The Davidoff Yamasa Robusto Tubos arrives in an aluminum tube holding a 5-inch by 50-ring gauge dominican powerhouse. This dark oily robusto features sun-grown Yamasa Valley wrapper that promises earthy depth with Davidoff's signature construction. At $260 for 12 sticks, it's positioned as an occasion smoke rather than daily driver.
The cold draw delivers a mineral-tinged raisin sweetness. Upon lighting, black pepper dominates with subtle almond extract undertones. The dense smoke coats the palate like espresso crema, showing better combustion than most new world cigars.
Pepper mellows into baking spices - think nutmeg and cardamom mixed with roasted cacao. A distinct clay-like earthiness emerges from the Yamasa wrapper, pairing oddly well with the coffee ground bitterness. Retrohale reveals unexpected apricot jam sweetness.
Leather and walnut shells take over as nicotine builds. The last inch gets surprisingly creamy with vanilla bean notes, though tar accumulation necessitates early retirement. Burns cool to nub if paced properly.
The star Yamasa wrapper comes from Davidoff's experimental farm in Panama's volcanic valley. Unlike typical Dominican leaf, this sun-grown variety spends 18 months fermenting in pilones to develop its mineral punch. The Nicaraguan filler in the blend adds backbone without overwhelming the terroir-driven flavors.
