Robusto - Revival of a Classic?

3rd August, 2007: Posted by glpease in Tobacco

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A few weeks ago, I received from a friend a generous sample from a 40+ years old knife lid tin of the venerable Sobranie Virginia #10. The sample was vacuum packed in thick, freezer safe plastic film, and arrived looking more like a Slim Jim than tobacco. My friend had sent email telling me it was on its way, so the anticipation was already in top gear, and the arrival of the little sausage put that anticipation into overdrive.

I didn’t instantly open the sausage-like package, but allowed the suspense to linger a bit longer, waiting for just the right moment to begin the exploration. When I finally slit open the top, fresh air crept in, coaxing just a whiff of the aroma out. One of the things I love most about opening old, puffy tins of vintage tobaccos is that explosion of scent that erupts as soon as the seal is broken. The vacuum-pack robbed me of that, and forced me to work a little harder for my first of what would prove to be many rewards. Sticking a nostril under the bag, I began to tease the still tightly compressed tobacco apart, releasing some of its goodness to the air.

It was magnificent. I got an immediate but not strong impression of Latakia, riding on waves of wine-like aromas of fermented oriental leaf, with the virginias bringing up the rear. Delightful, delicate floral scents whisper softly - more like violets than the intense after-shave like aromas from some of the Lake District offerings - and are joined by soft fruity aromas of wine stewed pear and glaçée pineapple. The cigar leaf is barely detectable, but after all these years of incarceration, that’s not surprising. Cigars rely on being allowed to breathe in order to retain their bouquet. It’ll be interesting to see if they still make some kind of statement during the smoking of this treasure. Before I get to that, I’ll introduce the other contestant in this little slap-down.

I’ve got an 8oz bag (remember those?) of Robusto from November, 2002 - very early in its production. I’d smoked a few bowls from it earlier on, but have kept it tightly sealed for most of its life. Robusto was originally inspired by my memories of the No. 10, so it’s worth doing a little comparison of the two. Though it’s a bit unfair to compare a five year old tobacco with one that’s got 40 years behind it, there is certainly something for your ever intrepid tobacconista to learn from the experience, so onward.

The Robusto, too, presents the nose with an immediate impression of Latakia, with somewhat more intensity than that of its ancient friend. Beyond that, though, the aromas emanating from the bag are more earthy, slightly musty, with a redolence of black truffle and a more latent fruitiness. The fermented oriental characteristics are there, but more subdued. Where the No. 10 has a wine-like quality in the nose, perhaps even a Fino Sherry, this is more comparable to an Amontillado. There are hints of dark chocolate and Morello cherries. I don’t mean the sickly sweet cherry of some sort of vile cough elixir, but the wonderful, slightly tart, deep, complex aromas of a truly fine Griotte. Maybe I should ignore the cherries. Anyway, it’s almost a subliminal thing…

Physically, these two tobaccos are quite different, the Sobranie being a rubbed up cut cake, Robusto, a ribbon cut mixture. Both approaches provide somewhat similar smoking characteristics, but I suspect some of the Sobranie’s magic lies in the pressing, and it’s coarser strands should smolder somewhat more slowly. The colour palette of the two is quite similar, though the older blend is a couple shades darker.

In smoking, the Virginia No. 10 lights effortlessly, and delivers a smoke as smooth as a black velvet painting of Perry Como. The Latakia is more subdued in the smoke than in the tobacco’s aroma, but it’s still lively enough to be accounted for. What strikes me first, though, is how completely integrated the flavours are. Each individual component has merged into a single harmonious whole, and it takes some serious thought to pick out its unique contribution. I’ve smoked enough 40+ years old tobacco to know that this is quite a rare thing. But, with focus, it’s possible to identify the parts and figure out what they’re up to. The cigar leaf has softened substantially. It still provides a little twang, a soft nibble on the centre of the tongue, but I suspect it was much more assertive, or at least exuberant some decades ago. The orientals and virginias play beautifully together to provide a much more complex sweetness than either would alone. And, even in its dotage, the soft Latakia brings a bit muscle to the party and fills out the structure.

It’s difficult to compare this to anything else, or even to really describe it. It’s a unique experience, and a delightful one. I’ll be quite sad when the final bowl of the sample has been reduced to ash. So, what about the Robusto? Can it fill the void when this is gone?

Initially, and throughout the bowl, the Latakia in Robusto is somewhat forward. It never comes off as a “Latakia blend with other stuff,” but it’s certainly clear that it’s there. There’s a refreshingly bitter edge from the cigar leaf, and a wonderful sweetness that carries it all together. The individual components are more easily recognizable, though they’ve begun to meld together nicely. Overall, it’s a more intense experience, but still nuanced. The sidestream smoke is more astringent, a bit nose-stinging, so it’s best not to smoke this in a short stemmed pipe. The cut of this requires just a bit more care in smoking, as it’s possible to overheat the ember, bringing a sharpness to the smoke, but, delicate sips reward the smoker with a beautiful sweetness. As with the Sobranie, this burns cleanly and easily to a fine ash, though the Robusto is a little more forgiving of a carelessly over tight pack.

