Stogie Reviews: Nestor Miranda Dominicano Rosado Robusto Grande

Miami Cigar & Co. made a splash in 2009 with the Nestor Miranda Special Selection 20 Aniversario. The cigar was launched to celebrate of two decades of producing a Special Selection line named for company founder Nestor Miranda. Both the Rosado and Oscuro varieties received fanfare and very positive reviews.

But there were two problems. First, the 20 Aniversario was a very limited release with only 2,000 boxes made in the original size. Second, Miami Cigar—distributor of such acclaimed brands as La Aurora, Don Lino, and León Jimenes—was faced with the daunting task of deciding how to top last year’s success.

The company’s answer? Combining Nestor Miranda’s marketing talents with the blending expertise of Don Pepin Garcia and the tobacco cultivation experience of Guillermo León of La Aurora. According to a press release from Miami Cigar, the trio worked for nine months on a special project to “pay tribute to the tobacco and cigar heritage of the Dominican Republic.”

The result is Dominicano, a new B&M-only blend that was officially unveiled in March. Made at Garcia’s My Father Cigars factory in Nicaragua, it features Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos wrapped in a leaf from the same farm that produced the 100 Años wrapper for La Aurora. It is Garcia’s first Dominican-wrapped cigar.

Five sizes are available, all of which retail between $6-8 and come with either a Rosado or Oscuro exterior leaf: Belicoso (6.1 x 52), Coffee Break (4.5 x 50), Lancero (7.5 x 40), Robusto Grande (5.5 x 54), and Ruky (5.6 x 48 x 52). The Rosado Robusto Grande has a rustic, silky wrapper, with ample oils, a neat cap, and pre-light notes of sweet earth. The cold draw is easy and peppery on the lips.

After toasting the foot, the first third is characterized by leather, warm tobacco, and bread with a spicy cinnamon finish. Plenty of bite and no trouble producing lots of smoke. I’d argue the dry profile registers towards the lower end of the full-bodied spectrum.

As the white ash meanders into the second third, the taste evens out to include sweet toffee and a bit of cream. The ensuing balance is the highlight of the smoke—a memorable equilibrium that is sure to please a wide array of enthusiasts.

In the end, I can’t help but compare this new release to the 20 Aniversario Rosado. While the Dominicano isn’t as subtle or complex, it does offer a similar profile for a fraction of the price. And it can stand on its own as a well-balanced, well-built cigar with enjoyable flavors. That’s why, despite some minor construction flaws, the Nestor Miranda Dominicano Rosado Robusto Grande is worthy of four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys