Old Henry Robusto

Don Fernando · 02-18-2010, 09:53 AM

This Holts houseblend is created by Don Pepin Garcia from Nicaraguan tobacco with a Nicaraguan Corojo or a maduro wrapper from the Connecticut Valley area. The name comes from the dog of the Holts owner that wanted a cigar with this name and his picture on the band in remembrance of his old pal. I can't say that it's a beautiful picture though, but then again, show me a picture of a bulldog that I think is pretty and I'll send you some cigars. With a picture like this on the band I just hope it isn't a dog rocket.

The 5 x 50 robusto comes in cellophane and once unpacked I can smell a hay & barnyard aroma. The wrapper looks smooth & oily but feels silky and doesn't have a lot of veins. The construction isn't what I expect from a Don Pepin cigar, I can feel some soft spots but to my surprise the predraw isn't loose because of the soft spots. Quite the opposite, the draw is a bit hard and leaves me with a raisin & pepper flavor on my palate.

I taste coffee and wood with a firm dose of black pepper. The pepper is the dominant flavor with wood as support after half an inch. The coffee is gone by then. After an inch I can taste some toasty flavors with some wood.

Halfway the support is all wood again with a sweet and peppery aftertaste en far far away a little bit of chocolate. The sweetness grows a bit in strength after 2/3rd but the pepper is still dominant with toast and wood as support.

The draw is a bit hard but I get enough, medium thick, smoke from this Old Henry. The ash is medium gray and quite firm. The burn is good. This is a medium bodied medium flavored smoke in my book.

Would I buy this cigar again? If I get back to Philly and Holts has a nice offer, I will get some more.

Appearance: 7 / 10
Construction: 6 / 10
Draw: 6 / 10
Burn: 7 / 10
Smoke & ash: 7 / 10
Aroma first part: 7 / 10
Aroma second part: 7 / 10
Aroma third part: 7 / 10

Ratters · 02-18-2010, 09:54 AM

Nice review, though you didn't smoke the maduro. The maduro has black on the band where the red is. I like the maduro more than the natural in these, it seems to be better balanced.

MedicCook · 02-18-2010, 09:55 AM

Thanks for the great review as always Ferdie.

kelmac07 · 02-18-2010, 10:07 AM

Nice review Ferdie. I LOVE these sticks.

Razorhog · 02-18-2010, 10:20 AM

Great review! I've wanted to try those and the Casa Royales for a while.

captain53 · 02-18-2010, 10:22 AM

What Timing:

ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-523-1641
24-Hour Special with Free Shipping!

Old Henry Corona
12 cigars only $34.95 (35% savings!)

http://www.holts.com/category.html?id=201663

I am not associated with the retailer or manufacturer just passing on an offer related to the review.

Don Fernando · 02-18-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratters

Nice review, though you didn't smoke the maduro. The maduro has black on the band where the red is. I like the maduro more than the natural in these, it seems to be better balanced.

Asked the ToE to edit it.

Lucky_Hippo · 02-18-2010, 10:42 AM

Very nice review.

I've tried these a few times and they just havn't won me over for some reason.

elderboy02 · 02-18-2010, 10:48 AM

Nice review. I enjoy these. I have a dog named Henry, so I guess I have a soft spot in my heart for these.

Coz77 · 02-18-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

This Holts houseblend is created by Don Pepin Garcia from Nicaraguan tobacco with a Nicaraguan Corojo or a maduro wrapper from the Connecticut Valley area. The name comes from the dog of the Holts owner that wanted a cigar with this name and his picture on the band in remembrance of his old pal. I can't say that it's a beautiful picture though, but then again, show me a picture of a bulldog that I think is pretty and I'll send you some cigars.

Lots of Pretty Bulldogs here Ferdie

Nice review too brother!

02-19-2010, 10:52 PM

a better Pepin in this price range is the Tat white label (Atlantic Cigars); better draw, more diverse flavor profile, medium strength.

ProBe · 02-20-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorhog

Great review! I've wanted to try those and the Casa Royales for a while.

Same here.

