Casa Caraballo has released their newest cigar to market – the Casa Caraballo Spymaster Maduro Toro. The cigar features a 4-year aged Ecuadorian maduro wrapper. Expressed in a (6 x 54) toro it comes packaged in 10-count boxes and carries an MSRP of $14.00/cigar.
Part of the cigar’s inspiration came from the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Mario operated in silence in the clandestine world of intelligence, Spymaster honors the men and women who shaped history through instinct and precision, far from the spotlight.
The blend was developed by Mario Caraballo, founder of Casa Caraballo Cigars. Mario describes the full blend as:
- Wrapper – 4-Year aged Ecuadorian maduro
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Jalapa and Condega
Mario told me, it has a medium-bold profile that balances creaminess and complexity with nuanced flavor.
The Casa Caraballo Spymaster Maduro Toro is handcrafted at the Gomez Tobacco Co. in Estelí, Nicaragua.
Pre-Light Examination
The Casa Caraballo Spymaster is a dark brown, oily, and toothy looking cigar. The cigar is well packed and firm to the touch from head to foot. Construction is solid, with a closed foot and well applied fan tail cap. well applied closed foot heavy in the hand firm to the pinch.
A single band adorns the cigar
Running the cigar along the nose, I picked up pre-light aromas of earth and mild barnyard notes along the barrel and a touch off fruit off the foot.
Once I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar I gave it some cold draw puffs that I found to be excellent in draw while imparting mild cinnamon notes that gently lingers on the palate along with a natural sweetness off the wrapper and a mild fruity tang.
Using my single flame torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of rich pepper notes wrapped in caramel sweetness.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial light offers pepper and caramel notes
- A solid white ash evolves
- Fruit nuances join the early mix
- The end of first inch is delivering a finely blended and nuanced cigar to get the journey going
- Cream and coffee notes add to the pleasure
- Spice ratchets up moving into the second third
- The ash dropped in a good chunk revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Butter-like notes join the profile along with pleasant stone fruit notes
- There is a slight wave in the burn
- The strength has been moving up and crescendos in the final as medium plus
- Slight nutty sensations adds to the mix in the final
- Continued spice wrapped in pleasant cream notes
- Medium Plus in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 45 minutes
Final Analysis
Gentle black pepper opens the journey, offering a restrained and balanced introduction. A light gray ash forms atop a thin char line as a subtle cracker note enhances the early profile. Natural sweetness follows, pleasantly rounding out the opening flavors. The ash soon drops in a solid chunk, revealing a flat but centered burn cone beneath. Deep into the first third, creamy notes begin to evolve, softening the profile nicely.
As the cigar transitions into the second third, the burn becomes slightly jagged, though it remains manageable. Cocoa notes emerge and add to the enjoyment, showing particularly well on the retrohale. Around the midpoint, brighter fruit notes come forward, though they carry a slightly bitter edge on the finish. Dry leather notes begin to develop, adding a more rugged dimension to the blend.
Deep into the second third and moving toward the final, the fruit notes become more forward, now accompanied by a touch of spice. These flavors carry through consistently down to the finish, closing out the cigar with a balance of fruit, leather, and restrained spice.
Point Deductions: (-1) Flat but Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Wave in Burn
Bonus Points: (+1) Well Balanced; (+1) Box Buy; (+1) Wonderfully Complex
