Cigar Info
The Sinistro Mr. White Gold Edition was originally supposed to be released at the PCA 2020 trade show. Unfortunately that show was cancelled due to COVID-19. Mardo Cigars took this opportunity to buy all the stock and make it an exclusive cigar to their store. The following year, the blend was released more broadly and it was no longer an exclusive. The blend uses a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, double binder – Ecuadorian Sumatra and Cameroon, and Dominican Andullo, Nicaraguan, and USA fillers. Sinistro Mr. White Gold Edition is rolled at the La Aurora S.A. factory in the Dominican Republic.
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.
Sinistro Mr. White Gold Edition comes in four sizes: Robusto 5×50 MSRP $10.50, Toro 6×54 $12.30, Belicoso 6 1/4″x52 MSRP $12.20, and Churchill 7×47 MSRP $12.10. All come in boxes of 20.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf (U.S.A)
Binder: Ecuador Sumatra, Cameroon
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, U.S.A
Factory: La Aurora Cigars S.A.
Blender: James Agopian
Number of reviewers: 4 – Allison T. (The Yoga Ash) Chad M. (Chad Tchad) Randy B. (randobush) Vance T. (Vance)
Price: $10.50
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: October 2019
Contributed by: Sinistro Cigars
Initial Impressions – Sinistro Mr. White Gold Edition Robusto – Blind Cigar Review
Appearance: 87
“The dark brown oily wrapper is def the first thing I noticed when I pulled it out. Tiny micro-bumps (tooth) of flavor scream at me like “Cut and light me fool.” Appears to be a 5”x52rg standard Robusto vitola, with a triple cap protecting the shoulder, and an open foot at the bottom revealing the goods inside!” –Randy B. (randobush)
Aroma: 91
“Spring flowers with light hints of rose mixed green tea and fresh-cut hay.” –Allison T. (The Yoga Ash)
First Third
Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“In the lighting of 1225, the spice of black pepper is in the forefront with Cayenne, citrus pith & saltwater taffy floating around in the background. The ash is very white & slightly flaky with an uneven burn because the wrapper is just too tight.” –Allison T. (The Yoga Ash)
“First draw was pure salty flavor, then some mild black pepper and mineral spice on the tongue. On retrohale there is some musty/smokey flavor that comes through as well as some mild white pepper spice.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
Second Third
Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
“Going into the second third the zing from the first third is diminished by about 50% and replaced with caramel and espresso mix…making the retro a bit more enjoyable. This is the primary transition into the second third, but it’s very noticeable and kicks my enjoyability up a notch.” –Randy B. (randobush)
“Didn’t have to ash until the start of the 2nd third. Ash is nice and tight now and the draw is awesome. Right before the midway mark, the profile remains full though the flavors seem to have settled into their groove. The dark coffee and burnt sugar have morphed into baking cocoa and toffee balanced by earth and cracked pepper. The cinnamon remains on the retro. The burn line is now razor sharp and the ash is a tight roll of dimes. This has been an excellent experience so far as I head into the final third.” –Vance T. (Vance)
Final Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The black coffee from the first third is back with about an inch left in the cigar. The sweetness has faded but isn’t gone, and is enough to keep the profile balanced. The earthiness is stronger now, boarding on too heavy but not unenjoyable. The profile flattened out and never picked back up toward the end but the overall cigar was excellent.” –Vance T. (Vance)
“The creaminess has backed off & the white pepper has stepped to the foreground with oak, slightly waxy with cinnamon. This cigar seems like a good breakfast cigar with the notes I kept tasting. I could also see this with a great cup of coffee.” –Allison T. (The Yoga Ash)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 92
“Perfect amount of resistance. Zero issues on the draw of this cigar.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Burn: 91
“Very even burn line; with no touch-ups needed.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
Construction: 91
“Very well constructed cigar good good, slightly tighter draw. The feel of the cigar is solid and a little firm.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 89
“I found this cigar something I would reach for in the morning with coffee or tea. 1225 had some great moments with a good draw & a great amount of smoke.” –Allison T. (The Yoga Ash)
“Overall good salty musty flavor; in the first third some spiciness noted of black and white pepper but this fades after the first third. Overall the cigar was a consistent flavor throughout the whole thing. It burned very fast but the size of the cigar was not too out of the norm.” –Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
“Very interesting cigar for me. The flavors were unique, and distinctly at odds with one another but it worked. Like a basketball team that the players don’t like each other but they keep winning. The wrapper was beautiful in its dark brown oily majesty. I don’t find too much to criticize this cigar, yet it would not be a go-to for me. I would however smoke it again with mo regret.” –Randy B. (randobush)
“The cigar finished a little flat but was such joy through the first 80% that I’d definitely buy and smoke this cigar again. The robust and complex profile was a delight to the senses every puff. I couldn’t put it down.” –Vance T. (Vance)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 65
Reviewer | Appear. | Aroma | 1/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | Draw | Burn | Constr. | Overall Experience |
Allison T. | 87 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 90 | 90 | 85 | 90 | 90 |
Chad M. | 85 | 83 | 88 | 88 | 87 | 85 | 88 | 88 | 88 |
Randy B. | 95 | 88 | 90 | 88 | 87 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 90 |
Vance T. | 87 | 92 | 95 | 95 | 87 | 97 | 95 | 92 | 95 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.