Navarre robusto maduro

Don Fernando · 04-05-2010, 12:29 PM

“Le Comptoir du Tabac des Gaves et de l’Adour” is a French tobacco company that grows quality tobacco in the south west of France near the Spanish border. With help from a Cuban tobacco grower from the Pinar del Rio region they created a French puro, Navarre, of which I reviewed the Double Corona a few years ago. A few weeks ago I visited Huis Verloo in Antwerp and noticed that there is a limited edition maduro robusto out and I just had to try it.

The 5 x 50 cigar looks pretty with the tasteful band and the extra "limitee maduro" band. The wrapper is nice and dark, oily and smooth with one big vein running over it. The top is triple capped and the construction feels great. The cigar has a peppery barnyard aroma.

The first thing I taste is a full earthy coffee flavor with a mild sugary sweetness on the background. The flavors are a bit burned. After a few puffs I can also taste some sweet chocolate. After an inch the sweetness tones down a bit.

Halfway I taste a sharp pepper with the previous flavors, but the pepper is the dominant flavor. The earthy coffee disappears and is replaced with a nut flavor, macadamia, toast and chocolate. Near the end the pepper fades a bit while the toast gets stronger.

In the beginning I had a bit of a crooked burn but it corrects itself and doesn't give me problems during the rest of the smoke. The smoke is medium thick and I get just enough. The ash is pepper and salt colored. This cigar is full flavored and medium bodied. I purged it and didn't get a flame at all. It lasted me 75 minutes.

Would I buy this cigar again? Hell yes. Not often, as they are pricey, but I need to get a few for special occasions.

Appearance: 7 / 10
Construction: 7 / 10
Draw: 7 / 10
Burn: 7 / 10
Smoke & ash: 7 / 10
Aroma first part: 7 / 10
Aroma second part: 9 / 10
Aroma third part: 8 / 10

wolfandwhisky · 04-05-2010, 02:05 PM

Great review! Would you say it was more mellow on the sweet notes compared to some of its southern hemisphere brethren, in that the coffee/chocolate wasn't as strong as it seems the pepper was?

Don Fernando · 04-05-2010, 02:12 PM

It was a different sweetness, much more like sugar. The coffee was quite full in the beginning, the pepper showed up half way and was Nicaraguan strong.

issues · 04-05-2010, 02:19 PM

Sounds like an amazing smoke!

I'm guessing there's not a good chance of seeing these in the states.

OHRD · 04-05-2010, 02:32 PM

Nice job, never seen these

Don Fernando · 04-05-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issues

Sounds like an amazing smoke!

I'm guessing there's not a good chance of seeing these in the states.

Probably not, only shop I have seen this is in Antwerp, Belgium.

04-05-2010, 04:04 PM

Great Review,

Maybe we could set up a group buy!

Don Fernando · 04-05-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whodeeni

Maybe we could set up a group buy!

are you sure? they are 13 euro a stick.

kelmac07 · 04-05-2010, 05:33 PM

Damn fine review Ferdie. Sounds like a great stick. Thanks for sharing.

VirtualSmitty · 04-05-2010, 10:40 PM

At what point did the flavor surrender to your palate?

thebiglebowski · 04-06-2010, 05:03 PM

nice review, ferdie.

shilala · 04-06-2010, 05:05 PM

I never thought I'd see the words "French Puro" in type. Scares me half to death.
Thanks for the review, Ferdie!!!

04-05-2010, 12:29 PM	#1
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,068 Trading: (29)	Navarre robusto maduro “Le Comptoir du Tabac des Gaves et de l’Adour” is a French tobacco company that grows quality tobacco in the south west of France near the Spanish border. With help from a Cuban tobacco grower from the Pinar del Rio region they created a French puro, Navarre, of which I reviewed the Double Corona a few years ago. A few weeks ago I visited Huis Verloo in Antwerp and noticed that there is a limited edition maduro robusto out and I just had to try it. The 5 x 50 cigar looks pretty with the tasteful band and the extra "limitee maduro" band. The wrapper is nice and dark, oily and smooth with one big vein running over it. The top is triple capped and the construction feels great. The cigar has a peppery barnyard aroma. The first thing I taste is a full earthy coffee flavor with a mild sugary sweetness on the background. The flavors are a bit burned. After a few puffs I can also taste some sweet chocolate. After an inch the sweetness tones down a bit. Halfway I taste a sharp pepper with the previous flavors, but the pepper is the dominant flavor. The earthy coffee disappears and is replaced with a nut flavor, macadamia, toast and chocolate. Near the end the pepper fades a bit while the toast gets stronger. In the beginning I had a bit of a crooked burn but it corrects itself and doesn't give me problems during the rest of the smoke. The smoke is medium thick and I get just enough. The ash is pepper and salt colored. This cigar is full flavored and medium bodied. I purged it and didn't get a flame at all. It lasted me 75 minutes. Would I buy this cigar again? Hell yes. Not often, as they are pricey, but I need to get a few for special occasions. Appearance: 7 / 10 Construction: 7 / 10 Draw: 7 / 10 Burn: 7 / 10 Smoke & ash: 7 / 10 Aroma first part: 7 / 10 Aroma second part: 9 / 10 Aroma third part: 8 / 10 __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

04-05-2010, 02:05 PM	#2
wolfandwhisky Resident Whisky Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 First Name: Matt Location: Arizona Posts: 521 Trading: (4)	Re: Navarre robusto maduro Great review! Would you say it was more mellow on the sweet notes compared to some of its southern hemisphere brethren, in that the coffee/chocolate wasn't as strong as it seems the pepper was?

04-05-2010, 02:12 PM	#3
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,068 Trading: (29)	Re: Navarre robusto maduro It was a different sweetness, much more like sugar. The coffee was quite full in the beginning, the pepper showed up half way and was Nicaraguan strong. __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

04-05-2010, 02:19 PM	#4
issues Have My Own Room Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Tony Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,626 Trading: (8)	Re: Navarre robusto maduro Sounds like an amazing smoke! I'm guessing there's not a good chance of seeing these in the states.

04-05-2010, 02:32 PM	#5
OHRD Garage w/ couch & ashtray Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Matt Posts: 1,377 Trading: (39)	Re: Navarre robusto maduro Nice job, never seen these __________________ Did I tell you my garage has a couch and an ashtray? My wife doesn't let me sleep or smoke inside.

04-05-2010, 04:04 PM	#7
whodeeni Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Navarre robusto maduro Great Review, Maybe we could set up a group buy!

04-05-2010, 05:33 PM	#9
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Navarre robusto maduro Damn fine review Ferdie. Sounds like a great stick. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Dom in the MLB thread "I could probably get you to wear a Yankee hat for a Maduro!"

04-05-2010, 10:40 PM	#10
VirtualSmitty WiP!? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: The Evil Empire Posts: 2,084 Trading: (0)	Re: Navarre robusto maduro At what point did the flavor surrender to your palate? __________________ We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid - Benjamin Franklin

04-06-2010, 05:03 PM	#11
thebiglebowski Jack White's Roadie... Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: larry Location: music city, USA Posts: 665 Trading: (0)	Re: Navarre robusto maduro nice review, ferdie.

04-06-2010, 05:05 PM	#12
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Navarre robusto maduro I never thought I'd see the words "French Puro" in type. Scares me half to death. Thanks for the review, Ferdie!!! __________________