Cuban Robusto Selection

During my 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.
This size is still (2021) one of the most desirable in any brand – Cuban and non-Cuban.

Colin Wesley

Hoyo de Monterey Epicure No.2 (Robusto, 124mm x Ring 50)
Established in 1867 the flavour of this blend makes it an attractive choice for those who seek a delicate yet aromatic Cuban cigar that is lighter to the taste. In South Africa, since before the 1970’s, the Epicure No.2 has been revered as the ultimate smoke. If you wanted a good cigar you were told by those in the know to buy an “epicurenumbertwo”. I don’t think that the brand name Hoyo de Monterrey was even considered in this context. And when Blue Mould seriously struck Cuba, drastically curtailing supplies, there was near panic in the boardrooms, professional offices and homes of their devotees.
In fact its popularity was created purely by the dimensions of the cigar, the Robusto.

Quintero Favoritos: Cuban (115mm x Ring 50)
Quintero is one of the few Habanos brands not born in Cuba’s capital city, Havana. Instead its founder Agustin Quintero with his four brothers set up shop in the south coast city of Cienfuegos, known as the “Pearl of the South”. Then as now all the tobaccos selected for Quintero came from the Vuelta Abajo region. The Quintero cigar blend is noted for a herbal flavor with sweet aftertaste, medium bodied. In April 2012, a new vitola was launched - totally handmade, short filler, a slightly shorter Robusto size, the Favoritos.
Being short filler it burns easily with a comfortable draw and usually a smooth taste. The flavour is true Cuban – a nice medium-bodied smoke. Would you enjoy it as a casual smoke?

Vegueros Centrofino (Robusto, 130mm x Ring 50)
Vegueros is a “post revolution” brand, founded in 1997, fully handmade, produced in the province of Pinar del Rio, the home of the famous Vuelta Abajo valley. The name Vegueros translates into the word “farmer” and is a tribute to the generations of farmers who have cultivated tobacco in the province.
The brand was transformed in 2012 with shapes and sizes more suitable for the modern cigar smokers - thicker, shorter Vitolas (models/shapes), and incorporating a new band and a slightly more medium-bodied blend. The names of each of the new vitolas are part of the Cuban farmers’ vocabulary. Centro Fino is a classification for the leaves of the sun grown tobacco plant taken around mid-way up the plant. These generally constitute Seco leaves in the blend of a Havana cigar and are valued for their satisfying taste and aroma.