Size: toro (6.5 x 52)
Age: ~1.5 yrs at 65% humidity
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano sun-grown ligero
Binder: Esteli Habano viso
Filler: Esteli, Jamastran, and Nicaraguan Ometepe ligero, Pennsylvania broadleaf
MSRP: $7-11

Drink: root beer
Cold aroma: rich chocolate
Cold draw: dry cocoa, grass



Right away this cigar reminds me of a Padron 1964 maduro with its chocolate aroma, with the only exception being the slight roughness of the wrapper.

First third: I get mild spice on the tongue with a strong amount of pepper through the nose. There is a rich cream that lingers after each puff. Some dryness and earth show up not long into the first third, along with a mouthfeel that I would best describe as "dusty." Separate from the cream flavor, there is a maduro sweetness that shows up at the end of the first third.



Second third: The pepper has started to calm down on retrohale. Leather appears and the smoke itself has a rich aroma. It reminds me of the earthiness present in Nica Rustica. The burn is good with only minor touch-ups needed. The creaminess that lingered in the first third becomes less rich, and a boldness factor picks up, flavor-wise.



Final third: The pepper notes have mellowed out, and the flavors start to mellow some without dying out. They blend together nicely at this point. This is when a milk chocolate flavor appears. At this point it reminded me of the flavors of the Padron 1964 Principe maduro (if only it was like this through the entire smoke).



Given the price point, I would try to get some of these off cbid. You can easily get a 5'er for under $20 (versus double that at other sites). If you're a sucker for rich chocolate in your cigars, these are for you. Plan to put them down for several months to get the most out of them.