Dapper has been around since 2013, but hasn’t gotten in to the mainstream for most smokers until recently. Dapper Cigar is based in Fresno California and is owned by Ian Reith. He started as a consumer set out to to make his own line of stogies. His career started out in the tech world where he worked as a network communications engineer and started small software company that writes software for the education sector. Ian created the cigar company with the idea of avoiding the gimmicks and tried to make his cigars nostalgic and fresh. Also helping with the brand is Dan Gretta on aesthetics. His neighbor Chris Alvarez, created the company’s name, who is a barber, he looked at one of Reis’ first cigars and commented, “now that’s a dapper cigar.”
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
La Madrina translates to godmother in Spanish. It comes in a natural version, using an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, or a maduro, with the maduro wrapper not being disclosed. The wrapper on the natural version comes from Oliva Tobacco Co.’s La Luchita farm. elow that is a Mexican San Andrés binder and fillers from the Guadalupe farm in Estelí and the Cofradia Relleno farm in Jalapa; Dominican habano 92, and Pennsylvania broadleaf. The cigar is rolled at Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. (NACSA) in Estelí, and comes in three sizes, each in 20-count boxes. La Robusto (5 1/4 x 54) — $10.32, Natural Toro (5 5/8 x 50) — $11.30, Natural Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46) — $9.30
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sungrown Habano
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Dominican Habano, Pennsylvania Broadlead, Nicaraguan Habano
Factory: NACSA
Blender: Undisclosed
Number of reviewers: 5 – John A.(John A.) David F. (dfafjf) Ryan H.(Ryan H.) Mickey T.(irratebass) Jason H.(Jokey Smurf)
Price: $10.00
Age: 7 Months
Release Date: July 2017
Contributed by: Dapper Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 92
“This cigar is really nice to look at it was milk chocolate brown, and packed to the gills.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Aroma: 90
“Very good chocolate aroma. Smells very good” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Blind Cigar Review: Dapper | La Madrina Robusto
First Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Wow! 1st puff and I know I’m in for a smoking treat. Lots of floral vegetation and herbs with chocolate and nuts.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“The first inch or so of this cigar does not resemble anything I was smelling pre-light. Not much spice in the retro hale. Bready, barnyard, and slight vegetal flavors are dominate to start. Really nice smoke output so far. Sadly overall flavor in first 1/3 seems bland to me. ” –David F. (dfafjf)
Blind Cigar Review: Dapper | La Madrina Robusto
Second Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Nice medium body still going strong with a leathery walnut profile, no complexity. The burn begins to get a little crooked during this third. ” –John A. (John A.)
“Not much change into the second 1/3 of this cigar. While I’m really impressed with the overall construction of this cigar, the flavors are lacking. A bit of cream enters in at this point and more vegetal notes which are nice but just not enough complexity for me. ” –David F. (dfafjf)
Final Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The final portion of this cigar has shown a significant flavor shift. Gone is the sweetness and mincemeat, and instead I’m getting a significantly stronger flavor profile consisting of charred oak and bourbon with a sharp charred or roasted pepper note through the nose. I’m feeling much more of the pepper heat on the palate as well, but it is not too much…just definitely present. ” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“Strength ramps up a little. Still heavy cream and leather to finish out the cigar” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Blind Cigar Review: Dapper | La Madrina Robusto
Overall Impressions
Draw: 94
“Very nice open draw with plenty of smoke output. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“This cigar was beautifully constructed. The construction and smoke output was by far the best thing about this cigar. ” –David F. (dfafjf)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 92
“Just good, not great not horrible, just good. Single flavor profile was a bit boring, however the taste was decent enough to keep me puffing on it. Other than that it had a great appearance and was wonderfully constructed. ” –John A. (John A.)
“While this cigar was fantastically made, I just did not enjoy most of the flavors throughout the cigar. Very one dimensional and the predominate vegetal flavors did not have enough accompanying flavors to make this cigar enjoyable. ” –David F. (dfafjf)
“I felt the cigar was boring it had good flavor just no hmph.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“All I can say about this cigar is, what is it? & gimme more!!!! Seriously stock up on these….they are multi box purchase worthy. I tip my hat to the creator. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“I am definitely a fan of this cigar. The flavors are wonderful, the construction was superb, and overall it was just damn good! It’s cigars like this that remind me why I smoke them in the first place. This might have been just a little full bodied for some, but for me it was just right. I’m especially thankful that I chose to pair this with a stout beer…just wonderful!” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
Blind Cigar Review: Dapper | La Madrina Robusto
Overall Score – 92 – Great
Blind Cigar Review: Dapper | La Madrina Robusto
Summary
"I am definitely a fan of this cigar. The flavors are wonderful, the construction was superb, and overall it was just damn good! It's cigars like this that remind me why I smoke them in the first place. This might have been just a little full bodied for some, but for me it was just right. I'm especially thankful that I chose to pair this with a stout beer...just wonderful!" -Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
