Archetype Strange Passages Robusto
Archetypes is a theory from the famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung who believes that universal, inborn models of people’s personalities play a large role in influencing their thoughts and human behavior.
Just in case you may start wondering, Archetype Strange Passages is not a copy of my Ph.D. Thesis in Psychiatry, but rather a review of a blend which is one of 10 premium cigar lines from Davidoff that’s inspired by this same “Jungian” theory.
For this thought-provoking review, I decided to take the Archetype Strange Passages Robusto cigar out for a spin, simply because I’ve never had the opportunity to smoke this popular 5.50 × 54 stick before.
The Blend
Strange Passage Robusto is unquestionably the most intriguing blend in the Archetype brand portfolio. This sophisticated premium cigar features an Ecuadorian -seed Habano wrapper and a vintage Honduran Corojo binder followed by an undisclosed, multi-country blend of long filler tobaccos which the company says has “a multi-dimensional, full-bodied flavor profile”.
Appearance
Holding true to Davidoff‘s commitment to excellence, the Ecuadorian -seed Habano wrapper covering this multi-nation blend boasts a rich reddish-brown color that displays very tight seams and a nice oily sheen. When held in my hand the cigar felt so solidly packed that I was concerned about the draw being too tight to fully enjoy the overall smoking experience. However, we shall see, because if past history holds true, I’ve never encountered a Davidoff cigar that was even slightly flawed in any way.
First Third
After toasting the foot and lighting the cigar with my trusty Xikar torch triple flame, the first few puffs produced a nice effortless draw, so my concerns about it being packed too tightly were unfounded. This is where I gave a nod to the cigars top-notch construction. This easy draw initially produced an abundance of black pepper in taste and through my nostrils, soon followed by notes of coffee bean and wood to tame the beast. No new flavors transpired during this first round, just these three dominant tasting notes.
Second Third
Like a symphony that starts out slow and builds to crescendo, this second third was rife with rich flavors that included toast, dark roast coffee, wood, leather, and a more subtle expression of black pepper—that combined together— is hitting all the right notes. The cigar is performing like a champ with a nice slow burn and effortless draw, and is living up to its billing as a full-bodied smoke.
Final Third
The final third starts strong, both in terms of flavor and complexity with the same flavors of toast, dark roast coffee, wood, leather, and black pepper found in round two, now taking turns as the dominant top note. Near the finish line and down to the last possible draw without burning my thumb, more subtle nuances of caramel and sweet cream brought this Robusto to a highly satisfying buttery smooth finale.
Final Thoughts
- This was a very good cigar that I wouldn’t call one of the best that I have ever smoked, simply because at this high-end price point it has a lot of stiff competition. That said, the taste is indeed subjective, so some smokers may put this ultra-premium gem at the top of the heap.
- Newcomers need not apply, because Archetype Strange Passages Robusto remains bold and powerful for most of the time it was smoked. By the time it becomes mellower and creamier near the end, those that are faint of heart will have already become too dizzy to enjoy the tamer strength profile. No question about it, Strange Passage is a premium cigar that was made with the well-seasoned smoker in mind.
appreciate the warning about the strength