Rebellion Sweet Child O Mine Robusto

📌 Brand: Rebellion Cigars
📌 Line: Sweet Child O’ Mine
📌 Size: Robusto (5 1/2" × 50)
📌 Weight: 16.1 g
📌 Age: 3 years
📌 Origin: Honduras

Tasting Notes

• Bitter Cocoa – Sharp and drying

• Black Pepper – Aggressive and persistent

• Charred Wood – Dominates mid-palate

• Sour Finish – Lingering, unpleasant edge

First Impressions

The cigar looks well made with a neat roll and consistent firmness. Pre-light aroma suggests cocoa and earth, but the cold draw already carries a faint bitter note. No visible construction concerns.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Immediate bitterness and pepper overwhelm the palate. Smoke is hot but burn is straight.

• Second Third – Charred wood and sour cocoa take over. Harshness intensifies with no sweetness to balance.

• Final Third – Bitterness peaks and lingers long after each puff. Construction remains solid, but flavor never recovers.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Del Maguey Vida Puebla Mezcal - Smoky agave, citrus peel, and mineral bite help cut through the cigar’s bitterness rather than amplify it.

• Tea – Chinese Liu Bao Dark Tea - Earthy, mellow, and low-tannin to calm harsh edges and cleanse the finish.

Music Pairing

“Lebanese Blonde” – Thievery Corporation
Cool, laid-back atmosphere to take the edge off the harsh profile.

Final Thoughts

Despite solid construction, Rebellion Sweet Child O’ Mine Robusto is dominated by bitterness and harshness from start to finish. With no combustion problems to blame, the issue lies squarely in flavor balance.

Final Score: 4/10
Why not a 10?
Severe bitterness and harshness throughout, with no sweetness or evolution to counterbalance.

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