El Mago Cigars, founded by Nicholas Fusco in 2022, released the Alakazam Short Robusto as a limited edition compact format. The 3½ by 50 Nicaraguan puro uses a Habano wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers and is handmade at MGE Cigars Factory in Estelí. Production was limited, and the cigars arrive in three count packs housed in structured boxes designed to resemble a deck of cards, complete with wizard imagery that matches the brand’s magic theme.
Stogie At A Glance
Review
First Half
The Alakazam Short Robusto starts with sweet nutty notes on the light, joined by cedar and a very light pepper. The draw is tight yet remains workable. Pepper shows up more clearly on the retrohale. An earthy note develops alongside the cedar and pepper, finishing with something close to coffee. Sweetness returns with coffee and pepper, and a hint of cream appears on the finish. Roasted coffee becomes fairly strong through the first half. Sweet nutty, woody, and coffee notes carry most of the profile early on, with pepper moving in and out. The cigar stays relatively straightforward, smooth, and enjoyable.
Second half
In the second half a sweet cinnamon note emerges along with other spices on the finish, reading almost like a spicy cinnamon cookie. Earthy cedar continues. The draw remains tight but still workable. Earthy notes, light cinnamon and spiced cedar, black coffee on the finish. Black coffee and earthy spices close out the finish.
Score
74/100