Camacho Corojo Robusto: Full-Bodied and Proud

Reddish-brown Honduran Corojo wrapper, a little rustic, with some tooth and a firm pack that says this cigar means business. Camacho does not do subtle, and the Corojo is the house's calling card. Cold, I got a peppery cedar and a dry, earthy sweetness off the foot. The roll felt slightly loose to the squeeze near the middle, which made me wonder about the draw before I even cut it. At around ten dollars, it is priced as a working full-bodied smoke, not a special-occasion stick.

First light, the pepper arrived like a fist - sharp Corojo spice across the whole palate, the kind that reminds you why people either love or avoid this blend. Cedar and a bit of earth sat under it. My draw ran a shade loose, exactly as the pack suggested, giving a fast, warm smoke that I had to slow down to keep from overheating. The burn line, to its credit, tracked razor-straight from the start. This is not a gentle opening and does not pretend to be.

The middle rewarded patience. The pepper pulled back a step and let a sweet molasses and dried-raisin note come forward, cedar and leather filling in the base, even a touch of cream smoothing the edges. This is where the Corojo shows it is more than a spice bomb. The strength kept climbing though - by the halfway mark the nicotine was making itself known, and I was glad I had eaten first. That loose draw stayed a minor nag, running the cigar a little hot when I got greedy.

The last third turned into a baked, sweet-bread warmth over the pepper, full-bodied and unapologetic to the end across about an hour. It never got harsh, which is the mark of a well-made full cigar. One thing worth flagging: opinions split on the 2013 Bold Standard rebrand - some prefer the bolder new blend, others miss the older version. I did not have both side by side, so I will only say the current Corojo delivers exactly the power it promises. This is a cigar for a smoker who wants strength and spice, not nuance.