Stogie Reviews: La Caya Cameroon Robusto

8 Jan 2008

I discovered a couple of these in my humidor last week when I was pondering which cigar to review next. I knew I picked them up at the Big Smoke in Las Vegas, but I had virtually no knowledge of brand or the series.

La Caya Cameroon Robusto When internet searches only turned up information about the Natural or Maduro lines, and when I found La Caya’s website to be less than informative, I wrote to the company and received a prompt and polite reply.

I learned that the building blocks of the Cameroon series include an African Cameroon wrapper; a creamy 1999 Dominican olor binder from the San Victor region; and filler tobaccos composed of Dominican-grown Cuban seed criollo and piloto cubano (2005 and 2006 crops) and 2006 Nicaraguan viso from Estelí.

The five inch by 54 ring gauge robusto is a beautiful stick with highly detailed gold and yellow double bands. The handsome cedar sleeve slides off easily to reveal a seamless, fallow-tinted wrapper with a few large veins.

Like most Cameroon-wrapped sticks, this one starts with a harmonious spicy sweetness. The smoke is voluminous and flavorful with notes of tea, clove, and pine. All of this barely changed as I burned from foot to head, but – with such a savory taste – that’s hardly a criticism.

I am also happy to report that the burn is outstandingly straight, the sandy ash hangs tight for over two inches (I only tapped the ashtray twice), and the draw is easy.

I wanted to resist the temptation, but this cigar begs a comparison to what is commonly considered to be the seminal Cameroon: the H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon. While the flavor profiles aren’t quite the same, I think La Caya can stand up to H. Upmann any day. It doesn’t quite have the spice, but it’s smoother, earthier, and better constructed.

So, if you’re into Cameroons, you definitely need to give La Caya a try; if you’re not, this cigar serves as a great reminder of how fantastic Cameroons can be. At $5.50 for a single, I am heartily recommending the La Caya Cameroon Robusto with a rating of four and ½ out of five stogies.