Cigar Review: Amilcar Perez Castro Robusto

It’s possible that you’ve never heard of Amilcar Perez Castro, but it’s highly unlikely that you’ve never smoked a cigar that was made under his direction.

Castro is a “maestro tabaquero” with Rocky Patel, helping Rocky maintain quality control for some of his most visible blends that are crafted in Estelí, including the 1961 and 15th Anniversary lines. Rocky affectionately calls Castro “the master.”

It seems appropriate that someone with such a flattering title should have his own name on a cigar. Now he does. The Amilcar Perez Castro (APC) line is a Pennsylvania broadleaf-wrapped blend that’s made exclusively for Famous Smoke Shop, a Pennsylvania-based online cigar retailer. APC features a two-country recipe of Nicaraguan and Honduran binder and filler tobaccos.

Three traditional sizes are available: Churchill (7 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), and Robusto (5 x 50). Prices range from $4.05 to $7 apiece, depending on the size and the quantity ordered. The Robusto has a very dark exterior leaf with pre-light notes of nuts and powdered cocoa off the foot. The cap takes to a punch wonderfully, revealing an easy draw with the slightest puncture.

Once lit, the APC Robusto assumes a chalky, powdery profile with plenty of coffee, caramel, toast, and dark chocolate on the palate. Black pepper is also apparent but not overpowering. Surprisingly enough, despite my description of the individual flavors, the overall effect is more creamy than anything else (I say “surprisingly” because I don’t often associate tastes like pepper, coffee, and toast with creaminess). This creaminess carries over to the final third, where the only major change is a noticeable increase in spice on the lips. Some bitter notes drift in and out. All the while, the construction is admirable with a solid gray ash and a burn line that’s somewhat wavy though never an encumbrance.

You can purchase the Robusto from Famous for $6.50 per single, $19.50 per 5-pack, or $80.99 for a box of 20. I’m not convinced this cigar is worth more than $4.50 apiece, so my recommendation would be to try a single and then, if you’re a fan, make a box purchase.

Ultimately, this is a nice golf course selection if you want something dark and rich, which makes the APC Robusto worthy of three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys