In general, San Cristobal is an under-the-radar brand from a modern master of cigars, and the stellar medium-strength San Cristobal Elegancia Robusto is an easy way for every aficionado old and new to discover what he’s all about. The inimitable Jose Garcia, or ‘Don Pepin’ as he’s known to his legions of fans, has been creating some of the world’s best smokes for decades. His original San Cristobal creation was an in-house frontmark for an old-school brick and mortar, but we make it easy to get your hands on these marvelous sticks, loaded as they are with choice Nicaraguan longleaf tobaccos beneath a silky, sultry Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.
In addition to complexity, consistency, character, and good taste, another quality usually associated with Don Pepin Garcia cigars is potent strength. However, the man can produce a mean milder cigar that still carries his inspired brilliance and the San Cristobal Elegancia Robusto is proof indeed. After inhaling the musty, grassy aroma of the shade wrapper before the solidly-packed 5” X 50 barrel is lit, the nose is primed for retrohaling rich, thick smoke which will first coat the palate with nutmeg, toasted almonds, and a touch of that Pepin-trademark black pepper. A buttery, spicy, nutty flavor almost like a rye cinnamon roll heralds the start of the second third, while the finale is marked by the arrival of robust coffee tempered with sugar and cream to wash it all down.
If you count yourself among the innumerable fanatics who savor everything Garcia have ever created, from the classic Don Pepin Garcia Blues and Blacks, to a multitude of Tatuaje and My Father frontmarks, just to name a few, then the San Cristobal Elegancia Robusto is right up your alley. Maybe sitting back with a smooth Scotch and an even smoother cigar is what you crave. Well, then the San Cristobal Elegancia is still the answer. In fact, it’s the solution to just about every smoking conundrum you can imagine.