Back in 2018, DBL Cigars created a huge 8 x 60 cigar they named the MAFU. The cigar was created to pay tribute to a funny older man that cleans the company’s factory in exchange for cigars.
DBL Cigars owner explained the story to me:
“There is this guy that lives near our factory in Tamboril, Santiago, DR. He is about 50 years old and some people say he is crazy. His name is Mafu, and he would come to the factory and offer to clean it in exchange for cigars to smoke. Everyone in the factory loves Mafu, as he keeps the factory clean and spotless. It is a tribute to him that we named this new blend the MAFU.“
The cigar came in two blends, a Cameroon and a Maduro, both of which used the same aged binders and fillers. The Cameroon was one of the highest rated cigars on Stogie Press. A year later, DBL Cigars doubled down and extended the line with a box pressed toro, again in both a Cameroon and a Maduro blend.
I recently received a care package from my friend Felix Paredes who owns the Harlem Cigar Room in NYC. To my surprise, there was a DBL Cameroon Box Pressed toro in that package. Thanks Felix. So today, I would like to offer you a review of the smaller version of the MAFU.
Like the original, the Box Pressed Toro Cameroon MAFU has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Cameroon
- Binder – Havano Vuelta Abajo (HVA)
- Filler – Corojo 99 and Pennsylvania Broadleaf
These come packaged in 30-count boxes split between 15 Cameroon and 15 Maduro blends and carry an MSRP of $9.50/cigar.
Pre-Light Examination
The DBL Cigars MAFU Toro is a crisp boxed pressed cigar that has a medium brown wrapper with a light toothy feel to it and is practically veinless. There are some noticeable seams in the wrapper and it is neatly finished with a decent cap. The cigar feels fairly well packed and had a decent weight in the hand. Using my CigarMedics HumidiMeter I got a reading of 65% off the foot so it was ready to burn.
The DBL MAFU is adorned with 2 bands. The primary breaks with DBL tradition and does not use the prominent company logo, but rather the golden word “MAFU” on a black background bordered by red and gold stripes. The letters “MA” and “FU” are printed around the band above and below the bold “MAFU” word. There is also a red footer band that completes the presentation.
As I ran the MAFU Cameroon toro across the nose, I noted that it exudes notes of strong cinnamon and raisin notes along the barrel and foot which was quite different from the original MAFU Cameroon.
Once I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder, I proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I would say was a tad more open than restricted and offered a cinnamon sensation on the tongue and a hint of butternut.
I use my DBL triple flame torch to warm the foot to that even orange glow to get things started and drew in the first puffs of lightly spiced smoke that filled my palate with a full volume of smoke. Follow along as I burn the MAFU Box Pressed Toro to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial lights offers a light mild spice
- Medium grey ash forms on a thick char line
- Dark chocolate notes quickly enter
- Full volume of smoke
- Hint of raisin adds to the chocolate for a pleasurable start
- Mild wave in burn
- Nice oiling develops above the burn line
- Solid ash fell in a nice chunk revealing a well formed burn cone
- Touch of almond joins the profile
- Buttery notes wrap the almond
- Slight Off Burn
- Chocolate increases
- Mild cinnamon spice takes it to the nub
- Strength was medium full
- Total Smoking Time was 1hour and 25 minutes to the nub
Overall, the DBL Cigars MAFU Cameroon Box Pressed Toro was flavor filled cigar that offered a pleasant array of notes and transitions from foot to nub. I especially enjoyed the almond and buttery notes that appeared in the second third. This vitola was uniquely different than the original MAFU Cameroon which I attribute to the radically different dimensions. It did have a slight wave and a mild off burn during the journey but never required the flame again. This is worth picking up a fiver of and enjoy the unique flavors it has to offer. I rate this a 92.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Wave; (-1) Slight Off Burn; (-1) Medium Grey Ash
Bonus Points: (+1) Nice Oiling Above the Burn line
