The Don Lucas AL Series Short Robusto packs a punch as the brand's most full-bodied offering in their Sungrown lineup. Measuring 4½" x 50 ring gauge, this box-pressed Dominican puro comes in black wooden boxes of 15 sticks priced at $135 - perfect for those who like their cigars short but intense. The dark sungrown wrapper glistens with visible oils, hinting at the pepper bomb waiting inside.
First Third: Immediate white pepper zing coats the tongue, settling into roasted coffee grounds and burnt caramel sweetness. The tight draw produces thick smoke that feels weighty but not harsh.
Middle Third: Earthy notes of damp soil emerge, complementing the lingering black pepper. Retrohale brings out baking spices - think nutmeg and cinnamon sticks left too long in the oven.
Final Third: Charred oak takes center stage with rising nicotine strength. The cap develops sticky tar buildup around the nub zone, signaling when to put it down at about 45-minute mark.
The box-pressed format burns straight despite the oily wrapper. Hard ash holds firmly for first 1.5 inches before flaking. Requires occasional touch-ups in humid conditions due to dense filler tobacco packing.
