Cu-Avana Intenso Gordo

The Cu-Avana Intenso gordo is a tasty, medium-bodied fat Rothschilde (4.5 x 54) with a lot of strightforward sweet/salty maduro flavor that maintains peak form until the last third. Even though you won't be nubbing this one, it's an excellent value for the money (I won a 5-pack for $7 on cigarbid) and a great way to spend 30 or 40 minutes. Just throw away the last third and go on about your business.

I find the gordo more sophisticated and enjoyable than the robusto. You'll be tempted to walk away from the robusto before it's done (too much power, too little nuance) but you'll wish the Gordo kept going longer - nice rushes of flavor and fullness up until the draw gets spotty and bitterness sets in.

Both these vitolas are excellent if you know what to expect and pick the right size for your mood.

The name doesn't lie: Cu-Avana Intenso robusto

The Cu-Avana intenso robusto lives up to its name: It's a hearty, strong, effulgent cigar that delivers a consistent if somewhat uneventful performance. If you like deep, earthy flavor with a mineral or even charcoal undertone, this cigar will probably satisfy you. It reminded me of blends such as 5-Vegas Series A or Monetcristo Media Noche, only stronger. The smoke is so thick it almost has a chalky consistency, which I find rather pleasant, especially because it never veers into bitterness (often a drawback of strong cigars).

By the time you get to the end of this stick, you are either cheering for more or ready to hang it up. I was in the latter camp, the way you might feel after gulping down several slices of pizza or chocolate cake. Great in the beginning but a bit stultifying in large doses. This cigar does not "develop" at all - it maintains the same texture and flavor from beginning to end.

I was lucky to win a 5-pack of these on cigarbid for only $7.00. For that price it is a wonderful cigar, and at its normal box price of $60.00 it is still an excellent value. A little too heavy and one-dimensional for my taste, but it just might be up your alley if your preference is a notch higher on the strength-o-meter.

It takes a lot for me to call a cigar "strong." This one truly is, and it earns the name "intenso."
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