Madre Tierra is a new brand of cigars to hit the market this year. They are vertically integrated company in the Dominican Republic and their tobacco is from their manufacturer in Dominican (Equadom) Ecuador/Dominican Tabacco. Madre Tierra owns the whole process from the planting of the seeds to harvesting, fermenting, curing and hand rolling the final product. The family has been in the business for decades.
The company currently has five blends on the market:
- San Andreas
- Corojo
- Rosado
- Habano
- Broadleaf
Company co-owner, Jake Senior told me:
“We just had our first cut & light at a local Florida shop (Smoke Rings 72) located in Merritt Island, Florida and we blew it away with the biggest night ever at the lounge. We were just rated 8.7 in a blind taste test and beat out a few major manufactures who have been around a very long time. Our company is set on being the fastest, newest cigar on the market! We are backed by several high-profile sponsors now and business is booming! We introduced the cigars about 6 months ago and can’t keep them on the shelf! PBR in Miami just signed us and we have an appointment with one of the largest US distributors”
For this review I sampled one of the Madre Tierra San Andreas Toros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
The company describes the Madre Tierra San Andreas blend as:
- Wrapper – San Andreas
- Binder – Dominican
- Filler – Dominican
All Madre Tierra cigars are currently expressed in (6 x 52) toro vitolas and have an MSRP of $10-12/cigar. They come packaged in 5/10/20 count bundles.
Pre-Light Examination
The Madre Tierra San Andreas sports a medium brown wrapper that exhibits a few veins and a a decent toothy feel to it. The cigar feels mostly packed firm, but it does have a bit of a loose feel near the foot. A simple cap finishes the presentation.
A large green, gold and white band adorns the cigar that displays the company’s logo in the center and the name Madre Tierra in white on top. The phrase “By Ecuadom” is displayed in between, also in white.
Running the cigar along the nose I did not pick up much aroma along the barrel but the foot exuded notes of natural tobacco sweetness with a touch of floral notes.
Using my CigarMedics Baller cutter, I opened the cap perfectly and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that found to be a tad tight in restriction and offered a growing peppery note.
Using my single flame Xikar lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and was greeted with a pepper burst to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial light offers a pepper burst through a tighter than normal draw
- A light grey ash forms on top of a wavy medium thick char line
- Floral nuances add to the early profile
- Gentle spice notes add to the dimension
- Cinnamon butter aroma wafts off the foot
- Ash fell in a decent chunk revealing a slightly off centered burn cone
- By midway there is a nutty component that pleased the palate along fruity notes
- Deep in the second third the profile shifts to more of a cream and coffee sensation
- Sour tannic notes develop in the final as I ended the journey
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Final Analysis
The initial draw of the Madre Tierra San Andreas Toro began with a zesty burst of pepper, adding a layer of excitement despite a somewhat tighter draw than usual. Subtle floral undertones enhanced the early profile, weaving a delicate tapestry of flavors. Gentle spice notes contributed to the overall complexity. An enticing aroma reminiscent of cinnamon-infused butter wafted enticingly from the foot, enhancing the overall enjoyment. As I ventured into the midway point, a delightful nutty component graced the palate, along with fleeting, yet tantalizing fruity notes that left a pleasing impression. Deep into the second third, the profile transitioned into a coffee sensation. Unfortunately, as the journey neared its end, sour and tannic notes emerged, leaving a somewhat dissatisfying finish. I might try another but for now I rate this an 88.
Point Deduction: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Tight Draw; (-1) Sour Tannic notes in Final; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Worth Trying One; (-1) Loose Packing Near Foot
Thank you for your review and rating of our San Andreas Cigar. At Madre Tierra, we are very honored and humbled by your feedback as we strive to perfect our blends. We hope you will continue enjoying our cigars as much as we love sharing them with you. Thanks again!