Today, we review the Somm BDX Blanc in the Robusto size. Somm Cigars is a new company that is the brainchild of Vlada Stojanov. Stojanov has years of experience as a wine sommelier and in the cigar industry. In 2023, he became a brand owner and launched Somm Cigars. The BDX Blanc is Somm’s third regular production line. In the case of the BDX Blanc, a Connecticut Shade offering was introduced into the Somm portfolio. As we will see, Stojanov has incorporated his experience as a wine sommelier into his brands.

Currently, there are two main pillars in the portfolio of Somm Cigars. Each of the pillars pays homage to a different wine region. The Somm BDX line (which consists of Somm BDX and Somm BDX Blanc) pays tribute to the Bordeaux region in France. The Somm Rioja line pays homage to Spain’s Rioja region. The BDX line is a cigar produced from Honduras by Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco S.A. (Cavalier Genève’s factory). As for the Rioja line, it is being made out of Eladio Diaz’s Tabacalera Diaz Cabrera factory in the Dominican Republic.

The BDX Blanc pays homage to white wines from the Bordeaux region. The lighter Connecticut Shade wrapper complements this theme nicely.

We will examine the BDX Blanc Robusto and see what this cigar offers.

Somm BDX Blanc Robusto | Cigar Review

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

The blend uses a Connecticut Shade wrapper aged three years over a Habano binder, also aged three years. The fillers are a mix of Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Dominican tobaccos all aged three years.

Wrapper: Connecticut (aged for three years, from 2020)
Binder: Habano (aged for three years, from 2020)
Filler: Seco Esteli (aged for three years, from 2020); Viso Esteli (aged for three years, from 2020); Seco Jamastran (aged for three years, from 2020); Dominican Piloto Cubano (aged for three years, from 2020)
County of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco S.A. (FCT)

Vitolas Offered

The BDX Blanc is offered in two regular production parejo sizes: Robusto and Toro. It is also available in a limited edition box-pressed (Prensado) Toro. Each size comes in five-count bundles.

Robusto: 5 1/2 x 52
Toro: 6 1/2 x 54
Prensado LE: 6 x 52 (Limited Edition)

Appearance (*)

The Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper of the BDX Blanc Robusto has a bit of pinkish color, which I like in a Connecticut Shade. There weren’t many oils, and there was a slight amount of mottling on the surface. The BDX Blanc Robusto also had some visible veins, and the wrapper seams were prominently visible.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw (*)

The cap of the BDX Blanc Robusto was removed using a straight cut. After the cap was clipped, the pre-light draw ritual began. The cold draw delivered a mix of berry and cedar notes. Overall, this was a satisfactory pre-light draw experience. Now, it was time to toast the BDX Blanc Robusto and head into the smoking phase.

Tasting Notes

The BDX Blanc Robusto opened up with notes of berry, natural tobacco, mineral, and wood. As the cigar burned through the early stages, it was joined by some cream and baker’s spice notes. There was no dominant note until midway through the first third. That is when the natural tobacco and berry moved into the forefront. The mineral, wood, baker’s spice, and cream settled in the background. The retro-hale delivered an extra layer of baker’s spice.

During the second third of the BDX Blanc Robusto, the berry notes gradually receded and were in the background around the midway point. The berry also gradually took on some astringent qualities to them. Meanwhile, the wood, mineral, cream, and baker’s spice remained. During the latter part of the second half, some white pepper emerged in the background. Concurrently, the white pepper also took over the retro-hale.

As the cigar entered its final third, there was little change. Natural tobacco remained primary. Berry notes were in the background, and the astringent qualities didn’t increase. Wood, mineral, baker’s spice, and cream rounded out the flavor profile. As the BDX Blanc Robusto concluded, the cigar finished with a soft, cool nub.

Burn

Overall, the BDX Blanc Robusto was a well-constructed cigar, and this was reflected in the ash. The cigar required minimum touchups to maintain a straight burn path and line. The resulting ash was tight, firm, and pretty much white. The burn rate and burn temperature both maintained ideal levels.

Draw

The draw of the BDX Blanco Robusto also performed excellently. This was an ash that had a slight amount of resistance to it. At the same time, this was a low-maintenance cigar from which to derive flavor.

Strength and Body

The BDX Blanco Robusto delivered a cigar with mild to medium-strength and medium-bodied flavors. The strength and body didn’t increase much in intensity, so this was still a mild to medium-strength, medium-bodied smoke. The body maintained a slight edge from start to finish in terms of strength versus body.

BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES (*)

The Somm BDX Blanc uses the same burgundy-colored bands as the Mexican San Andres’ Somm BDX line. I like how the Somm BDX pillar is similar to the two blends. The BDX Blanc comes packaged in five-count bundles. What I like about these five-packs is that they do not use craft paper but cellophane. This allows you to see part of the cigar. The Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is aesthetically pleasing, so the end consumer can see the cigar before opening the packaging.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

If you asked me what new company has made the biggest impression on me, it has to be Somm Cigars. Owner/blender Vlada Stojanov has a vision for his blend, and he is producing some excellent cigars to back up the vision. On top of that, he is coming up with some unique blends. While I would say the BDX Blanc Robusto is more traditional in being a milder cigar in terms of strength, this cigar has a contemporary spin from a flavor standpoint. Ultimately, I’d recommend it to any cigar enthusiast. As for myself, the BDX Blanc Robusto is a cigar I would smoke again and buy multiples of for my humidor. Coming in at 90 points, the BDX Blanc Robusto earns a Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence designation.

Summary

Key Flavors: Berry, Natural Tobacco, Mineral, Wood, White Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Finish: Very Good