Cornelius & Anthony Mistress Robusto

📌 Brand: Cornelius & Anthony
📌 Line: Mistress
📌 Size: Robusto (5" × 52)
📌 Weight: 14.4 g
📌 Age: 6 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

‍ ‍Tasting Notes

• Cedar – Barely noticeable beneath the construction issues

• Black Pepper – Sharp but inconsistent

• Earth – Flat and underdeveloped

• Burnt Tobacco – Dominates after repeated relights

First Impressions

The Mistress Robusto has an attractive presentation with a dark, oily wrapper and a well-finished cap. Visually it promises a premium smoking experience. However, the cigar feels noticeably soft in hand. Pre-light aromas reveal cedar, earth, cocoa, and pepper. The cold draw is far too loose, immediately raising concerns about how the cigar will perform.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Opens with cedar and pepper, but the very loose draw produces an excessive amount of smoke while washing out the flavour. Within minutes, the cigar develops severe tunnelling, requiring the first correction.

• Second Third – Construction completely unravels. The tunnelling becomes worse despite repeated touch-ups, and the cigar requires multiple relights just to keep it burning. Flavours become muddled, with burnt tobacco replacing the subtle cedar and earth.

• Final Third – The cigar is now a constant battle. Tunnelling continues, relights become frequent, and the overheated smoke turns harsh and unpleasant. Any potential the blend may have had is completely overshadowed by poor construction.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur (France) - Rich herbal sweetness helps mask the harshness and adds complexity where the cigar fails to deliver.

• Tea – Roasted Tie Guan Yin Oolong - Smooth roasted notes and gentle sweetness cleanse the palate after the bitter, overheated smoke.

Music Pairing

“Man in the Box” – Alice in Chains
Heavy and chaotic, reflecting the cigar's constant construction problems.

Final Thoughts

Cornelius & Anthony Mistress Robusto is unfortunately one of the biggest disappointments in the humidor. A very loose draw, massive tunnelling, and numerous relights completely destroy the smoking experience, leaving little opportunity to appreciate the blend itself.

Final Score: 2/10

Why not a 10?
Severe construction flaws—including an excessively loose draw, constant tunnelling, and repeated relights—completely overwhelmed the cigar, resulting in a frustrating and thoroughly unenjoyable smoke.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.