Dominican Republic / Medium-Full

Richard Double Robusto

Meerapfel

By Benjamin Charles Brown

Two sticks smoked: one from dried-out stock that never fully recovered, and one from a trustworthy retailer in proper condition. The scored cigar shows Meerapfel’s Cameroon mastery from a spicier, earthier angle than the Meir or Ernest: sweet and nutty opening, a wasabi-spiked middle, and a juicy savory finish. 87/100 on the well-stored stick.

In the Cigar Database

87.0Captaincy Score

Published: July 20, 2026
Vitola: Double Robusto, 5 3/4 x 52
Wrapper: Meerapfel African Cameroon
Price: $86 single / $860 box of 10
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed

Unlit Meerapfel Richard with pig tail cap and ornate gold band against white siding — Pig tail, toothy Cameroon, and the iridescent Meerapfel band in daylight.

Lit Meerapfel Richard held mid-smoke showing gold band and early ash — Mid-smoke: ash holding, burn line starting to declare itself.

Close-up of Meerapfel Richard ash and slightly waved burn line — Ash can run brittle and flaky even when construction underneath is sound.

Meerapfel Richard mid-smoke outdoors with band catching multicolored light — Gold band with multicolored shine, presentation that matches the price point.

Meerapfel Richard on a porch showing ash stack and a small wrapper dent — Delicate Cameroon often picks up small dents from the chest ashtray tray.

Meerapfel Richard ash stack on a balcony porch — Long ash into the middle thirds as the profile turns earthier and spicier.

Final nub of Meerapfel Richard on a cigar pick over a city street — Smoked to the nub: juicy, savory close on the well-stored stick.

Construction

On a well-kept stick, construction looks stellar once lit: burn line straightens after any foot fill lost in shipping, and the delicate Cameroon wrapper may show small dents from the included ashtray in the 10-count chest. Ash can start brittle or flaky even on good examples. A previously dried-out stick held ash through the first third but stayed flaky; the wavy burn there read as dryness, not factory failure. Pig tail cap and toothy pale Cameroon look superb with the ornate gold band.

Draw and Burn

Draw: Perfect on the resuscitated stick: neither tight nor too loose, with generous smoke. The better-conditioned stick opened looser but still satisfying, burning fast enough to keep density high despite the easy pull.
Burn: Slightly waved early on damaged stock, then excellent. On the better stick, initial unevenness evened out mid-smoke and stayed straight into the final third as the smoke turned more syrupy.
Smoke time: 60-75 minutes

Pairings

Reposquila or agave spirit to echo the mid-smoke tequila-like sweetness on well-stored sticks
Mineral water to clear wasabi spice on the retrohale
Light roast coffee that will not fight the nutty Cameroon finish

Tasting progression

First third

On the scored stick: sweet nutty opening of almond butter and milk chocolate with a touch of cayenne. Emblematic Meerapfel citrus and eucalyptus appear, but subtler than on Ernest or Meir. The profile is earthier and nuttier, with soft spice the Meir’s creamy butter doesn’t show. Cap can taste faintly sweet (likely glue). The dried-out first stick opened bitter with unusual light black notes and flat flavour until classic Cameroon tones arrived late in the third; those storage flaws are called out in the verdict, not scored here.

Second third

Spiciness climbs hard on the retrohale (fragrant Japanese wasabi more than blunt horseradish heat) and stays prominent. Stronger than Ernest or Meir: toasted bread, savory earth, and a blend where spicier filler pushes the Cameroon wrapper into a supporting role. Strength builds. On the damaged stick, pepper mostly faded into creaminess, eucalyptus wood, sweet agave, apple, and a complementary tequila-like note, a more enjoyable midsection once resuscitating oils returned.

Final third

On the scored stick: spice calms; wasabi and pepper nearly vanish; nuttiness returns in a juicier, more savory register with syrupy smoke. On the dried stick: still a bitter finish, but complexity finally hits: strong creamy chocolate melting into classic Meerapfel eucalyptus, a crescendo close that left the palate wanting another.

Final Verdict

Score 87/100 based on the second stick from a trustworthy retailer: oily, lighter Cameroon wrapper and a masterful, spicier take on Meerapfel’s Cameroon house style. Not as perfect as the Meir, but a completely different angle: sweet unique first third, a second third that may be too strong and spicy for some, and a juicy smoother close with finely crafted subtleties. The first stick, from a box that arrived badly dried (three weeks at 65% RH to resuscitate), had rating withheld. Harshness and bitterness read as storage damage, not leaf or construction, with real potential in the final third. At this price, only buy sticks you can inspect; Cameroon here is as storage-sensitive as on the Meir. Presentation remains stunning: light wooden chest, red-and-gold ashtray tray, pig tail, and perhaps the most beautiful gold band ever made.