Lords of England Connecticut No. 1 Robusto

Lords of England comes by way of Pure Aroma Cigars Inc., parent company of the better-known D’Crossier Cigars brand. While D’Crossier’s cigars were known for their refined, Cuban-esque smoking profiles, the Lords of England brand takes a more direct approach, reaching into to annals of history to revive an early 1900s Cuban brand of the same name. The brand was first owned by Gustavo Bock, producing the cigars out of Cuba. The name was later acquired by American Tobacco Co., where it gradually faded from memory.

Isaias Santana Diaz, president of Pure Aroma Cigars, first made a name for himself producing his cigars out of Costa Rica. In 2017, he began transitioning production to the ABAM Cigars S.R.L. factory, located in the Dominican Republic. With Lords of England, Santana sought to further differentiate the brand, partnering with the Perdomo family and their Tabacalera Perdomo factory, located in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Lords of England Connecticut No. 1 Robusto

Partnering with a vertically integrated company such as Perdomo opens doors, not only to the company’s manufacturing capabilities, but their packaging operation, tobacco inventory, and more. For Lords of England, offered in both Connecticut and San Andrés-wrapped varieties, such tobaccos are evidenced in the cigars’ binder and filler. Both versions of the cigar are offered in three sizes, with prices being much more affordable than the upscale presence of D’Crossier.

Appearance

From a packaging perspective, Lords of England is a major departure from the elaborate presentations smokers of Santana’s cigars are accustomed to. The cigars are packaged 25 to a box, resting in stained wooden boxes that could easily be mistaken for Perdomo’s Champagne series. When opened, though, Santana’s penchant for classic opulence creeps back into the fold, shimmering with vibrant colors and bright gold foil bands. The bands have the look of a primary and secondary (yet they are actually connected), with the former being a recreation of the original and the latter being a new addition.

The wrapper is much darker than the conventional Connecticut, having a toffee or penuche fudge hue. Medium-thick veins scatter across the leaf, again differing from the frail and dainty appearance Connecticuts are known for. The cigar has a medium-dense feel when squeezed, feeling well-rolled and solid from head to toe. On the nose, the wrapper emits notes of classic barnyard, mineral, raw tobacco, and a touch of brown sugar; I’d describe it as the way a non-smoker would imagine a cigar to smell. The foot is bright and citrusy, with backing aromas of freshly cut cedar and hay. A straight cut reveals a virtually perfect draw, showing flavors identical to the cigar’s aroma (albeit with the addition of a vegetal squash flavor).

Smoking Experience

Lords of England lights up with an attention-grabbing spice through the nostrils, taking on characteristics of white pepper and a slightly more dull, un-cracked peppercorn. This is contrasted by the smoke texture across the tongue, which is sweet, smooth, and long-lasting. As the profile develops, the smoking texture builds in density enough to be described as chalky, having highly approachable flavors of raw vanilla, sugarcane, oily butter, and a touch of anise at the tail end of the finish.

The cigar’s strong suit is clearly its sweet flavor, far outpacing a mild strength and mild-to-medium body. Passing the first third, the robusto produces a medium-to-dark gray ash, being somewhat flakey and holding on for roughly an inch and a half. The draw is, as previously described, virtually perfect, having a slight resistance but pulling medium-plus volumes of smoke on every draw. Meanwhile, the burn is wavy but steady, not requiring touchups of any kind.

In the second half, the profile begins to balance out, pulling back on the irresistible sweetness (an addicting quality that coerces the smoker to puff more frequently than the cigar requires) and replacing it with added portions of cream and anise. On the palate, the smoke registers primarily on the sweet, salty, and bitter receptors, having a somewhat dry mouthfeel and a well-balanced overall profile. The midsection is highlighted by standout flavors of candied cashews and roasted peanuts.

Aside from a small vestige of vanilla (combined with the chalky texture, is reminiscent of the vanilla sticks à la Fun Dip candy), the cigar has largely abandoned its sweet beginnings. Flavors veer towards vegetal qualities such as red bell pepper and hay, remaining balanced and enjoyable, lacking only in comparison to the robusto’s remarkable start.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

That’s an easy yes. Lords of England is, in my opinion, far superior than Pure Aroma’s dabbling in the Dominican Republic, harkening back to the flavor-value extravaganza that was the original-release Flor de D’Crossier Selection No. 512 (aka Cigar Dojo’s 2015 Cigar of the Year). It’s not the same profile, but it delivers a similarly approachable experience, backed by an attractive price point.

• I’ve smoked many Lords of England in the Robusto and Toro formats (Connecticut), as well as the Churchill (Maduro); this Connecticut Robusto is the best of the bunch.
• Dojo sponsor Atlantic Cigar carries both versions of Lords of England in all three sizes.

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