The cigar: Kristoff Maduro robusto

Nutritional information
Serving size: 5.5 x 54 robusto
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Brazil
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua


The marketing:
Kristoff Maduro cigars contain a well-aged blend of Dominican Olor and Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobaccos, seamlessly encased in dark, oily Brazilian Maduro wrappers. With pigtail caps and shaggy feet, they're packaged in a cedar box surrounded by loose tobacco for a beautiful pre-embargo feel. Expect a medium-bodied smoke with undertones of earth and licorice, nutty spice, and a sweet finish. Kristoff Maduro cigars embody the taste and richness sought by the true aficionado. (courtesy of Famous Smoke)

Prelight: A beautiful specimen. It's bigger than the usual robusto, at 5.5 inches, and a little fatter, too, with 54 ring. I really like the band, classy and understated.

The Brazilian wrapper is a bit mottled and shows a couple of veins but it positively glistens with oils. It's unfinished and a bit shaggy at the foot, pigtailed at the head. It feels good, solid, well filled, but with just the right give to the touch. And it's heavy, much heavier than you'd expect from a cigar this size. The aroma is dark, rich, earthy, and there's some chocolate on the cold draw.

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Construction and burn: This cigar has some pretty high production values. It's filled to bursting but draws well. The burn is very good -- excellent at the beginning, a little more wobbly as it progress. Same for the ash: tight and compact at the beginning, a little flakier as it progresses. The draw is on the tight side of perfect, but it produces plenty of smoke (and I love the wisps from the head after I puff). The burn is slow: this robusto lasts 90 mins.

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Flavors: From the very start, I was impressed by the flavors and mouthfeel of this smoke. The body of the smoke is medium, smooth, soft, sensual. The finish isn't dry, but it's not quite sweet, either, just beautifully balanced. There's not much ligero, not much spice, not much nicotine. All very balanced.

There are lots of good flavors, too. It's got earth and molasses at the start. As I get deeper in the first third, there's some nuttiness and dark cocoa (not as strong or rich as dark chocolate). There are subtle wisps of other flavors -- anise, coffee, hazelnut -- particularly in the middle third. These flavors continue and develop through the last third.

Overall, this is a really interesting and enjoyable maduro cigar. I have only two criticisms: the burn got a little too wobbly and flaky in the last third, and a little more ligero would have made this long smoke a bit more interesting. But I really liked this cigar, and I'm going to seek out the Maduro Ligero.


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Great review Eddie:-)
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Excellent review Eddie.
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Nice review. I usually get these in the Matador vitola.
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I've never smoked a Kristoff, and I've been meaning to, but damn that picture makes me want to buy boxes of them.

Great review.
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Yeah, they're a nice-looking stick. Box presentation is nice too: rough cut box, with the sticks packed in loose tobacco.
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Nice review looks like I need to pick a few up.
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great review. One of the brands that are on my "must try" list.
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Nice review.:-)
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Turn away - there's nothing to see here. This is a cigar you will not like. Move on to other things.

OK, so I cannot lie very well. I have only had a couple Kristoffs so far, a maduro matador and a criollo lancero. I enjoyed both of them, but the maddie was incredible. A box of these is in my future - at some point.
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Love the purple embers...
Great review.... I also learned how
to put multiple pics (more than 5) into
a review! Thanks Eddie!:-)
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Very good cigar. I really like this cigar, but I occasionally have some burn issues as well.
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Great review Eddie. :-)
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Excellent review! :-) I tried a Kristoff for the first time a while back and now they just seem to fly out of the humi. I highly recomend you give the brand a try if you havnt already. :-)
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