Sentinel’s Honor Offering

Most cigar businesses are started by a combination of profit motives, industry knowledge/exposure or just plain love of the product. Sentinel Cigars is slightly different in that its primary motive is to provide funds for a worthy cause – the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation. This foundation provides housing, tuition assistance and mentorship to severely wounded retired U.S. veterans as they transition to civilian life. Smoking these sticks assists those who stood in harm’s way for us. And if you have some feeling for the US trade balance, Sentinel’s sticks are hand rolled at El Titan De Bronze’s factory in Little Havana, Miami.
Sentinel launched their Little Havana Series of cigars in 3 sizes: 6 X 52 toro, 6 X 52 belicoso and 5 X 50 robusto. Each cigar is hand rolled with a Nicaraguan binder and filler with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. The entire series is in honor of a deceased Seal – Ryan Job.
I selected the 5 X 50 robusto to review. The robusto has a very distinctive set of bands in red, white and blue colors with the US flag and eagle in the center. They physically cover about 25% of the cigar, but they are attractive around the Colorado claro colored wrapper. The stick itself was fairly firm and did not have an appreciable pre-smoke aroma. It was an easy light with an acceptable amount of smoke and the initial flavors of leather and spice lasted until the final third where leather dominated. The stick burned a little warm and the flavor strength was medium to strong bodied. My smoke lasted 35 to 40 minutes. Everything about this cigar is about average, except for the charitable aspect.
The robusto comes in boxes of 10 or 20, or a bundle of 20 for about 90% of the box price. The SRP is difficult to pin down but I understand it is around $240 per box, making this a charitable purchase. This is not a special occasion cigar – more of a quick, moderate smoke that is heavy on the flavor. I rate it a 3.5 out of 5.