VegaFina Nicaragua Robusto by Altadis USA

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habana 2000, Jalapa
Binder: Nicaraguan Seco, Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan Ligero, Jalapa, Nicaraguan Viso, Esteli, Nicaraguan Seco, Jalapa
Robusto: 5 x 50
Price: $6.00

At Inter Tabac 2014 in Dortmund Germany, Altadis showcased a new cigar as a part of its VegaFina brand called VegaFina Nicaragua. The cigar was shortly released to the European market afterwards and now has made its way to the U.S. market. There is no surprise by this approach as VegaFina has been a brand traditionally popular in Europe. The VegaFina Nicaragua becomes the latest Nicaraguan puro in the Altadis portfolio.

The start to the VegaFina Nicaragua Robusto provided some notes of black pepper. This gave way to notes of earth, mixed fruit, and pepper. I found the The pepper notes transitioned to a red pepper note on the tongue, but remained black pepper on the retro-hale. For most of the first two thirds, I found the earth notes to be a constant in the forefront. The fruit and pepper notes swapped in and out as a primary flavor. Toward the final third, I found the VegaFina Nicaragua to have primary notes of earth and spice with fruit notes were more subtle.

This is not a powerhouse cigar by any means. It starts out mild to medium in strength and body before with each attribute progressing to medium.

The burn was a little ugly. t was not problemsome. While the path of the burn remained relatively straight, but there was some jaggedness along the burn line. I also found this wrapper blistered easily, so I had to touch-up this cigar with a little more tlc.

Overall a nice cigar and worthy of a fiver.