Chateau Diadem Monkey Business Robusto (Single)

• Length: 127mm
• Gauge: 50
• Flavour: Light - Medium
• Wrapper: Dominican
• Binder: Dominican
• Filler: Dominican medium-length filler
• Hand Rolled Cigars
• Cellophane Wrapped
• Humidor Advised

Monkey Business is what happens when a premium cigar maker looks at the tobacco left on the cutting table and decides it is far too good to waste.

The range is handmade in the Dominican Republic, with Château Diadem producing a more affordable cigar by using medium-length filler rather than the complete long leaves required for traditional long-filler construction. It keeps production economical while retaining hand rolling and a carefully blended tobacco core.

This Robusto measures 5 inches by 50 ring gauge, a wonderfully useful size that sits neatly between a quick little cigar and something requiring the afternoon to be cleared in advance. Expect roughly 45–55 minutes, depending on how enthusiastically proceedings are conducted.

Strength is firmly medium, and the flavour follows the classic Dominican path. Cedar and wood sit at the centre, joined by warm spice, a touch of earth and restrained natural sweetness. It remains nicely balanced as it progresses, with relatively little increase in strength towards the finish.

There is nothing particularly glamorous about the cigar's appearance, and that rather suits it. The example pictured has a rustic light-brown wrapper with prominent veins and clearly visible seams. These are cigars made with an eye on value rather than winning a beauty contest.

The Robusto is also noticeably slimmer than the 55-ring-gauge Gran Robusto, making it the more traditional of the two formats. Those who found the Gran Robusto a little hefty may well prefer the familiar proportions of this 5 x 50.

Monkey Business makes an appealing everyday proposition: handmade Dominican production, a sensible medium strength and enough character to keep matters interesting.

It may not be the most adorned cigar in the humidor, but it doesn't fail to deliver in flavour.