Cabal Cigars brought about a change to its Event Short Robusto, if not necessarily by choice. Back in December we reported that the blend was changing, due to the fact that Chris Arolfo was no longer able to get the same ligero that he was using for the binder. Though that might sound like a minor change, the difference in the profiles was enough for Arolfo to decide that it was something special that should be Cabal’s next event-only cigar.

The first event that it will be given away at will be the official launch of the Cabal Linda on Jan. 15 at the Smoke Ring in Clear Lake, Texas. The launch of a cigar that is near to his heart makes sense to do at Smoke Ring, a place he has a history with, as it is the store he managed before starting Cabal Cigars.

Cabal Event Short Robusto  2015 1

  • Cigar Reviewed: Cabal Event Short Robusto (2015)
  • Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
  • Factory: Kelner Boutique Factory
  • Wrapper: Dominican Bonao
  • Binder: n/a
  • Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua & Pennsylvania,
  • Size: 4 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 52
  • Vitola: Short Robusto
  • MSRP: n/a
  • Release Date: Jan. 15, 2015
  • Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

The Cabal Short Robusto is a great-looking cigar with a dark brown wrapper that is seamlessly applied and featuring a covered foot. It has a wonderfully soft and oily feel to it. There is a slight bit of give when the cigar is squeezed, though not much. The aroma coming off the wrapper is a very light, earthy barnyard and nuttiness, while the cold draw is quite mellow featuring more nuttiness, a bit of peppery spice, and the slightest touch of milk chocolate.

It starts out with black pepper, a bit of cocoa and some nuttiness. There’s a strange sweetness combined with a touch of fruit that gives it this almost weird fruit-punch like note—it’s not bad, just can’t say I’ve tasted that in a cigar before. The burn is quite nice, staying mostly even and straight leaving a beautiful stacked ring design in the ash. Even though the draw felt more open on the cold draw, it’s tightened up a bit once lit, though still within an acceptable range. The oddly specific fruit-punch note fades after about three quarters of an inch, though the sweetness from it remains, combining nicely with the cocoa, nuttiness and black pepper.

Cabal Event Short Robusto  2015 2

Moving into the second third the profile continues mostly the same, with a slight increase in the pepper. The strength is also quite apparent, as I’m already feeling it even after having had a hearty meal. Oddly enough, the burn has gone little awry in the middle of the cigar needing a little touch up. Other than that the construction is quite impressive with the ash holding on quite firmly, and with the cigar being so short that translates to almost the entire third.

Cabal Event Short Robusto  2015 3

There isn’t much change in the final third of the Cabal event cigar with it prominently featuring black pepper up front and the cocoa and nuttiness in the background, while the sweetness has died out, leaving the cigar quite bold. The burn line has returned to keeping itself straight and even since that last touch up at about the halfway mark. Finishing the cigar up sooner than I would like, it ends smooth and flavorful to the last bit.

Cabal Event Short Robusto  2015 4

Final Notes

  • As the cigar is only four inches, each third went fairly quick.
  • If the name of the factory sounds familiar, it’s probably because you recognize the last name Kelner, as in Henke Kelner of Davidoff. However, Kelner Boutique Factory isn’t of his creation, but his son’s, Hendrik Kelner, Jr.
  • If you’re wondering how you’ll be able to tell the difference between the old Event Short Robusto and the new blend, the new blend has a covered foot. Cabal also includes a Short Robusto in its regular line.
  • Both samples were definitely on the tighter side of an ideal draw, though they weren’t by any means too tight.
  • The cigars for this review were provided to halfwheel.
  • Final smoking time averaged longer than I expected, at an hour and 15 minutes.
  • Cabal is available at site sponsors Lone Star State Cigar Co. (972.424.7272), Serious Cigars and STOGIES World Class Cigars.
88 Overall Score

Burning longer than I expected I wouldn’t call this a short smoke, but it’s still a nice alternative in the middle of winter. Good construction along with a solid profile puts this easily into the category of a cigar I would like to have in my humidor. It doesn’t evolve or change overly much, mostly sticking to the same profile for the duration. While it isn’t the most complex or deep profile, it’s still a good cigar. If you see a Cabal event in your area I would definitely make my way to it, check out the brand and hope to get your hands on some of these.

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Brian Burt

I have been smoking cigars since 2005 and reviewing them as a hobby since 2010. Initially, I started out small with a 50-count humidor and only smoking one or two cigars a month. Not knowing anybody else that smoked cigars, it was only an occasional hobby that I took part in. In March of 2010, I joined Nublive and Cigar Asylum, connecting me with many people who also shared an interest in cigars. Reading what they had to say about brands I had never heard of, I quickly immersed myself in the boutique brands of the industry and it was then that cigars transformed from a hobby into a passion.