"The Renegade": Robusto, 5" x 50 Ring GaugeThis cigar is composed of Nicaraguan filler, with a sun-grown corojo binder and shade-grown criollo wrapper, both also from Nicaragua. It was blended for the Xikar company by Jesus Fuego.
The wrapper was a light brown in color, almost as light as a Connecticut shade color, but not quite. It had a mild look about it, but I knew from previous experience that this appearance is deceiving. There were a couple prominent veins in the wrapper but nothing extreme. The double-band on the cigar was very classy-looking. The aroma from the body was woody and leathery, and from the foot there's a bit of barnyard and cocoa. The prelight draw was easy and tasted of chocolate and dried fruit.
Upon lighting, the smoke was creamy and smooth with caramel and chocolate notes. The body is right in the medium range. The first time I had one of these, I expected to be underwhelmed because of the appearance and I found myself really enjoying it--it is one of my favorite cigars introduced in the last year.
After the first third, the flavor was predominantly coffee and roasted nuts, with a caramel hint on the finish and a creamy, buttery quality to the smoke. As the second third progressed, though, the creamy quality started to drift off and there was just a touch of black pepper on the finish.
This cigar stayed good down to the nub. It is definitely my favorite medium-bodied smoke and one that I can recommend heartily to new and experienced smokers alike--the flavors remain interesting and complex without any danger of it overwhelming you with strength.
Body: 5/10
Strength: 4/10
Complexity: 8/10
AFP Scale:
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
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