Today, we’re diving into the Powstanie San Andres in the Robusto size. This blend marks the fourth addition to Powstanie’s regular production line. As the name suggests, it introduces a Mexican San Andres-wrapped option to their portfolio. When the San Andres was released, it joined Powstanie’s Maduro lineup alongside the Powstanie Broadleaf. Co-owner Mike Szczepankiewicz has openly noted that the availability of Connecticut Broadleaf could influence the future of Powstanie Broadleaf. By adding the San Andres, Powstanie is effectively addressing a potential gap in its offerings, providing fans with another maduro option.

If you are keeping score, here are four regular blends from the Powstanie portfolio, along with the year each line was introduced. Pospiech Inc., the parent company of the Powstanie blends, also offers limited-edition Powstanie products and other brands in its portfolio.

Powstanie Habano (2015)
Powstanie Broadleaf (2015)
Powstanie Connecticut (2023)
Powstanie San Andres (2025)

Let’s take a closer look at the Powstanie San Andres Robusto and see what it has to offer.

Powstanie San Andres Robusto – Cigar Review

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

In addition to a Mexican San Andres wrapper, the Powstanie San Andres features an Ecuadorian Habano binder and a combination of Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers.

Wrapper: San Andres, Mexico
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño S.A.

Vitolas Offered

The San Andres line was launched in four sizes. Each comes in 21-count boxes.

Robusto: 5 x 50
Short Perfecto: 5 x 50
Belicoso 5 1/2 x 54
Toro: 6 x 52

Appearance (*)

The San Andres wrapper of the Powstanie San Andres Robusto had a milk chocolate color. There was a light sheen of oil on this wrapper. There were some thin veins. In addition, despite the darker color, there were also some visible wrapper seams.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw (*)

Before lighting up the San Andres Robusto, a straight cut was used to remove the cap. After removing the cap, it was time to commence with the pre-light draw ritual. The cold draw was pretty straightforward, as it produced a slightly sweet cocoa note along with some cedar. Overall, this was a satisfactory pre-light draw. At this point, it was time to toast up the footer of the San Andres Robusto and proceed with the smoking phase.

Tasting Notes

The San Andres Robusto opened up with a combination of cocoa, earth, fruit sweetness, and cedar notes. Early on, the fruit note took on a slight edge. As for the cocoa, earth, and cedar, these notes settled in the background. Of the secondary notes, the cocoa was probably the most prominent. Meanwhile, on the retro-hale, there was an additional layer of cedar.

As the San Andres Robusto moved through the second third, the cocoa notes joined the fruit in the forefront. The earth and cedar remained in the background and were joined by notes of white pepper. As the cigar moved past the midway point, there was an increase in both the earth and white pepper notes. The white pepper also took control of the retro-hale in the second half.

The final third saw the cocoa and fruit notes still primary. Meanwhile, the earth and pepper notes were close secondary notes. The cedar was more distant. This is the way the San Andres Robusto came to a close. The resulting nub was slightly soft to the tool and cool in temperature.

Burn

The burn of the San Andres Robusto was consistent, maintaining a straight line and path from start to finish across all samples. Minimal touchups were needed to keep it on track. The resulting ash was nearly white and had a firm texture. Additionally, both the burn rate and burn temperature remained at ideal levels throughout.

Draw

The draw of the San Andres Robusto was excellent, featuring just the right amount of resistance. If you’ve been following my reviews, you’ll know that this level of draw is my preference for an enjoyable smoking experience. Additionally, the San Andres Robusto is a low-maintenance cigar that facilitates easy flavor extraction.

Strength and Body

The San Andres Robusto opened up with medium strength and medium to full-bodied flavors. Along the way, there was a nominal increase in the intensity of both the strength and body. The end of the cigar was still medium strength and medium to full, but it was more intense than what was present in the first third.

BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES (*)

While I liked the red, white, and black bands on the original Powstanie Broadleaf and Habano releases, I was pretty pleased they changed up the color scheme with the black and gold on the Powstanie Connecticut. Now with Powstanie San Andres, I like the metallic red and black bands. They not only look good, but they contrast with the wrapper.

The box is a straightforward 21-count design. It’s simple but functions effectively.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

The Powstanie San Andres Robusto is rated at a solid 88 points, which is quite good, but I found it to be an average smoking experience. The construction of the cigar was top-notch, and the flavors were decent, but I didn’t find them very exciting. It felt a bit typical, almost like many other cigars with a San Andres wrapper that I’ve tried before. Overall, it had a familiar taste that didn’t really stand out. I was also looking for something from this cigar that would make it stand out from others in the market. The $14.00 price point is a bit high as well. In the end, I’m inclined to keep this cigar in the “Try a Sample” category and see what you think. I’m also open to trying some of the other vitolas in this line.

Summary

Key Flavors: Cocoa Fruit, Cedar, Earth, Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium to Full
Finish: Very Good