BlackDog · 08-08-2010, 08:30 AM

I bought some of these last summer and let them sleep for about a year in my coolerdor. I smoked one last night and was very impressed. I had none of the cunstruction issues that Ferdie mentions above. Thew draw was perfect. Really a lovely cigar. Mine was the natural wrapper, probably more mild than the maddie wrapper, but I really enjoyed it. I'd call it a "medium" bodied cigar, with some background chocolate and coffee notes. With the economy being what it is I'm not buying cigars right now, but if I were I'd buy more of these for sure. I'm glad I've got another 11 in the humi.

Wharf Rat · 08-08-2010, 09:46 AM

I'm glad they've worked out for some of you. I bought a fiver of these and they had the single most pungent ammonia smell I have ever encountered. Even after 6 months, they were unsmokeable!

Now, I suppose I got a bad batch. But, if so, how did they get out of Pepin's vaunted Tabacalera? There are so many other Pepin cigars that I can happily smoke and not be reminded of those sticks.

08-08-2010, 11:18 AM

I've only had one but it was really good. It was a natural with no burn issues at all and was very tasty. Once I get the cigar funds again these will be on the list.

Mr B · 08-09-2010, 12:17 PM

I have tried both varieties (there is now a conn wrap I have not tried). I enjoyed the Nat wrap very much but I really enjoyed the Maduro with some age on it. I just picked up a box of the Maduros.

08-11-2010, 09:47 AM

great review and thanks for it I've been thinking about getting a few of these for a bit.

the english bulldog is a great looking dog as are all of molosser dogs

bsmokin · 08-11-2010, 10:05 AM

These are great cigars for the price! I really like them... good spice and flavor. Thanks for the review

02-18-2010, 09:53 AM	#1
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,068 Trading: (29)	Old Henry Robusto This Holts houseblend is created by Don Pepin Garcia from Nicaraguan tobacco with a Nicaraguan Corojo or a maduro wrapper from the Connecticut Valley area. The name comes from the dog of the Holts owner that wanted a cigar with this name and his picture on the band in remembrance of his old pal. I can't say that it's a beautiful picture though, but then again, show me a picture of a bulldog that I think is pretty and I'll send you some cigars. With a picture like this on the band I just hope it isn't a dog rocket. The 5 x 50 robusto comes in cellophane and once unpacked I can smell a hay & barnyard aroma. The wrapper looks smooth & oily but feels silky and doesn't have a lot of veins. The construction isn't what I expect from a Don Pepin cigar, I can feel some soft spots but to my surprise the predraw isn't loose because of the soft spots. Quite the opposite, the draw is a bit hard and leaves me with a raisin & pepper flavor on my palate. I taste coffee and wood with a firm dose of black pepper. The pepper is the dominant flavor with wood as support after half an inch. The coffee is gone by then. After an inch I can taste some toasty flavors with some wood. Halfway the support is all wood again with a sweet and peppery aftertaste en far far away a little bit of chocolate. The sweetness grows a bit in strength after 2/3rd but the pepper is still dominant with toast and wood as support. The draw is a bit hard but I get enough, medium thick, smoke from this Old Henry. The ash is medium gray and quite firm. The burn is good. This is a medium bodied medium flavored smoke in my book. Would I buy this cigar again? If I get back to Philly and Holts has a nice offer, I will get some more. Appearance: 7 / 10 Construction: 6 / 10 Draw: 6 / 10 Burn: 7 / 10 Smoke & ash: 7 / 10 Aroma first part: 7 / 10 Aroma second part: 7 / 10 Aroma third part: 7 / 10 __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

02-18-2010, 09:54 AM	#2
Ratters Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,848 Trading: (2)	Re: Old Henry maduro robusto Nice review, though you didn't smoke the maduro. The maduro has black on the band where the red is. I like the maduro more than the natural in these, it seems to be better balanced.

