Don Chico is a blend created in memory of Francisco Barreda, well-known as Don Chico. He was a tobacco grower in Nicaragua. He passed away 7 years ago. The cigars were blended by Oscar Barreda his grandson, this cigar holds a profound significance for the family. It is a symbol of their Nicaraguan roots.
The family states:
“We set out to create a blend that encapsulates the essence of Nicaragua, vibrant, rich in flavors and steeped in tradition. Each puff is a journey through our history, a celebration of our culture and a homage to the man who paved the way for us in this beautiful industry. Every time we light up one of his cigars, we keep Francisco Barreda’s essence alive within us.“
The Don Chico Maduro Premium Nicaragua has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Mexico San Andres
- Binder – Nicaragua
- Filler – Nicaragua
They are expressed in 3 different vitolas, each packaged in 21-count boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 54)
- Toro (6 x 54)
- Chairman (6 x 60)
MSRP is set between $12.00 – $16.00
For this review I sampled 2 of the Barreda Cigars Don Chico Maduro Premium Nicaragua Robustos that I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Don Chico Maduro Premium Nicaragua is wrapped in a toothy dark brown wrapper that is well packed with no soft spots and just a few noticeable veins. A simple cap completes the construction.
Three bands adorn the cigar. The primary band uses a forest green, gold and white motif and proudly displays the company’s logo in the center with the phrase “Premium Nicaragua” below. A secondary green, gold and white band is placed just below the primary and declares this as the Maduro. Finally, a green satin footer band is applied.
Running the cigar along the nose, I picked up sweet fermented leaf aromas along the barrel and an enticing peppermint aroma off the foot.
My CigarMedics Baller cutter opens the cap perfectly. I found the cold draw restriction is just right for my liking and it offered pre-light notes of mild but growing peppery spice and a touch of earth.
I used my double flame torch to warm the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of peppery spice to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial draw offers some peppery spice especially on the retro hale along with sweet caramel notes
- Solid light grey ash forms on top of a thin and even char line
- Dry leather notes enter along with a deeper earth note
- Ash fell in a nice chunk revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Cedar notes join the mix deep in the second third
- The burn line develops a slight wave but does need a touch-up
- Toasted caramel aroma notes enter moving into the final third with a slight minty note
- Spice picks up in the end with a touch of nut
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 35 minutes
Final Analysis
The initial draw of the Don Chico Maduro Premium Nicaragua presents a tantalizing burst of peppery spice, particularly noticeable on retrohale, accompanied by the delightful caramel sweetness. As the smoke progresses, hints of dry leather emerge, mingling with a profound earthiness. Transitioning into the second third, the flavor profile evolves with the addition of cedar notes, enriching the complexity of the experience. Approaching the final stretch, the aroma takes on a toasted caramel essence, subtly mixed with a hint of mint. As the journey concludes, the spice intensifies, complemented by a subtle nuttiness that lingers on the palate. This gem of a cigar is worth a box buy. I rate this a 94.
Point Deductions: (-1) Flat but centered burn cone; (-1) Slight wave in burn in second half
Bonus Points: (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Consistently Flavorful and balanced across Multiple samples
