Bombay Toback - Mbombay Habano robusto review
Mbombay Habano
Size: Robusto (technically slightly smaller - 4 1/2 x 48)
Country: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan & Peruvian
MSRP: $9
Disclaimer: This cigar was sent to me by Bombay Tobak for review, via another forum. It’s the first Mbombay I’ve ever had, though they’ve been on my radar for some time.
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If this cigar is half as good as the band, I’ll be happy. Not only is a beautiful detailed Indian rug design, the printing quality is amazing.
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The band does seem to be designed to withstand a nuclear holocaust and is hard to remove without damaging the cigars. After some care, another band is revealed underneath.
The cigar is well-made and feels hefty in the hand. Nice closed foot, and oily wrapper. Prelight draw is very cedary, along with some chocolate, something floral, and rich tobacco.
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Easy light. First puffs are light bodied and cedary, but that quickly ramps up to creamy, mineraly flavors and big smoke output. There’s a bit of pepper there, too, which I wasn’t expecting. Some chocolate and leather which provides a nice, heady richness.
The air is really still this evening so I’m able to pick of a lot the smells this smoke puts off, and they’re actually a little more complex and interesting than what I’m really tasting. More floral notes, lots of chocolate and what I think of as the classic, rich, quality cigar tobacco smell.
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Burn is good so far, and the draw is perfect. There’s an occasional bitterness and a little of that dry paper feel, neither of which I’m crazy about. There’s an odd constricting feel in the mouth tissues. The ash is crumbly after about 2” and the burn gets uneven requiring a little touching up.
Coming into the 2nd 3rd the bitterness disappears and it suddenly feels more balanced, smooth and creamy. The mineral taste is at the forefront, along with some hay, pepper, and butter. I’m not getting the spice other reviewers did, but some floral notes and wood. Strength and body are both a solid medium.
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Into the 2nd half, I feel like I’ve been trying to find my way around this smoke, to figure out what it’s trying to be. Now that I know it’s not a complex, multi-dimensional flavor bomb I’m able to relax and enjoy it more for what it is.
Last 3rd I’m getting a little tunneling. I correct and relight but now I’m getting reverse tunneling – the outer leaves are burning and the core is not. Weird. I can literally touch the center without getting burned. The flavors are charry now. This is not a happy state of affairs. I set it down with a good 2” to go.
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Other reviewers have compared this to a Fuente, and I agree… That mix of strong cedar, mineral, and medium body is familiar. Blindfolded I’d probably think it was a regular line Gran Reserva or Flor Fina…. Which is odd because they use totally different tobaccos. Unfortunately it lacks the flawless Fuente construction.
All in all, it’s a pleasant, relaxing smoke. I think I was expecting too much from this cigar – something a little more unique or exotic tasting. I’ve only had it a few weeks, so maybe some more age on it would help. It’s definitely a quality smoke and I’d happily smoke one again, but would not stump up $9 for one when I can get a Gran Reserva for $6. I’m really looking forward to trying other Mbombay cigars, though – especially the KeSARA which is aged in sandalwood. I'd like to see what else they can do, and I don’t think the Habano will be their flagship stick.
