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.
“A waxy tan brown wrapper, very smooth with minimal tooth and minor veins, robusto in size.” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Aroma: 93
“A lot going on with the aromas already on this cigar. I get bread on the body & licorice, bread, cherries, wood, and some chocolate on the foot.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“Getting some cedar and there is a sugary sweetness that lingers on my lips. Holy crap I just got yeast doughnut flavor on the retro…..that is a first!” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“Off the bat, flavors of cashews, graham cracker and vanilla are present. A green peppercorn flavor sneaks its way in shortly after the light up. A transition in profile occurs an inch in. Flavors now consist of medium bodied leather, vanilla, oak and black pepperiness. This profile carries me until the end of this mild-medium bodied third. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Second Third
Flavor: 93 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“The sugar has stayed in this third, but now I am getting a creaminess flavor along with some bread. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“Cream is sweetening up making things more interesting. A healthy amount of cedar protrudes joining the sweetened cream. Burn and draw are performing nicely. As the cedar fades. The combination of cream and sweetness move to a more cane sugar note.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Final Third
Flavor: 90 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“A consistent profile of semi sweet vanilla, oak, and leather stay the course entering and ending the last third. The profile only becomes richer in body as the end comes. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
“Cigar does leave a post draw bitterness. Nearing the nub , the cane sugar darkens to molasses.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 95
“The draw on this cigar was great. The cigar had just the right amount of resistance and a copious amount of smoke output. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)
“No corrections were needed, burn was impressive.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Construction: 94
“The construction was perfect. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)
Overall Strength: Medium Overall Body/Complexity: Medium Experience Overall: 94
“This was a fantastic cigar. There was a lot going on with it. It was very creamy with cedar notes along with a sugary sweetness that lingered on my lips and to top that off there was a yeast doughnut flavor on the retro! C’mon! Pick up a box now! I just know this would have paired wonderfully with a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“Overall, I was impressed immensely by the first third, especially the initial 10 minutes of flavor. After that, it seemed to kick in cruise control with its vanilla, oak, and light leather profile, which made me kind of bored. The flavor profile was flawless, I just had hoped for something more than a static profile throughout. Try one, they are not bad at all. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
“Would smoke again. Maybe worth a box” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“This was a really outstanding cigar. The cigar has crisp notes of leather, pepper, walnut, and charred cedar that mingled really well together. I would recommend you pick up at least one of these if not a fiver. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)
Blind Cigar Review: La Gran Llave | Connecticut Robusto
Summary
"This was a fantastic cigar. There was a lot going on with it. It was very creamy with cedar notes along with a sugary sweetness that lingered on my lips and to top that off there was a yeast doughnut flavor on the retro! C'mon! Pick up a box now! I just know this would have paired wonderfully with a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning. " -Mickey T. (irratebass)
