Cigar Info – El Artista Puro Ambar Robusto
The El Artista Puro Ambar line has been around for 9 years now. Last year, it got a refresh in the form of updated packaging, bands, and a new blend. Internal research showed that a large portion of women were smoking the brand, so the band and box now have a more retro-modern style that hope to appeal to a more Female-focused customer base. The blend has also been tailored to be more female friendly and more medium-bodied.
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.
The new Puro Ambar blend uses El Artista‘s proprietary Habano wrapper, and a Dominican Republic binder, and a proprietary blend of Artista-grown Criollo tobaccos and Dominican Olor filler. Puro Ambar comes in three vitolas: Corona $6.00, Robusto $6.80, and Toro $7.00. All come in boxes of 20 that are white with gold and bronze accents. Puro Ambar is rolled at Tabacalera El Artista in Tamboril, Dominican Republic.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Republic Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Criollo and Olor
Factory: Tabacalera El Artista
Blender: Ram Rodriguez
Number of reviewers: 5 – James H. (Keikan Jim) Kevin A. (Kevin A.) Matt Cade (CadeTNCC) Vance T. (Vance) Sean F. (fullermaine)
Price: $6.80
Age: 5 Months
Release Date: September 2020
Contributed by: El Artista Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 88
“Small construction blemish, but no effect on the smoking enjoyment.” – Sean F. (fullermaine)
Aroma: 89
“Not a whole lot detectible in the foot as far as aroma. Peanut brittle is what comes to mind for me. There is a slight hint of wood coming from the foot as well. The prelight gives notes of roasted peanuts and floral, with more of the woodsy note. Prelight draw is pretty much spot on.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
First Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“I can tell from the cold draw there’s a sweetness in this tobacco I’m going to like so I quickly light it and get into it. Sure enough, I’m met immediately with a familiar sweetness on the first retro-hale but it’s accompanied by a metallic harshness on the front, combined with an enjoyable musty earthiness. All flavors are fleeting through the first several puffs and I find myself wanting to puff more frequently in order to spend more time with them. At about the 1-inch mark that metallic harshness is gone, the mustiness has morphed into a warm wheat bread and the sweetness on the retro hate is settling into a nice anise flavor which I love. Unfortunately, all flavors continue to vanish almost as quickly as they arrive. ” –Vance T. (Vance)
“This cigar features an unusual cold draw, there’s a profound musky bitterness present so much so that it’s making the back of my tongue tingle in a bad way. That’s a new one. Thankfully once the cigar is lit on fire, that bitterness is nowhere to be found. There’s nostril-tingling crisp pepper through the nose and a woodsy oak note via the draw. These flavors maintain throughout the first third with both the pepper and the oak dialing down a notch as the smoking experience continues. Construction so far is great with a smooth draw and copious smoke production.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
Second Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Red pepper makes an entrance early in the next part of the cigar, while the peanut and floral notes still stay solidly on the palate. Getting a little further into the middle part of the cigar, sourdough replaces the peanut and floral notes, with the red pepper still there. Retrohale is now mild black pepper, along with cinnamon and just a hint of woodiness. Burn and draw both remain good at this point. Strength is medium, as is the body.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“A dry coffee bean note joins the now mostly muted black pepper on the retrohale. The draw is still comprised of the oak as well as a mineral component and a very faint hint of pencil shavings. This added complexity in the second third benefits the cigar greatly. Construction remains great all around. ” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
Final Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Not much shift in the flavor profile, however, the flavors have popped and are much cleaner. A touch of cinnamon mixed with other baker’s spices with a medium-length finish. This is by far the best third. ” –James H. (Keikan Jim)
“Hickory and licorice notes come back with a subtle hint of nuttiness.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
Overall Impressions – El Artista Puro Ambar Robusto
Draw: 93
“Draw was consistent throughout” –Vance T. (Vance)
Burn: 92
“The cigar had an excellent burn with a straight burn line and no retouches required throughout the entire smoking experience.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
Construction: 93
“Other than a small blemish on the wrapper (which had no impact on smokability) it was a flawlessly constructed cigar.” –Vance T. (Vance)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 88
“I did not have a great start with this one, however, the further I got into this cigar, the more it improved redeeming itself completely. I don’t feel this is a super-premium cigar but a solid smoking experience overall.” –James H. (Keikan Jim)
“This was an enjoyable cigar. It started off mild-mannered and developed nicely all the way through. A flavor profile would allow it to pair well with a multitude of beverages and hold up well. New smokers and experienced smokers all can enjoy this cigar for sure.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“For a cigar that looked odd from the get-go and had a highly unpleasant cold draw, it performed very well and acted overall like an “ordinary” cigar. Hooray! I liked the portfolio of flavors presented by this cigar throughout the smoking experience and, coupled with the excellent construction, I’d certainly smoke it again. ” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
“Unfortunately, because the final 3rd fell off so steeply (by the last inch it was so harsh I had to call it), the overall experience literally left a bad taste in my mouth. There were moments of promise, especially with the retro-hale in the 1st and 2nd thirds. Even then, though, the flavors behaved like “Young” tobacco, evaporating almost immediately. This would be a decent $6-$8 cigar to grab for a long drive, on the golf course, or working at the grill and be one worth aging for a couple of years.” –Vance T. (Vance)
“After 15 years of smoking cigars, once again I shouldn’t judge a cigar by its wrapper. This cigar has great notes of hickory, spice, and nuttiness. Enjoyed this cigar down to less than an inch. Pairs well with a dark roast coffee.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 70
| Reviewer | Appear. | Aroma | 1/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | Draw | Burn | Constr. | Overall Experience |
| James H. | 88 | 88 | 87 | 88 | 90 | 95 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Kevin A. | 88 | 88 | 87 | 90 | 88 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 87 |
| Matt Cade | 88 | 88 | 87 | 90 | 90 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 90 |
| Vance T. | 90 | 92 | 87 | 85 | 83 | 93 | 92 | 95 | 83 |
| Sean F. | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 100 | 100 | 95 | 100 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.