It’s been far too long since I’ve been posting cigar reviews. Time for that to change. And, to kick off getting back to writing about the things I love, there is an excellent smoke to share.
This maduro was appealing for several reasons. For one, it is from Fuente who make a number of excelent (and a number of good) cigars. They are one of my go-to brands. Second, I love the size as I prefer cigars that are a 55 or less ring gauge. This had a length and diameter that appealed to me.
It is very well constructed and burned fairly evenly. The ash in the photo is because I goofed and let it go over into the ash tray.
It had a nice start with good flavor of wood (cedar, oak), spice (mostly pepper but with hints of more aromatic on the sides), and a bit of leather on the undertone. The pepper really came out at the end of the first third, and it paired nicely with the glass of champagne I was offered. Very different from my usual bourbon or scotch, but it worked well with the cigar.
The second third mellowed with more wood than spice, and made an enjoyable interlude before the spice built back in the last third for a solid finish.
Recommendation: High