02-18-2010, 09:55 AM	#3
MedicCook Mila smoked my cigar Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ryan Location: Schaghticoke, NY Posts: 10,946 Trading: (7)	Re: Old Henry maduro robusto Thanks for the great review as always Ferdie. __________________ 27 World Series Championship's "If your wife doesn't like the aroma of your cigar, change your wife.", Zino Davidoff

02-18-2010, 10:07 AM	#4
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Old Henry maduro robusto Nice review Ferdie. I LOVE these sticks. __________________ Dom in the MLB thread "I could probably get you to wear a Yankee hat for a Maduro!"

02-18-2010, 10:20 AM	#5
Razorhog Feeling at Home Join Date: Jul 2009 First Name: Beau Location: NE Arkansas Posts: 600 Trading: (4)	Re: Old Henry maduro robusto Great review! I've wanted to try those and the Casa Royales for a while.

02-18-2010, 10:22 AM	#6
captain53 Have My Own Room Join Date: Jul 2009 First Name: Dave Location: Lake of the Ozarks & Austin, TX Posts: 1,333 Trading: (3)	Re: Old Henry maduro robusto What Timing: ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-523-1641 24-Hour Special with Free Shipping! Old Henry Corona 12 cigars only $34.95 (35% savings!) http://www.holts.com/category.html?id=201663 I am not associated with the retailer or manufacturer just passing on an offer related to the review.

02-18-2010, 10:42 AM	#8
Lucky_Hippo A Cigar = 42 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Gary Location: Kansas Posts: 494 Trading: (2)	Re: Old Henry Robusto Very nice review. I've tried these a few times and they just havn't won me over for some reason. __________________ Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips. -J.Candy

02-18-2010, 10:48 AM	#9
elderboy02 Lets Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12,508 Trading: (133)	Re: Old Henry Robusto Nice review. I enjoy these. I have a dog named Henry, so I guess I have a soft spot in my heart for these.

02-19-2010, 10:52 PM	#11
yes please Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Old Henry Robusto a better Pepin in this price range is the Tat white label (Atlantic Cigars); better draw, more diverse flavor profile, medium strength.

08-08-2010, 08:30 AM	#13
BlackDog Gonna make you groove... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Warren Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,468 Trading: (19)	Re: Old Henry Robusto I bought some of these last summer and let them sleep for about a year in my coolerdor. I smoked one last night and was very impressed. I had none of the cunstruction issues that Ferdie mentions above. Thew draw was perfect. Really a lovely cigar. Mine was the natural wrapper, probably more mild than the maddie wrapper, but I really enjoyed it. I'd call it a "medium" bodied cigar, with some background chocolate and coffee notes. With the economy being what it is I'm not buying cigars right now, but if I were I'd buy more of these for sure. I'm glad I've got another 11 in the humi. __________________ "We live in the good of this."

08-08-2010, 09:46 AM	#14
Wharf Rat I'll get up and fly away Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Bob Location: Florence, SC Posts: 786 Trading: (7)	Re: Old Henry Robusto I'm glad they've worked out for some of you. I bought a fiver of these and they had the single most pungent ammonia smell I have ever encountered. Even after 6 months, they were unsmokeable! Now, I suppose I got a bad batch. But, if so, how did they get out of Pepin's vaunted Tabacalera? There are so many other Pepin cigars that I can happily smoke and not be reminded of those sticks.

08-08-2010, 11:18 AM	#15
scoop Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Old Henry Robusto I've only had one but it was really good. It was a natural with no burn issues at all and was very tasty. Once I get the cigar funds again these will be on the list.

08-09-2010, 12:17 PM	#16
Mr B Livin' in a Van.... Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,233 Trading: (79)	Re: Old Henry Robusto I have tried both varieties (there is now a conn wrap I have not tried). I enjoyed the Nat wrap very much but I really enjoyed the Maduro with some age on it. I just picked up a box of the Maduros.

08-11-2010, 09:47 AM	#17
Aldebaran Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Old Henry Robusto great review and thanks for it I've been thinking about getting a few of these for a bit. the english bulldog is a great looking dog as are all of molosser dogs

08-11-2010, 10:05 AM	#18
bsmokin Slippin... Fast. Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Bryan Location: South Jersey Posts: 616 Trading: (15)	Re: Old Henry Robusto These are great cigars for the price! I really like them... good spice and flavor. Thanks for the review