Bought a couple of these on a whim - I like Maduro cigars of all kinds, and these turn up the volume by using a Maduro wrapper, binder and filler. "Puro Maduro" according to the label. Also, these are HUGE sticks in the Gran Toro size that I got - a whopping 6x60. The icing on the cake was getting these sticks for $4.10 each.
They looked great, although not quite as dark as other Maduro smokes I have had. The wrapper smelled like brown sugar.
Smoking this one was an experience in good and bad. Right off the light, it was all NC bitterness, which I cant stand and seems to be characteristic of many NC cigars. I figured I would try to power through it, and Im glad I did. After 15 minutes, the bitterness subsided significantly and flavors of cedar and leather intertwined with coffee and a background sweet note. The flavors left a pleasant, chewy aftertaste that was not at all offensive.
Other problems were present though - the smoke had a wicked tunnel burn that required a lot of touch up (they may have been overhumidifed, Ill humidor the others for a while). Also, despite the changing tastes, there was no pepper - in other words, no Vitamin N. I would have to classify this one as mild.
Im on the fence here, for the price I paid it was a decent Maduro smoke that could make for a couple hours of puffing. But I like stronger smokes and Ive had some excellent medium-strong maduros. This wasnt one of them.
[Reply]