First, let me step in and absolve Rob from any blame for this being a ‘second’. It is from a bunch I got from a trip a few years back to Cuba. Now, I know that there is, deservedly, much skepticism as to whether or not “seconds” purchased in Havana are anything but dodgy fakes, possibly nothing more than banana leaves or newspaper. Over the years, we’ve purchased a few of these, but usually only as a bit of fun. On this occasion, I knew the source and I trust them implicitly. And they have been seriously good cigars as well. 

Lovely smallish Robusto-sized smoke (petit robusto? Though it does seem a smidge bigger than that – is there a size between petit robusto and robusto? – no matter). Toasted, roasted and pleasingly richly flavoured, though always quite mild. Always nicely balanced. Never really heading above mid-weight. There is a smoothness in a good cigar like this and…