Description
Robusto Varies Selection R725.00
During our first years in the Johannesburg cigar business (in the 1970’s), there were plenty of Cuban cigars available, but one format cigar was revered above others: 124mm x Ring 50 (Epicure No.2), or 127mm x Ring 48 (Connoisseur No.1). When we started importing cigars from the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua we found that this was our most popular size cigar. It became clear to us that this popularity was created by the dimensions of the cigar, not necessarily by the blend or taste. The draw is easy, the flavour is full and the length of smoking time comfortable. When the Cuban Cohiba of this size was produced, they used the name “Robusto” – and this became the generic name for all cigars of approximately these dimensions. Classic Robusto is 124mm x Ring 50.
This size is still (2025) one of the most desirable in any brand – Cuban and New World.
Gillian Wesley
Jose L Piedra Petit Caballeros (121mm x Ring48)
This is a slightly unusual range of cigars, because the leaf is grown exclusively, not in the Vuelta Abajo region, but in the Vuelta Arriba region of Cuba. It is the second most important tobacco-growing region in Cuba, where tobacco has been grown since the 16th Century.
Jose L Piedra is one of the oldest value-priced marcas, this size was introduced to the JLP range in 2020 – a robusto which is the same ringsize as the Upmann Connoisseur No.1, but 6mm shorter. The Habanos website tells us that these are made by hand, but from shorter filler leaf – easier to blend and to handle, and offering an easier and more consistent burning rate, a perfect budget Cuban cigar. They are currently packed in bundles of 12, another cost-saving device.
Review: Good construction, a nice draw, a decent burn and plenty of dense, white smoke.
Quorum Classic Robusto – (121mm x Ring 50)
From J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Founded in 1895 this company also manufactures such quality cigars as Diamond Crown and Cuesta Ray. Quorum is a top quality cigar packed in bundles at an extremely affordable price. Manufactured in Nicaragua, the filler is a blend of Nicaraguan leaf packed “Cuban Sandwich” fashion, that is long and short filler leaves together – very cost-saving. The binder is from Nicaragua, and the wrapper is sun-grown Ecuador Sumatra.
Quorum cigars are said to be “the number one selling handmade imported bundled cigar in the world” One out of seven cigars exported from Nicaragua every year is a Quorum cigar.
Monterosa Maduro Robusto (124mm x Ring50)
A true Robusto hand rolled in the Dominican Republic, it is anything but gentle Dominican. The filler is a blend of Nicaraguan Condega, Nicaraguan Esteli, and Brazilian Cubra tobaccos, bunched in a Mexican San Andres binder with an oily Mexican Sumatra wrapper. The result is a medium strength cigar with intense flavour..
It is highly rated by The Cigar Authority who have a well-followed podcast at noon on Saturdays on Facebook or YouTube. They choose a single “Cigar of the Year” with “availability, consistency, quality and of course flavor and value being just some of the criteria that separate a good cigar from a great one.” December 2022 was the 30th award – to Montosa Maduro Toro, which was only the 12th Dominican cigar to receive the award.
This is the quality you can expect from the Montosa Maduro Robusto – and at a price less than you would expect. Don’t rush it!