11/8/2014
Cigar: Carlos Torano Master Maduro
Size: Toro Gordo, 6.0”x60
MSRP: $7.80
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Maduro
Origin: Nicaragua
Prelight: The wrapper on this rather large cigar looks and smells like dark chocolate and the foot puts off a dusty, floral aroma. The cigar looks seamless, and the simple band gives the whole stick a look of modesty. If I were to judge this “book by its cover”, I would think that this is going to be a boring cigar. Let’s find out.
1/3: The cigar starts out very creamy, yet very mild in flavor. There does seem to be a slight taste of pepper, but mostly I am getting air and cream. As the cigar progresses (slowly due to its girth), chocolate begins to make an appearance, complementing the cream nicely. Pepper also begins to pick up, giving the cigar a spicy, creamy chocolate profile that is quite enjoyable. Nearing the transition to the second third, leather emerges, and nearly takes over.
2/3: The ash falls right at the second third, and smoke continues to pour off this maduro. The profile is creamy and leathery, with just a hint of chocolate. Soon, the cigar tastes like licking a baseball glove – nothing but leather. There is another evolution in the flavor as I reach the final third, and cedar is thrown into the mix.
3/3: The near perfect burn is staying cool in the final third, which has taken me 90 minutes to reach. Cedar increases until it is on par with, if not surpassing the leather. Continuing to gain superiority, cedar is all I taste at the nub.
Overall: While not what I would call an exciting cigar, the Master Maduro is certainly not boring. There is good flavor transitions throughout, and the construction was good. (At points I did get little peninsulas of unburnt wrapper, but they always self-corrected quickly.) My only issue with the cigar is its size, which is just a little big for me. In fact, Cigars International has this size labeled “BFC”, which one can only imagine means Big Freaking Cigar. I would definitely give the robusto size a try, and I doubt I would be disappointed.