Today, we are reviewing the Gorbusto by Aladino Gori. The Gorbusto line, produced by JRE Tobacco Co., consists of 60 x 4 1/2 cigars. Each of the three blends is named after a character, though JRE has disclosed few details about the blends themselves. We do know they feature Honduran tobaccos sourced from the JRE Tobacco Farm. The characters embody personalities typically found in a cigar lounge, and each cigar reflects that personality.
If you say you saw 60 x 4 1/2 cigars from JRE Tobacco Co. before, you are correct. In 2025, JRE introduced a series of 60 x 4 1/2 cigars under the Camp Aladino banner. Camp Aladino was a brand offered to retailers who had visited the JRE Tobacco farm in Honduras. The 2025 Camp Aladino release featured three blends in a 60 x 4 1/2 size that the company called a “Gorbusto.” The three blends are: Cameroon, Corojo, and Maduro. Other than the wrapper used, no other blend details were disclosed. Camp Aladino is a vehicle JRE Tobacco Co. uses to introduce potential future blends to customers who visit the JRE Tobacco Farm in Honduras. At the time, we were told these three Camp Aladino blends were a preview of something else to come. This year, Aladino re-released these cigars as Gorbusto.
Instead of focusing on #WrapperBinderFiller, Gorbusto by Aladino centers on three distinct characters, each with its own cigar profile. Each character is modeled after an ape-like figure. In fact, JRE Tobacco hasn’t fully disclosed which Camp Aladino cigar maps to which Gorbusto cigar.
Our focus will be on a character known as Gori. This might be the easiest of the three to map because it has a Maduro wrapper.
SPECIFICATIONS
The Gorbustos
First, let’s meet the Gorbusto characters. Here is how JRE describes the characters as follows:
- GORI — The Alpha: “Bold strength. Full presence. “Confident and driven, Gori represents the smoker who approaches everything with intention. His cigar mirrors his personality: bold, assertive, and unmistakably full in body.”
- CHIMP — The Thinker: “Refined depth. Quiet complexity. “Observant and deliberate, Chimp prefers one meaningful conversation over the noise of a crowd. His cigar rewards patience — a refined, complex smoke that unfolds slowly, much like his thinking.”
- ORANG — The Creator: “Creative character. Unexpected notes. “Expressive and free-spirited, Orang is the energy in the room. His cigar is as unexpected as he is: creative in flavor, bold in character, and unlike anything else in the lineup.”
Blend and Origin
JRE Tobacco Company has not disclosed the details of any of the Gorbusto blends other than that the blends do contain tobaccos grown on the JRE Tobacco Farm in the Jamastran Valley in Honduras. The company produces the cigar at its factory adjacent to the farm.
- Wrapper: Not Disclosed
- Binder: Not Disclosed
- Filler: Not Disclosed
- Country of Origin: Honduras
- Factory: Fábrica de Puros Aladino
Vitolas Available
Gorbusto by Aladino is only made in a 60 x 4 /12 parejo. The cigars come in 20-count boxes.
Appearance (*)
The wrapper of the Gori had a color resembling a chocolate bar. There wasn’t much oil on the wrapper’s surface. Upon closer examination, a slight mottling was visible. The wrapper had a slight toothiness. The wrapper had some prominent visible veins. The wrapper’s dark color did a good job of minimizing how visible the seams are.
PERFORMANCE
Pre-Light Draw (*)
A straight cut removed the cap of the Gori. Once the cap was removed, it was time to begin the pre-light draw. The Gori’s main flavor note was mocha. Mocha is a catch-all term I use to describe a flavor that fuses chocolate and coffee. There was also a slight earth note. Overall, this was a simple but flavorful pre-light draw. At this point, it was time to toast the Gori’s footer and see what the smoking phase had in store.
Tasting Notes
The smoking experience of the Gori picked up where the pre-light draw left off. The mocha notes moved into the forefront while the earth settled in the background. Meanwhile, the earth notes settled in the background. Pepper and cedar spices also settled in the background with the earth notes. The retro-hale also featured a mix of pepper and cedar notes
During the second third of the Gori, the mocha notes remained primary. As the cigar progressed through the second third, the coffee component of the mocha became more prominent. The cedar and pepper spice combination increased slightly in intensity. Meanwhile, the earth notes remained in the background.
The final third didn’t change much. By this point, the mocha fusion’s main component was coffee, but the chocolate sweetness was still present. The spices increased again, but they remained secondary alongside the earth notes. This is the way the Gori came to a close. The resulting nub was soft to the touch and cool in temperature.
Burn
The Gori maintained a relatively straight burn path. The burn line was slightly uneven, which required touch-ups to prevent serious meandering. I still found the Gori needed more touch-ups than I preferred, but the touchups seemed to be the trick to keeping the burn on track. The resulting ash was mostly metallic gray with some dark streaks. This ash was skewed toward the firmer side. The burn temperature and burn rate remained ideal.
Draw
The draw of the Gori had a touch of resistance, which I like. Sometimes 60 ring gauge cigars can have too open a draw, but not in this case. At the same time, this was a low-maintenance cigar for flavor.
Strength and Body
Overall, the Gori started out with medium strength and medium-bodied flavors. Both attributes increase in intensity during the first third and progress to medium to full territory, where it remained for the duration of the smoking experience. In terms of strength versus body, both attributes balance each other with neither overshadowing the other.
BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES (*)
If you have followed me, you know I’m a classic packaging fan when it comes to cigar boxes and cigar bands. The Gorbusto by Aladino series is contemporary by design, which I think JRE Tobacco Company wants to achieve to reach cigar enthusiasts aged 21 to 30. I like the Gorilla with sunglasses image on the box and band; the problem is, it is just not my thing. On the other hand, I really like the silver background and black fonts used.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Final Thoughts
Over the past 15 to 20 years, the short Gordo format has become popular among cigar enthusiasts. JRE Tobacco Co. has now entered this space and has used it to deliver a cigar for the modern smoker. I found the phrase “defined by character” intriguing because I think many of us in the media get too wrapped around the axle around #WrapperBinderFiller. The Gori is a well-made cigar that excels in flavor. While the Gori isn’t the most complex cigar, it’s a straightforward Maduro flavor that works quite well.
I would recommend the Gori to either an experienced cigar enthusiast or a novice looking for something a little bolder. At $11.00, it’s attractive, and I would buy multiples to keep in the humidor. With 90 points, the Gorbusto by Aladino Gori earns a Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence designation.
Summary
- Key Flavors: Mocha (Coffee, Chocolate), Earth, Cedar, Pepper
- Burn: Very Good
- Draw: Excellent
- Complexity: Medium Minus
- Strength: Medium (Start), Medium to Full (Remainder)
- Body: Medium (Start), Medium to Full (Remainder)
- Finish: Very Good
Rating
Value: Buy Multiples
Score: 90
Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence
REFERENCES
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted.
(*) Indicates this is not factored into the score or value rating
