Cigar Review: Esteban Carreras Covenant Robusto Grande

Esteban Carreras Covenant Robusto Grande (5 1/2 x 54)

The Esteban Carreras Covenant made its debut along with the Chupacabra back in July of last year at the IPCPR trade show in Orlando. The Covenant features long-filler tobaccos from the Esteli, Jalapa, and volcanic Ometepe regions of Nicaragua beneath a Habano Oscuro wrapper leaf. Just like the Chupacabra, the only additional info I could find on the Covenant was through numerous positive reviews from various cigar blogs. For today’s test-smoke I selected the Robusto Grande (5 1/2 x 54.)
The Covenant had a soft box press to it and wore a super-slick oscuro wrap complete with a closed foot. Double bands on the cigar gave it a cool, modern and regal look.
Pre-light draws were wide open with a taste of fruity sweetness and peppery spice. Interesting.

The Robusto Grande started off with a very strong taste of espresso and black pepper. This stick was letting off an obscene amount of thick, milky smoke with each puff and the chunky burn line looked like a piece of burning leather. I began to pick up flavors of smoky cedar and a vague sweetness. One inch in, the smoke became massively creamy and easy on the pallet.

Eventually the profile morphed into a taste of cream, oak, and espresso with just a touch of salt. The cigar was now smoking super-smooth and delivering substantial strength, enough that during this 2nd third I had to take pause for a moment. A new note of bread and more crisp black pepper emerged as I reached the point where I had to peel off the lower band.

In the final third flavors returned to full throttle with a malty sweet culmination of the previously mentioned flavors mixing and mingling in each creamy puff. Though less complex, this portion of the smoke was still enjoyable and remained so until I had finally reached my nicotine limit for the day.

The elusive “ash-drop” shot.

I would describe the Covenant Robusto Grande as “extra-full flavored.” This cigar was oozing with vivid flavors from start to finish and gushed thick clouds of smoke with an almost cumulus quality, particularly in the first 3rd. Bold tasting notes combined with a creamy finish made this stick a pleasure to review, and it left me with no complaints in the burn/draw department whatsoever. I rank it just slightly above the Chupacabra in terms of overall quality and award it an A+ grade. Anyone who likes em’ full-bodied, smooth and tasty needs to give the Covenant a try.


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