leaf before packing, otherwise the blend doesn't burn well. My sample had a pretty even cut for each of the components, except for the cigar leaf, which was much larger bits.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 15, 2009 | Strong | None Detected | Extra Full | Strong |
A top-notch blend, outstanding really, but so unique that it takes a lot of effort to love.
When smoked moist, straight from the tin, the cigar leaf overwhelms the other tobaccos.
If allowed to dry long enough, Robusto is a completely different experience. The Virginia dominates the first third of the bowl, and gives me a wicked tongue bite, despite the tin description above. Orientals make the middle third an exotic, flowery interlude. The cigar leaf and Latakia, in the background throughout, dominate the final third. The wrapper leaf is always present, but not overpowering.
Nicotine was evident only in the last third of the pipe, medium to strong.
I am a Virginia/VaPer/Burley man, so this kind of blend is not typical for me. I bring it out once a month when I want something exotic.
When smoked moist, straight from the tin, the cigar leaf overwhelms the other tobaccos.
If allowed to dry long enough, Robusto is a completely different experience. The Virginia dominates the first third of the bowl, and gives me a wicked tongue bite, despite the tin description above. Orientals make the middle third an exotic, flowery interlude. The cigar leaf and Latakia, in the background throughout, dominate the final third. The wrapper leaf is always present, but not overpowering.
Nicotine was evident only in the last third of the pipe, medium to strong.
I am a Virginia/VaPer/Burley man, so this kind of blend is not typical for me. I bring it out once a month when I want something exotic.
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