New Bay Rum Review: Rum Cay Bay Robusto

[OkieStubble]

Howdy Gents and Bay Rum aficionados,

Several weeks ago, I was PM'd by fellow member Moneysuckle. He asked me if he could purchase a sample of my bay rum concoction Bootleggers.
I politely responded "no, he can't purchase samples" and then immediately offered to send him free samples of not only Bootleggers Bay Rum,
but also a sample of Bootleggers Lime.

I was honored that he wanted to try it. I sent them off and several days later he responded back and graciously posted his review of the bootleggers samples
I sent him. He then offered to send me a free sample of a bay rum aftershave he has been working on. I excitedly accepted and have used it now several times and in kind,
would like to post a review:

Rum Cay Bay Robusto


When I read the 'Robusto' in the name, I knew it had something to do with cigars or tobacco. But I couldn't quite imagine or grasp what it would smell like, as I have never smelled a tobacco note in a AS/cologne before. I was very pleasantly surprised. Now after using it a couple of times, I can say, If this were in production, it would probably be my favorite bay rum to use hands down.

While it is a masculine scent, it isn't a strong overbearing one that could be imagined with a bay rum that has a tobacco note. It is a very nice, smooth blend of both and it is almost impossible to tell by my layman's nose if one over powers the other. Both notes of Bay Rum and Tobacco seem to compliment each other very well.

The scent doesn't project, but it also doesn't wear too close to the skin either. The sillage is perfect imo for an aftershave, for it wears like a mild/light cologne. After an hour, I could still get just faint, light wiffs of it when I moved around. I finally put it to the test when my wife got home from work. And while she really likes Bootleggers on me, her first initial, shall I say, 'very positive reaction' to the scent of Rum Cay Bay Robusto on me, was immediate feedback that I want more of this aftershave.

A lot more.

 

[Moneysuckle]

Thanks for the kind words, OkieStubble. Your generosity inspired my PIF where I gave away a bottle of St Charles Shave Bay Rum with a Twist.

Background: I am a big bay rum fan. Like some, I'm not real high on cloves. For example, Pinaud Virgin Island bay rum is not my cup of tea. I also like tobacco notes. Aramis Havana and Czech & Speake Cuba are two of my all time favorite EDTs.

So I set out to brew an aftershave that combined tobacco and bay rum, and Rum Cay Bay Robusto is the result. Here's the story on the name:

Rum Cay is an island in the Bahamas, believed to be the second island visited by Christopher Columbus. Cay means Key. Spanish explorers named it Rum Cay when a keg of rum washed ashore one day. Located as close to Cuba as it is Nassau, Rum Cay was a pirates haven in the late 1600s/early 1700s. Captain Henry Morgan and Blackbeard stayed there. The island of Rum Cay has a couple of bays: Gun Bay and Flamingo Bay. Robusto, of course, is a style of cigar.

While supplies last, I am happy to send a free sample your way. The only condition is that you post your honest review of Robusto - what you like, don't like, what you would change, etc. I am interested in your feedback.

Simply send me a PM with your mailing address. CONUS only (sorry).

 

[Moneysuckle]

The first samples have gone out. I have about 15 left.

 

[k2clones29]

That sounds incredible!!! When can I get my hands on this???

 

[Chicago]

How did you get tobacco notes into the final product? Did you make a tobacco-infused alcohol and blend that into your bay rum mix, or did you soak tobacco in some or all of the bay rum for a certain amount of time?

 

[Moneysuckle]

Update:

8 of the samples have been mailed out.
6 are on a waiting list (while I attempt to find more sprayers)

I have 6 more free samples left if you want on the list.

 

[Old AF SP]

PM sent (I think?) Thanks for the offer!

 

[Shave_Rat]

I received the sample, the initial bit of sniff testing is very positive. I'll give it a full real test this weekend and post my thoughts in this thread (unless Moneysuckle would prefer a new thread started?).

 

[Moneysuckle]

Thanks Shave Rat - let's keep the discussion in this thread.

PS All the free samples are spoken for. Thanks for all the interest. Now let's get some honest reactions from B&B members.

 

[Dantheman]

Received my sample today in a very nice spray bottle. I also did an initial sniff test and was pleased with what I smelled. It is not overbearing scent, but very nice and subtle. I can't wait to try after a straight razor shave in the AM. Will post my full review then. Thanks for the sample, so far, very likeable.

