Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Robusto
📌 Brand: Carlos Torano
📌 Line: Exodus 1959
📌 Size: Robusto (5" × 50)
📌 Weight: 12.6 g
📌 Age: 6 years
📌 Origin: Honduras
Tasting Notes
Cedar – Woody and slightly dry base
Black Pepper – Sharp spice from the beginning
Earth – Rustic and heavy through the middle
Bitter Cocoa – Appears toward the finish
First Impressions
The Exodus 1959 Robusto has a decent appearance with a slightly oily wrapper and firm feel in hand. Pre-light aroma offers cedar, earth, and pepper. The cold draw is acceptable, though there are slight soft spots suggesting possible construction issues.
Smoking Experience
First Third – Opens with cedar and black pepper. The profile is reasonably full, but the cigar already feels a little rough around the edges.
Second Third – Construction problems begin to appear. The burn line becomes uneven and requires the first correction. Harshness begins to creep into the smoke, overshadowing the cedar and earth notes.
Final Third – The cigar continues to struggle with combustion, requiring additional touch-ups. Bitter cocoa and charred wood appear, while the harshness increases and takes away from the overall experience.
Pairings
Alcohol – Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur (France) - Herbal sweetness and soft spice help soften the cigar’s harshness and add extra depth.
Tea – Aged White Peony Tea (Bai Mu Dan) - Gentle sweetness and mellow floral notes help calm the bitterness and harsh edge.
Music Pairing
“Born Under a Bad Sign” – Albert King
Rough and gritty, matching the cigar’s harsher character
Final Thoughts
Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 Robusto has some enjoyable cedar and earth notes, but construction problems and a harsh profile stop it from becoming a satisfying smoke.
Final Score: 6/10
Why not a 10?
Construction issues and increasing harshness disrupted the cigar and overshadowed its better flavors.
Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.