Iron Shirt Robusto

[Don Fernando]

Schuster Cigars is a century old, family-owned, German cigar manufacturer. They make cigars in an old fashioned way in their factory in Bunde. These are the European style, dry cured, shortfiller cigars. Little over 20 years ago, Schuster ventured out into premium hand-made longfiller cigars with private labels Casa de Torres and Maria Mancini, made in Nicaragua and Honduras. And they entered the import and distribution game. They are responsible for the distribution of Debonaire, Indian Motorcycle and RoMa Craft on the German market, and handle all of RoMa Crafts international distribution.

At Intertabac 2018, Schuster also introduced a limited edition. The company was able to purchase some rare, limited tobacco and created a limited edition cigar with it, the Iron Shirt. This cigar is limited due to the quantity of tobacco, not limited for limited’s sake. The wrapper is Brazilian, the binder Nicaraguan and the filler is made from both Brazilian and Nicaraguan tobacco. The cigars are made in an undisclosed, small, factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.

Name: Iron Shirt
Country: Nicaragua

Factory: Undisclosed

Size: 5×50

Vitola: Robusto

Wrapper: Brasil
Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua, Brasil


Price: € 8,90 (Germany)

Cutter: Xikar X2

Lighter: single flame

Smoke conditions: indoors with ventilator
Smoke time: 
one hour and fifty-five minutes
Sponsored by Schuster Cigars



The cigar has a unique look. A closed foot, an odd and mysterious ring and then a cap that’s not exactly a pigtail, since it’s not curled, it’s not a flag tail, and it’s too short to be a firecracker tail. It does stand out in a humidor, and that’s worth a lot. The construction is great and the cigar has a medium strong hay aroma.

The cold draw is fantastic, the right amount of air resistance with a nice raisin flavor followed by a white pepper aftertaste. Once lit, the cigar produces cedar and an earthy coffee with a mild metallic undertone. After a few puffs, the flavors change to nuts with some lime, pepper, leather and still that metallic flavor. A centimeter in the metallic flavor disappears and the flavors turn to leather, dried leaves, and a vanilla sugar sweetness. The second third has leather, nuts, and some spices. The mouthfeel is dry. The spices with some vanilla, leather, grass and spicy green herbs mark the halfway point. And for spicy green herbs, think of rocket salad. The last third shows a strong leather flavor with citrus, dried leaves, and a growing pepper. The pepper tastes like dried red pepper flakes. The few final puffs bring back the metallic flavor, with the pepper and nuts.

The draw and smoke are near perfection. The right amount of air resistance, the thick and luscious smoke without creating a wall of smoke, it’s all close to perfection. The ash is white, which points to a potassium-rich soil. This cigar is full flavored, full-bodied. It’s a classic Nicaraguan, bold and in your face, cigar.

Strength: Full
Flavor: Full

For the final score with a scientific diagram, a video and pictures, go to: https://ministryofcigars.com/iron-shirt-robusto/