 

[Shave_Rat]

Late afternoon shave today, getting ready to go out tonight.

So initial impression when opening the sample I got a sweet, fruity sort of thing... nice and pleasant. The fruit was sort of apricot and a hint of like apple.

I apply AS splashes pretty liberally, this one was no exception. Very little sting when it went on, which was a pleasant surprise. I pulled a straight shave, at which I'm still somewhat new, so I know it wasn't my shave that gave the lack of sting...

It stayed sweet and a bit fruity at first, with the sweet dying back and some spice coming more forward as it dries down. The fruit stays notable, but mingles into the spice as the sweetness fades.

I'm very impressed by this AS, even more so that it came out of a beginner at making AS splashes (at least as far as I know). I would maybe prefer more spicy notes over all, but I wouldn't knock this one for not having it. It stays light but you can catch a hint of it now and then, and unlike all but a rare few bay rums, this has no clove notes that I could detect, which is a plus for me.

 

[Dantheman]

Let me preface this that I'm not a frag guy. I don't care for strong "perfumey" scents. I sold my TOBS Sandlewood, my Speick A/S and TOBS Victorian Lime as they were too strong for me. That's why Bay Rum is such a great scent for me.

This BR has a great scent when you pop off the cap and take a whiff. It's not overbearing, but definitely some additional notes hiding behind the BR scent. Upon spraying it on, there is a mild BR scent with some additional fruitiness that I liked. There was also the additional Tobacco scent that is in the background for me. It goes on not exceptionally strong, but more a medium strength. It did go on with a bit of sting, as I had straight shaved as well, and I'm still a noob with straights. So with that said, it did burn a bit, but I had done a nice job of carving up my face with a a straight. The tobacco notes do go on a bit heavier than a typical BR, but they did subside quickly. The initial description really did apply in my case- "The scent doesn't project, but it also doesn't wear too close to the skin either" this describes it perfectly. BR usually wears very close whereas this was a bit more outward in scent.

After an hour or so, the scent had subsided, but some of the fruitiness of the BR lingered. Also the Robusto or tobacco scent lngered as well. SWMBO took a whiff and really approved. And she isn't a fan of frags either. This scent really does settle in nicely after wearing it for an hour or so.

After wearing for 8 hours, I still could smell it very lightly if I concentrated, but I was looking for it. If I hadn't been looking, I likely wouldn't have smelled anything at that point.

Do I like? Yes, I do like it. Probably not an everyday BR scent, but likely a cold-weather scent or a dressy event scent as I like to emit a not-so-strong, yet pleasant scent at dressy events we attend. This would fit the bill.
I would purchase this scent as well and it would get some use. Great job Moneysuckle. This is a keeper.

Thanks for the sample and keep making this great scent. I've not had anything like it. Not that I've tried them all, but I've had my fair share of BR.

I'd love to get some more of this- if/when you do start selling it, please let me know.

Dantheman

 

[TheVez2]

Received mine late last week. Here's my impression after a couple uses.

Initially is is a very nice even blend of bay rum and tobacco flower. Not too sweet, but much sweeter than I was expecting. Since bay rum is naturally a fleeting scent, after the dry down the tobacco note became much more prevalent. To my nose, the tobacco in Robusto smells very similar to Vitos tobacco aftershave.

Thanks monesuckle for the chance to try this out. I think you've got a nice product.

 

[bahill]

Received mine last week as well and have used it 3 times already. Very nice initial scent, I can tell it's a Bay Rum-type of A/S, but definitely different. Almost more flowery than spicy.

No sting at all after my DE shaves, and a light finish after the application. I think I prefer a little bit heavier (maybe more glycerin?..not a chemist) but I really did enjoy this. I asked SWMBO what she thought, and she gave it the thumbs up, which is obviously very important!

Overall, I could see having a bottle of this on hand as part of my rotation, especially in the summer months.

Thanks moneysuckle for the sample and opportunity to try it out!

 

[Moneysuckle]

I finally scored the rest of the sprayers I needed. The final samples will be mailed out today or tomorrow.

 

[Moneysuckle]

Received mine last week as well and have used it 3 times already. Very nice initial scent, I can tell it's a Bay Rum-type of A/S, but definitely different. Almost more flowery than spicy.

