Alonso Menendez Robusto
Let’s not be afraid to say it: a Brazilian puro is a rare find. But when it’s also produced entirely in Brazil, from the cultivation of the tobacco to the final rolling, you might almost think you’d spotted a unicorn.
And it is with remarkable skill that Alonso Menendez invites us to discover his country through this generous robusto, deeply rooted in the Bahian terroir.
Behind this cigar lies a rich heritage. That of Menendez Amerino, a company based in São Gonçalo dos Campos, in the heart of the Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil’s historic tobacco-growing region. Here, every stage of the process is still carried out by hand: the leaves are grown, selected and rolled by hand, following a tradition that blends Cuban influences with a deeply Brazilian identity.
Tasting menu
Visually, the Robusto boasts a beautiful, dark, rustic wrapper with a slightly oily sheen, which already hints at a warm and expressive flavour profile.
When unlit, notes of cocoa, damp earth and wood dominate, accompanied by a subtle, almost sweet note.
As soon as it is lit, the ‘Mata Fina’ wrapper comes into its own. With its woody and spicy notes, it immediately sets the tone for the smoking experience, subtly yet powerfully dictating the pace, whilst the honeyed notes add real depth to the overall experience.
The blend, made up of tobaccos from the northern regions (Mata Norte), plays its part to the full. Lending a deep aromatic richness, it brings together woody, earthy and spicy notes.
A cigar-related anecdote
A genuine Robusto, reminding us that Brazil produces not only coffee and cachaça, but also tobacco that can rival many more famous origins.