Last month, I introduced you to a new line of cigars that I came upon – Barreda Cigars. The history of the company and Don Chico can be found in the review of the Don Chico Habano which you can find here. As promised, today I would like to discuss the second blend in the line – the Don Chico Maduro.
Barreda Cigars describes the Don Chico Maduro as “a medium to full-bodied cigar, made with the finest tobacco leaves from different regions of Nicaragua, selected and processed by hand by local artisans.”
The blend is defined as:
- Wrapper – San Andres Maduro
- Binder – Indonesian
- Filler – Nicaraguan
The Don Chico Maduro is expressed in three vitolas and come packed in 20-count boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $8.80
- Toro (6 x 52) – MSRP $10.92
- Chairman (6 x 60) – MSRP $11.82
For this review I sampled two Don Chico Maduro Robustos which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Don Chico Maduro is a dark brown, marbled, and slightly bumpy cigar. There are a few veins that are noticeable along the barrel. The wrapper has a mild grit and a slight oily sheen. Solid to the touch and well packed this gem is finally finished with a well applied triple cap.
Like its brethren, the Don Chico Habano, the maduro variety is adorned with three bands. The primary band uses the same cream and brown motif that displays a picture of Don Francisco Barreda and the name “DON CHICO” and “BARREDA CIGARS”. A secondary band using the same motif declares this as the “HABANO” blend. Finally, a gold satin footer band completes the adornments.
As I ran the Don Chico Maduro along the nose, I picked up a natural tobacco sweetness and a hint of spice along the barrel while the foot exuded distinctive earthy notes.
I used my double blade cutter to slice the cap straight across the shoulder and proceeded to take some cold draw puffs that offered fine notes of earth, pepper, and touch of hickory. I noticed the more a cold puffed it, the pepper grew warming the palate.
My triple flame torch did the trick to warm the foot as I drew in the first puffs of creamy white pepper smoke. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- First light offers white pepper notes through a thick and creamy smoke
- Medium grey ash forms on a thin char line
- Cream and coffee notes move in as the pepper recedes
- Early cocoa aroma wafts off the foot
- Natural sweetness entices the tongue
- Mild wave in the burn
- Nice ash finally fell revealing an excellent burn cone
- Aroma shifts to maple syrup
- Walnut nuances
- Dark Chocolate notes deep in the second third
- Barrel gets a bit squishy
- Light spice enters and builds in final third blending nicely with the chocolate and walnut
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Overall, the Barreda Cigars Don Chico Maduro was as well constructed and pleasant as the Don Chico Habano. It was loaded with enticing and delectable flavors and aromas from foot to nub. With just a mild wave in the burn and a solid ash this is certainly one you may want to buy a box of. It did develop a slight squish in the barrel but that had minimal impact on the pleasure. I rate this a 94.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Wave; (-1) Squishy in Barrel
Bonus Points: (+1) Extremely complex in flavor and aroma; (+1) Buy a Box
