La Invicta Nicaraguan Robusto: A full flavoured budget cigar
With a reputation for producing full flavoured, full bodied, strong cigars, Nicaragua is second only to Cuba in supplying the world with premium cigars. With brands like Oliva, Plasencia, Rocky Patel and Drew Estate taking the world by storm, the La Invicta Nicaraguan robusto a good entry point to the exciting world of Nicaraguan cigars.
Hand rolled in the Plasencia factory, the La Invicta Nicaraguan robusto is hand rolled using long filler tobacco from Estelí, Jalapa and Condega. The cigar felt well packed form head to foot and once cut, gave me an easy draw with notes of toffee and bay leaf. Once lit, there was a slight bitterness on the first draw, but this disappeared very quickly allowing the flavour of freshly baked coffee and walnut sponge cake to fill my mouth.
Smoking my through the first third, these typical Nicaraguan flavours were very soon joined by hints of cinnamon and cream cheese, while the retrohale offered me notes of creamy peppercorns. It wasn’t long before my smoking room was redolent with aromas of sticky toffee pudding with the sweetness turned down.
As I started to reach the middle third of the cigar, the coffee flavours started to lessen and a more earthy black cardamom taste started to appear supported by a distinct mineral note that reminded me of pumice stone. These are all flavours that I recognise from other Nicaraguan cigars that I have smoked. Uncharacteristically, I chose to enjoy this cigar with a generous glass of spiced rum, which did pair beautifully and allowed the flavours in the La Invicta Nicaraguan robusto to sing.
The middle third of the cigar became altogether more meaty. Fried beef mince with a pinch of mace partnered nicely toasted brioche as the strength of the cigar grew. The construction of the cigar was impeccable and when I rolled the ash off into my ashtray, it remained in tact and left me a perfect cone-shaped cherry in the centre of the cigar.
By the time I was entering the final third, the flavour of the La Invicta Nicaraguan had developed to more peppery, full bodied cigar than the medium bodied cigar I’d lit up. A blow through cleaned up the bitterness in the flavour revealing dark caramel, mineral and cedar notes alongside the black pepper.
Whilst not as nuanced as other Nicaraguan cigars, this is a nicely flavoured bundle cigar for it’s price. And given that both this and the La Invicta Honduran are very widely available in the UK they would make a very good everyday or herfing cigar. Whilst I might not reach for it on a weekly basis, this won’t be the last time that I smoke a La Invicta.
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La Invicta Nicaraguan Robusto Cigar Details
- Vitola: Robusto
- Length: 5″
- Ring Gauge: 50
- Smoke Time: 1h 30
- Source: James Barbers Tobacconist
- Origin: Nicaragua
- Binder: Nicaraguan
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan
La Invicta Nicaraguan Robusto Cigar Review Summary
My Verdict
This isn’t a subtle or nuanced cigar, but it does provide a good, solid smoke that gives you all the flavours of Nicaragua in one good value cigar.
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