G.A.R. cigars are named after their maker, George A. Rico, but some folks refer to any cigar as a "gar", for short. Also, at least one cigar smoker named Gary (yours truly) is sometimes called "Gar", for short. But what's in a name? Although G.A.R. cigars may have a simple name and support a simple white foot band, these sticks are not your ordinary yard gars. G.A.R. cigars are made in Honduras with Corojo seed wrappers and Connecticut seed binders, both grown in Ecuador. The filler is Nicaraguan. The Robusto Grande size that I smoked was box pressed and measured 5½ long with a ring gauge of 52.
Flavor
G.A.R. cigars are promoted as being full bodied, but I consider these to be medium-to-full, which is not a bad thing. The cigar started off with the tastes of spice and pepper, but not over the top. After only a couple of minutes or so, the cigar mellowed and turned into a nice creamy smoke, with hints of sweetness and spice. As I continued to puff away, a mild toasty flavor also emerged. The combination of flavors worked well, making for a really enjoyable and complex smoke.
Draw and Construction
The G.A.R. Robusto Grande was very well made and had a great draw. The cigar did not require any relights, nor any touchups, and had an almost perfectly even burn. The ash was firm, but did not hold on longer than ¾ inches, tops. It took me about an hour to smoke the cigar down to two inches remaining, with no problems whatsoever.
Value
A box of 20 G.A.R. Robusto Grande's can cost $120-$150, or about $7.50 per stick on the high end. However, I did see them online in 5 packs for only $25, making for a much better deal. It always pays to shop around, since prices at various retailers can vary greatly. I enjoyed my G.A.R. so much that I had to rate it 4½ stars. If you can find them for $5 or $6 per stick when purchased in a clamshell box of 20, or in a 5-pack, that would make an excellent value. Go for it!