The room note of the two is comfortably similar, and quite pleasant - if you like cigars and pure tobacco aromas. Neither will win friends amongst non-smokers or cigar haters.

I like both of these in smaller bowls, and as with any blend containing cigar leaf, they’re best smoked in a single session. The so-called “Delayed Gratification Technique” doesn’t fare so well here, as it wouldn’t fare well with a good cigar.

Will 35 years more age carry Robusto to the sublime heights reached by the venerable old Sobranie Virginia #10? Only time will really tell, but after this comparison, I’ve got pretty high hopes. They’re not identical twins, certainly, but are clearly from the same family. I’ll keep my eyes open for old tins of the Sobranie, but will add quite a few more tins of Robusto to the cellar as something of an insurance policy.

-glp

11 Responses

  1. Neill Says:
    August 4th, 2007 at 12:30

    Wow. What a literary, erudite chronicling of your smoking adventure. I felt like I was right there sitting on your tongue . Seriouly, wonderful writing and a great comparison.

  2. Pat D. Says:
    August 7th, 2007 at 4:37

    Mr. Pease since you tuned me on to robusto via email, i have stocked up on quit a few tins. This is great new for me. I hope when i am in my 50’s or 60’s that i still have them in storage so that i might have a smoke like yours was.

    Regards,
    Pat

  3. Frank Says:
    August 7th, 2007 at 9:58

    Hello Greg. Thanks for the review, it was an enjoyable read. I regularly smoked Balkan Sobranie White and 759 but never #10. I steered clear of it because I feared it was a predominantly Virginian blend and my constitution doesn’t hold up well smoking straight Virginias. I have only one tin cellared that I look forward to opening some day in the future.

    In the “For What It’s Worth” category, concerning a past post in ASP dealing with tin art that I wanted to reply to but didn’t, I like your older style graphics best (blue label no pictures) but your newer size tins.

    You said in the post above “the Latakia in Robusto is somewhat forward”. This hits on something I’ve been thinking about lately. It seems like everyone likes things more “forward” these days. Whether it be tobacco, wine, Mexican food or sports drinks, everything is loaded with flavor. Concerning tobacco, my perception (which may well be flawed) was that in the past, flavors were much more subtle. I don’t know if that was due to blender’s preference, public demand, or the leaf avaiable back then.

    Enough for now,take care,
    Frank

  4. vic Says:
    August 8th, 2007 at 17:19

    geez. i know i’m going to sound grouchy but what the hell. in response to frank’s comments, how can you cellar one tin (1) and look forward to opening it some day? why bother. either you like something or you don’t. or you are willing to throw all caution to the wind and set aside two tins. as to the tins, i prefer the old tall round tins rather than the tuna cans.but at the end of the day it’s the bobacco i smoke not the paper and the graphics. i’ll wake up in a better mood tomorrow, i hope.

  5. vic Says:
    August 8th, 2007 at 17:24

    i smoke some bobacco in between the tobacco.

  6. Frank Says:
    August 8th, 2007 at 21:43

    Easy Vic, I purchased the tin after it was discontinued. I can pick up another tin right now for $112 but I choose not to. There are other vintage tins that I only have one of including Dobie’s Four Square Curlies, Garfinkel’s (Marlowe, Shottery, & Orient Express #11), John Cotton (#1, 1&2 & Latakia), John Fox’s Old Year Mixture and State Express London Mixture. I look forward to opening them too, wouldn’t you?

    Frank

  7. Self-composed » Blog Archive » Cigar blends - Robusto and Dominican Glory Maduro Says:
    September 7th, 2007 at 9:21

    […] I don’t know if it was reading one of Greg Pease’s articles where he’s bragging* about Robusto, or looking through the reviews of another reviewer on tobaccoreviews.com with similar tastes to mine** who gave McClelland’s Dominican Glory Maduro as a four-star blend. Something along the way enticed me to order a tin of each. Glad I did. […]

  8. Self-composed » Blog Archive » G. L. Pease Robusto Says:
    October 15th, 2007 at 21:38

    […] Don’t miss Greg’s recent comments on Robusto - he’s a lot better with words to describe what makes this blend great. […]

  9. PJ Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 8:29

    Thanks for the inforative and meticulous comparison review. I have been searching for a good cigar/pipe tobacco for a long while now and Robusto seems like it makes the leap from supposed cigar taste to the real deal.

  10. Smoking Pipe Tobacco » Blog Archive » G. L. Pease Robusto Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 3:28

    […] Don’t miss Greg’s recent comments on Robusto - he’s a lot better with words to describe what makes this blend great. […]

  11. tetrano Says:
    October 22nd, 2008 at 4:25

    Fabulous comparison of both the tobaccos in themselves as well as enough caveats to do justice to the large age difference between them.

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