Highclere Castle Victorian Robusto 5″ x 50

The Highclere Castle Victorian Robusto is a 5 by 50 robusto from Foundation Cigar Co. Highclere Castle is the English estate best known as the setting of Downton Abbey, and the Victorian is the darker of Foundation’s two Highclere blends, next to the Connecticut wrapped Edwardian.

Foundation lists the blend simply: Habano Ecuador wrapper, Mata Fina binder from Brazil, Nicaraguan filler. The wrapper is an upper priming, the leaves highest on the plant that get the most sun, which gives it a darker color and more oil than the Connecticut on the Edwardian. The filler is Criollo and Corojo grown in Estelí, Jalapa and on the volcanic island of Ometepe, and it is rolled at AJ Fernandez’s factory in Estelí.

It smokes medium in body, with cedar, espresso, cocoa and black pepper. At 5 by 50, it is the size for about an hour, and the 50 ring keeps the wrapper and filler in good balance.

Pairs well with bourbon, espresso, or porter.