Like so many things in the cigar world, the story of the Robusto begins in Cuba. Robusto Cigars are (at the time of this writing), the most popular cigar in the world. They’re the bestseller that most of us reach for when we go rummaging in our humidor, and the one we load up into our carts when we’re shopping online.
But there was a time when the world had never heard the term “Robusto.” The cigar industry is still relatively young when compared to the market for many other things, and cigar smoking really only went mainstream sometime in the 90s when Cigar Aficionado helped make cigars a symbol of luxury for the western audience.
Right around that time, in the late 80s, the Cohiba cigar company in Cuba was making some changes.
In 1989, Cohiba put out three new cigar sizes: the esplendido, the exquisito, and the Robusto. It was, of course, the Robusto cigar that took hold. At right around five inches long, Robusto Cigars are not super big, but they are meaty. The ring gauge is usually about 50, offering a significant amount of tobacco to smoke in a short cigar. Quick smokers can polish them off in about 30 minutes, but those going along at a relaxed pace won’t finish a Robusto for closer to 45 minutes or even an hour (on a hungover Sunday).
Robusto Cigars can be found in almost every premium brand’s portfolio of products. Some nice examples include the Fuente OpusX Robusto (5.25 x 50), the Warped Serie Gran Reserva 1988 Robusto (5.25 x 50), and the Padrón 1926 Anniversary Robusto (4.7 x 50). They’re easy to handle, cut or punch, and keep lit. And when it comes to the draw, getting the right amount of smoke from your Robusto is usually a straightforward matter. They provide satisfying puffs that are full of flavor (if you’ve got a good blend in your hands), and generally, give us just what we’re after in a cigar break.
If you need a standard, go-to cigar, and you’ve had enough of gimmicks and fads for a while, pick up a box of Robustos. The workhorse of the cigar world won’t let you down.
Please browse our selection of Robusto Cigars at your leisure.
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