2017 Cigar of the Year Countdown: #23: Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole Robusto

“While sometimes Barber-Pole cigars are a little more hype that substance, not such the case with the Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole Robusto, as this is an excellent cigar.”

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro, Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade (Barber-Pole)
Binder: Dominican San Vincente (1997 Crop)
Filler: Dominican San Vicente (1997 Crop), Pennsylvania Ligero
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Quesada Cigars)
Robusto: 4 3/4 x 52
Price: $13.60
Review: Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole Robusto (9/25/17)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Brand): 5 (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

Coming in at #23 is the Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole Robusto. The Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole is the third installment of the Quesada Reserva Privada Series. it incorporates the shade wrapper found on the original Quesada Reserva Privada and the oscuro wrapper found on the Quesada Reserva Privada Oscuro. The common denominator of the entire Reserva Privada line is that all of the blends incorporate Dominican San Vincente tobacco that was put aside by the Quesada family in 1997.

The Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole has its origins as a shop exclusive to Fine Ash Cigars in Avondale, Arizona. That shop exclusive was released in a 5 3/8 x 46 Corona Gorda. Based on the success of that shop exclusive, a national release Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole was launched at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show in two new sizes (Toro and Robusto). A total of 300 ten-count boxes of the two new sizes were released. The Corona Gorda remained an exclusive to Fine Ash Cigars.

The wrappers of the Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole utilize Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade and Connecticut Broadleaf Oscuro. The aged 1997 Dominican San Vincente tobaccos are used on both the binder and as a part of the filler. The fillers also incorporate some Pennsylvania Ligero.

The Quesada Reserva Barber Pole Robusto marks only the second time in the history of the Countdown a barber-pole wrapped cigar has made the Countdown. The other one is the 7-20-4 Hustler which made the 2013 Countdown. It also marks the fifth year Quesada Cigars has qualified for the Countdown, including the last four years. For the past three years, each of the three Quesada Reserva Privada cigars have also qualified for the Countdown.

The Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole Robusto delivered notes of coffee, cream, cedar, and cherry. The strength and body cigar started out mild to medium. By the second third, both attributes moved into medium territory where the intensity leveled off in the second half.

Barber-Pole cigars can fall on the gimmicky side, but that isn’t always the case. The Quesada Reserva Privada Barber-Pole Robusto falls into the category as one of the better ones, thus earning a place on the 2017 Countdown.