Blind Cigar Review: D’Crossier | Pennsylvania Avenue Robusto

Cigar Info

D’Crossier Cigars launched the second in the D’Crossier Presidential Collection at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas, D’Crossier | Pennsylvania Avenue. The name pays respect to D’Crossier owner Isaias Diaz’s admiration for the U.S. being his home since 1995 and also making a statement against the FDA, who have issued harmful regulations against cigars in recent months. “Smoking a cigar is about personal freedom, a choice to enjoy something that is familiar, generational and in my case handed down from my father to me. I am hopeful that our industry will be unscathed”, says Diaz. Pricing for the Pennsylvania Avenue is from $8.00 to $12.00.

The Pennsylvania Avenue has a Habano Criollo Especial wrapper, habano binder, and blend of Brazilian and Dominican tobacco fillers. Offered in fours sizes: Gordie, Wide Toro, Tainos, and Robusto the Presidential Collection is produced in Costa Rica. The cigars have aged for 19 months. The Pennsylvania Avenue is the second cigar under the Presidential Collection – along with Diplomacy Series. Originally the Diplomacy Series was offered as a four pack sampler before becoming a line of its own.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Robusto
Length: 4.875″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Coast Rica
Wrapper: Habano Criollo Especial
Binder: Habano
Filler: Brazilian, Dominican
Factory: Pure Aroma Cigars S.A.
Blender: Isaias Santana Diaz
Number of reviewers: 4 – Jeff R. (JR) Kyle (kaleehb) Derek (StogieNinja) Dave W. (mdwest)
Price: $8.00
Age: 5 Months
Release Date: July 2016
Contributed by: D’Crossier Cigars

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 91

“The wrapper is a dark, very rustic-looking maduro. A short rat tail sits on top of the cap. Its a very appealing cigar.” –Derek (StogieNinja)

Aroma: 93

“Oily leather and wet earth notes fill the pre-light aroma of this stick.” –Dave W. (mdwest)

First Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Begins a little lighter than expected, with dry oak and baking spices. It’s a touch bitter, with some black pepper on the tongue. Bitter cocoa and nutmeg are the key players at an inch, with pepper and leather behind. The burn is really rough though, and requires regular touch ups. The draw is quite airy, and the cigar struggles to stay lit.” –Derek (StogieNinja)

“Flavors are a little hard to come by in the first third. There is some pepper, a little wood, and maybe some leather notes hidden in there, but they are faint and a little muted.” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Second Third

Flavor: 87
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The spice/pepper calmed way down. The cigar did canoe on me but that did not hinder the flavor. Very light undertones of sweetness.” –Jeff R. (JR)

“Earthiness intensifies and is accompanied by a mild pepper spice. Cigar’s burn became wavy and required a practical re-light quickly into the second third. Aroma remained enjoyable and draw was spot on.” –Kyle (kaleehb)

Final Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Cigar became extremely heavy in body with a tarry thickness reminiscent in the tastes. Cigar required further touch ups through the final third. The finish commanded a woody wet earth tastes that led me to put the cigar down. Aroma was very enjoyable throughout the entire smoking experience.” –Kyle (kaleehb)

“I barely get into the final third, but what I have is frustratingly decent. The core flavors–earth, dark cocoa, spices, pepper, leather–are very enjoyable when I can find them, but as the cigar struggles to stay burning, I end up with a lot of harshness and bitterness from constantly puffing or relighting.” –Derek (StogieNinja)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 89

“The draw was a little bit on the loose side, which is probably what attributed to the light, muted flavors experienced.” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Burn: 86

“Cigar had burn issues that started as a mild issue and turned into a major problem. Several touch ups and two relights were needed.” –Kyle (kaleehb)

Construction: 92

“Well made cigar and appearance. Not sure as to the consistency of the construction due to the burn, however, I’d be willing to give this cigar another go.” –Kyle (kaleehb)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 88

“I enjoyed this cigar. I am more of a full-bodied; full-flavor type of cigar smoker but this was a nice, middle of the road, medium kind of smoke.” –Jeff R. (JR)

“Aroma on this cigar was amazing. One of the best I’ve experienced this year. Tastes and draw started out well but gradually lost their performance (possibly due to burn/roll issues). I’d love to give this cigar another go as it showed lots of potential and moments of glory.” –Kyle (kaleehb)

“This was an incredibly difficult cigar to rate and I very much wish I had two samples to compare here. When the cigar burned, I got a sense that the flavor profile could be very nice, but the constant touch ups, relights, and attempts to keep the cigar burning left me very frustrated. I give this experience a poor rating, but am very interested to see how others fared. If my experience was just a dud, I will be seeking out additional samples to try for myself.” –Derek (StogieNinja)

“Overall this one was just sorta “meh” to me. It wasn’t a bad cigar. It just didn’t do anything to grab my attention or make me want another one either. I’d be willing to give it another try down the road though and see if maybe a better draw on another stick might change the outcome.” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 42

 

Reviewer	Appearance	Aroma	1/3	2/3	3/3	Draw	Burn	Constr.	Overall Experience
Jeff R.	90	88	90	87	87	97	85	90	88
Kyle	95	97	92	92	90	95	85	92	92
Derek	92	95	90	87	87	78	75	78	78
Dave W.	88	90	85	85	85	85	87	92	85

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: D’Crossier | Pennsylvania Avenue Robusto