Initial Smoke 

Toasted pumpkin seeds definitely weren't in the cards when I sparked this smoke up, yet there they were, again. What was also present in both my sample stick and my review cigar were the tastes of buttery, almond-encrusted danishes, sweet cream, vanilla, and a touch of campfire smoke on the wind. Coupled with a perfect draw that produced a massive cloud of smoke each time, this Gorbusto gets right to giving you the delights your tongue deserves.

1st Half

Growing increasingly effervescent, the bright, sunny tastes of sun-grown, milder tobacco and a salty and slightly spicy retrohale mix with stronger tastes recycled from initial impressions. The cream gets heavier, the pastries get butterier, baking spices grow spicier, and the vanilla becomes sweeter. All together, this leaves you with an amped-up first section of the cigar that isn't as much of a transition as it is an accentuation. 

In fact, the first real transition doesn't come to pass until near the start of the second third, when the blend gets a little darker, and a trace of that classic Honduran soil note comes forth. But this is short-lived, and after a few minutes the blend switches back to being light and creamy, with the flavor of almond milk and honey taking over. By now, body and flavor have meandered into medium territory, with strength remaining in the lower range. 

2nd Half

As the finish grows lighter in potency, the taste of the tobacco becomes creamier up front, and mild mineral notes mix with the fantastic floral honey attributes detected in the smoke. Still buttery and dishing out the smoke in sizable servings, cigar flavor profiles gradually become more dessert-like the closer you get to the final third. 

There, you will discover a delightful mixture of medium-strength cinnamon, raw sugar cane, controlled amounts of cedar, darker honey, heavy cream, and the toasty taste of flaky pastry dough browning in the oven. Aromatics in this section really turn up the tempo too, with absolutely divine scents filling the air.

Parting Puffs

As that Honduran soil note returns, a warm cup of medium-roast coffee coats the tongue, and it has both the body and the right amount of acidity to go with it. What isn't present is bitterness, or char for that matter, and instead you receive a clean and controlled closure that is coated in a creamy layer of eggy custard accented with some citrus zest.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Beyond needing a touch-up at the start of the final third, my review cigar burned like a dream. Smoke formation was smooth and consistent from a draw perspective, the ash was picture-perfect, and both the body and feel of the smoke were A-grade. My only suggestion is that you either V-cut or punch this vitola to prevent it from overheating on you due to the draw being too open.

Final Thoughts

As the second cigar in this all-new line from Aladino for me to review, I must say that I struggled to determine which blend I liked more. This Cameroon blend certainly hit me just right, but so too did the downright delicious Camp Aladino Corojo Gorbusto I test drove a few weeks prior. Both blends certainly have their strong suits, and outside of their shared shape, size, and medium strength, they are very different from one another when it comes to cigar flavor profile.

Personally, I will almost always reach for a corojo wrapped cigar over a Cameroon, but with the Eiroa Family on a roll like this with smokes that aren't total Honduran soil-bombs, I feel like it's now a flip of the coin as to which stick to choose when I reach into my Kobi humidor. I guess you will just have to smoke them both and see which one you prefer, for everyone's tastes are different. As for me, I think it's about time to get to the third and final blend in the line, for that Camp Aladino Maduro Gorbusto is calling...