Cigar Review: Blanco Nine Robusto

The Blanco Nine is, from what I can tell, the most highly acclaimed cigar from Blanco Cigar Co. I’ve had the Blanco Nine Lancero many times and I have to say it lives up to the hype. It has phenomenal flavor, great balance, and is really a joy to smoke. I recently picked up a few robustos for review to see if they could stand up to the lancero vitola. So here we go…

Blend Specifics:

  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Corojo Oscuro
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan Ligeros

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

Off the foot on the prelight draw I smell nuts, hay, dark chocolate, and leather. When I light up the cigar, I’m greeted by a very full bodied smoke that carries with it dark chocolate, white pepper, and hints of leather. About a quarter of an inch in, the body comes down a notch, but before long it’s back up again. This is a real powerhouse cigar in terms of body and flavor – be sure you have a glass of water or a whiskey/rum on hand.

The second third is a continuation of the profile in the first, with a bit more white pepper and some black pepper thrown in the mix as well. In the final third, the body of the cigar draws down a notch revealing more dark chocolate notes along with the heavy pepper.

Conclusion

I enjoyed this cigar, but I have to say I am still partial to the Blanco Nine lancero vitola. As much as I liked this cigar, the body was a bit much for me and I would have enjoyed to have a bit more diversity of the flavor profile.  If you are going to try the Blanco Nine, I recommend starting with the lancero. If you’ve already had and enjoyed the lancero, this is still a cigar to try, especially if you are a fan of bolder profiles and textures.

Final grade:
B+

Matthias Clock: Brand evangelist, digital marketer, cigar and spirits expert specializing in consumer tasting and educational events. Matthias made the long trek from his hometown of Portland, Oregon to New York City in 2007, and in nine years has hosted more than 120 events and helped promote and launch dozens of cigar and whiskey brands in the U.S. In 2016, he joined the Cigar Journal Tasting Panel, blind-reviewing pre and new release cigars.