Hiram & Solomon Grand Architect Robusto

📌 Brand: Hiram & Solomon
📌 Line: Grand Architect
📌 Size: Robusto (5" × 52)
📌 Weight: 14.6 g
📌 Age: 1 year
📌 Origin: Dominican Republic

Tasting Notes

• Black Pepper – Strong, aggressive opening

• Earth – Heavy and dense foundation

• Dark Cocoa – Emerges once harshness calms

• Toasted Wood – Warm but subtle

First Impressions

The Grand Architect Robusto carries a dark, oily wrapper with well-pressed seams and a firm feel. Pre-light aromas include earth, chocolate, and pepper. Cold draw is tight, offering muted cocoa and a flash of spice.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Opens very peppery and harsh, overwhelming the subtler notes. Tight draw restricts smoke output, burn remains steady.

• Second Third – Pepper begins to settle. Dark cocoa finally emerges, bringing balance. Earth stays dominant.

• Final Third – Toasted wood and cocoa blend gently, harshness gone. Construction remains firm but draw never fully opens.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Flor de Caña 25 Year Rum - Deep molasses, oak, and caramel sweetness help balance the early harshness and elevate the cocoa in the second half.

• Tea – Burmese Shan Black Tea - Clean, brisk, and slightly sweet, refreshing the palate and smoothing the pepper.

Music Pairing

“Bag Lady” – Erykah Badu
Warm and soothing, easing the harshness of the first half.

Final Thoughts

The Hiram & Solomon Grand Architect Robusto starts off aggressively peppery and harsh, held back by a tight draw, but eventually develops into a smoother mix of cocoa, earth, and toasted wood. A cigar that recovers nicely after a rough opening but never reaches full expressive balance.

Final Score: 7/10
Why not a 10?
Tight draw throughout and an overly peppery, harsh first half prevented full flavor development and complexity.

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