No sting at all after my DE shaves, and a light finish after the application. I think I prefer a little bit heavier (maybe more glycerin?..not a chemist) but I really did enjoy this. I asked SWMBO what she thought, and she gave it the thumbs up, which is obviously very important!

Overall, I could see having a bottle of this on hand as part of my rotation, especially in the summer months.

Thanks moneysuckle for the sample and opportunity to try it out!

You are welcome, bahill. Yes, there is some glycerine.

 

[Moneysuckle]

Received mine late last week. Here's my impression after a couple uses.

Initially is is a very nice even blend of bay rum and tobacco flower. Not too sweet, but much sweeter than I was expecting. Since bay rum is naturally a fleeting scent, after the dry down the tobacco note became much more prevalent. To my nose, the tobacco in Robusto smells very similar to Vitos tobacco aftershave.

Thanks monesuckle for the chance to try this out. I think you've got a nice product.

Thanks, TheVez2. Never heard of Vitos aftershave before - thanks for the heads up.

 

[Moneysuckle]

Late afternoon shave today, getting ready to go out tonight.

So initial impression when opening the sample I got a sweet, fruity sort of thing... nice and pleasant. The fruit was sort of apricot and a hint of like apple.

I apply AS splashes pretty liberally, this one was no exception. Very little sting when it went on, which was a pleasant surprise. I pulled a straight shave, at which I'm still somewhat new, so I know it wasn't my shave that gave the lack of sting...

It stayed sweet and a bit fruity at first, with the sweet dying back and some spice coming more forward as it dries down. The fruit stays notable, but mingles into the spice as the sweetness fades.

I'm very impressed by this AS, even more so that it came out of a beginner at making AS splashes (at least as far as I know). I would maybe prefer more spicy notes over all, but I wouldn't knock this one for not having it. It stays light but you can catch a hint of it now and then, and unlike all but a rare few bay rums, this has no clove notes that I could detect, which is a plus for me.

Thanks for the feedback, Shave_Rat. PS Don't sell you straight razor shaving prowess short - Robusto has more than a little alchohol.

 

[Moneysuckle]

Let me preface this that I'm not a frag guy. I don't care for strong "perfumey" scents. I sold my TOBS Sandlewood, my Speick A/S and TOBS Victorian Lime as they were too strong for me. That's why Bay Rum is such a great scent for me.

This BR has a great scent when you pop off the cap and take a whiff. It's not overbearing, but definitely some additional notes hiding behind the BR scent. Upon spraying it on, there is a mild BR scent with some additional fruitiness that I liked. There was also the additional Tobacco scent that is in the background for me. It goes on not exceptionally strong, but more a medium strength. It did go on with a bit of sting, as I had straight shaved as well, and I'm still a noob with straights. So with that said, it did burn a bit, but I had done a nice job of carving up my face with a a straight. The tobacco notes do go on a bit heavier than a typical BR, but they did subside quickly. The initial description really did apply in my case- "The scent doesn't project, but it also doesn't wear too close to the skin either" this describes it perfectly. BR usually wears very close whereas this was a bit more outward in scent.

After an hour or so, the scent had subsided, but some of the fruitiness of the BR lingered. Also the Robusto or tobacco scent lngered as well. SWMBO took a whiff and really approved. And she isn't a fan of frags either. This scent really does settle in nicely after wearing it for an hour or so.

After wearing for 8 hours, I still could smell it very lightly if I concentrated, but I was looking for it. If I hadn't been looking, I likely wouldn't have smelled anything at that point.

Do I like? Yes, I do like it. Probably not an everyday BR scent, but likely a cold-weather scent or a dressy event scent as I like to emit a not-so-strong, yet pleasant scent at dressy events we attend. This would fit the bill.
I would purchase this scent as well and it would get some use. Great job Moneysuckle. This is a keeper.

Thanks for the sample and keep making this great scent. I've not had anything like it. Not that I've tried them all, but I've had my fair share of BR.

I'd love to get some more of this- if/when you do start selling it, please let me know.

Dantheman

Thanks for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review, Dantheman. I appreciate it.

 

[GMofmiami]

Just received my sample today and will be using it in the next few days...Initial sniff and spray on my wrist, I smell the spice, some sort of sweet notes and tobacco in the background. Definitely quite a different smelling BR....will report back in a few days with my reviews. Thanks Moneysuckle for the opportunity to test your A/S.