Gran Habano Cabinet Selection was originally released around 2008, then discontinued in 2010. Now, the company is bringing back the line, but it isn’t widely available yet.
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.
Cabinet Selection uses all Nicaraguan tobacco, but is rolled in Honduras at the Gran Habano G. R. Tabacaleras Unidas, S.A. The blend uses a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper leaf.
“A soft box press cigar, burnt caramel in color, sporting a dark triple cap, very small veins, and invisible seams. Other then a small amount of damage, at the foot of the cigar, it presents a near flawless appearance.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
Aroma: 88
“With a deep inhale a catch smells of barnyard, honeysuckle flowers & fresh sawdust, that all tickled my nose with delight.” –Allison T. (The Yoga Ash)
First Third
Blind Cigar Review: Gran Habano| Cabinet Selection Robusto
“Creamy smoke covers the palate from the initial light and lasted for the entire third. There is an overt sweetness that makes it very hard to pinpoint flavors till about an inch in. As the third closes that sweetness becomes a rich and decadent holiday fruit cake. All of this sweetness is eventually balanced out by the white pepper, dry oak, and cinnamon in the retrohale. Interesting but uneventful start to this cigar.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
“this cigar was putting out some smoke! The aroma of the hay and wood pre-light carried over into the flavors to start. The cinnamon that I pick up also on the pre-light draw was coming through.” –Jake P. (Jake P.)
Second Third
Blind Cigar Review: Gran Habano| Cabinet Selection Robusto
Flavor: 89 Strength: Mild-Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“Buttery nougat, French vanilla coffee, slight hay and baking spice. Slight imperfection on the wrapper, but taking care of itself. Retrohale is still pleasant, but less sweet, with slight smoked paprika on the back end. Burn is solidly and sharp.” –Randy B. (randobush)”
“The decadent fruit cake is gone now replaced by a savory grilled meat. The main attraction in this third though is the vanilla that is found in retrohale. There is a lot of flavor changes but they seem jumbled and do not work well together.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
Final Third
Blind Cigar Review: Gran Habano| Cabinet Selection Robusto
Flavor: 90 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“The cigar closes much in the same way it started. Not as decadent as in the first third but all of the same components are there. It doesn’t storm across the finish line it just kinda gets there…” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
“Again just massive amounts of smoke was pouring out of this guy. As the tea flavor simmered down, I was getting a bitter leafy green. The cedar came back to offset the bitterness a little, along with a sweet leather note. I thought that was a nice way to end the cigar.” –Jake P. (Jake P.)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 94
“Smooth draw with perfect amount of resistance. Good smoke output and medium to long finish” –Randy B. (randobush)
Burn: 90
“The burn was pretty point on” –Allison T. (The Yoga Ash)
Construction: 87
“Even with the uneven burn, the construction of the cigar was great. Very good draw, gray white ash that held on for about half of the cigar, and a nice cool smoke made it the best part of this cigar. ” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
Overall Strength: Medium Overall Body/Complexity: Medium Experience Overall: 87
“Really enjoyed this cigar. Very pleasant on the palate, maintaining a solid medium finish throughout. Every puff led me to wanting to take the next puff.Original flavors were constantly evolving into better versions of themselves, making for slight, but delightful transitions. I’d recommend this cigar for the novice as well as the experienced cigar smoker.” –Randy B. (randobush)
“If floral soapy notes with a slight spice sounds good to then this will meet your fancy. The wrapper was a disappointment with tears. ” –Allison T. (The Yoga Ash)
“Pretty good smoke, had a couple construction issues, basically just cosmetic, the draw was pretty loose making it burn pretty hot on the last third, but overall, no complaints. A good solid consistent flavor, and I nubbed the snot out of it.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
“First and foremost, this is a cigar that must be retrohaled to be appreciated. The smoke on the palate is fine but the vanilla essence in the sinuses for the final two third made me want more. I could see this as the perfect way to kill an hour with friends at a BBQ or in conversation. It won’t pull all of your attention away from the people and times you’re enjoy. Hell it might even enhance them. ” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
“No complaints here. I thought this was overall a pretty good cigar. This did not blow me away by any means but solid all the way to the end. It stayed true to the pre-light aromas that I was pulling.” –Jake P. (Jake P.)
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
Blind Cigar Review: Gran Habano | Cabinet Selection Robusto
Overall Score – 89 – Good
Blind Cigar Review: Gran Habano | Cabinet Selection Robusto
Summary
"First and foremost, this is a cigar that must be retrohaled to be appreciated. The smoke on the palate is fine but the vanilla essence in the sinuses for the final two third made me want more. I could see this as the perfect way to kill an hour with friends at a BBQ or in conversation. It won't pull all of your attention away from the people and times you're enjoy. Hell it might even enhance them. " -Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)
