Some cigars are released shortly after production. Others remain aging until the blender believes the tobacco has reached the profile originally envisioned. The new MBOMBAY MORA belongs in the latter category.
Although these cigars were rolled in Costa Rica in 2019, they remained aging for over six years before being introduced to retailers. That extended post-roll maturation was intentional. Mel Shah and MBOMBAY Cigars continued evaluating the blend over time, waiting for the Mexican San Andrés wrapper and multinational filler combination to settle into the character they were seeking.
The MORA is offered in two limited-production vitolas each packaged in 10-count boxes:
- Toro (6½ × 54) – MSRP $21.95/Cigar (2,764 boxes produced)
- Robusto (5 × 54) – MSRP $19.95/Cigar (2,768 boxes produced)
The company described the rich blend as:
- Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
- Binder: Ecuador
- Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, and Pennsylvania
The MBOMBAY MORA was hand crafted at Tabacos de Costa Rica, Costa Rica.
Pre-Light Examination
The MBOMBAY MORA is presented in a crisp box pressing with clean edges. The wrapper is a dark brown leaf that leans toward an oscuro shade with subtle reddish undertones beneath a light oily sheen and moderate toothiness. There is a fine marbling through the wrapper and there are minimal veins.
The cigar is adorned with MBOMBAY’s familiar band featuring ornate Persian-inspired artwork in gold, crimson, and cream. It gives the cigar a distinctive appearance without distracting from the wrapper itself.
The wrapper aroma offers baking spice while the foot introduces black pepper and a touch of raisin-like sweetness. After clipping the cap with my double-blade cutter, I gave it some cold draw puffs that provided just the right amount of resistance while black pepper notes slowly coated the lips with each puff and a restrained sweet fruit note lingered in the background.
Smoking Experience
The cigar opens with a refined black pepper note that gradually settles into the profile. As the pepper eases, a cracker-like note develops before tangy fruit joins the mix. Smoke production is plentiful from the opening draws, producing a full mouthfeel. A fine white ash forms over a thin, even char line and the burn remains straight. As the first third develops, mild earthy notes begin to emerge in the blend.
The journey starts to show the cigars complexity, deeper into the first third, as sweet cream notes round out the profile and softens the pepper. As the burn near the end of the first third, savory notes join the profile along subtle hints of dark chocolate and fruit. The aroma from the foot presents a nut-like quality that complements the flavors on the palate and closes out the opening third on a balanced note.
The second third continues the progression established early in the smoke. The ash eventually drops in one solid piece, revealing a well-centered burn cone. Earth notes become more pronounced while the cream remains part of the profile. The retrohale is smooth with very little bite, allowing each flavor component to remain distinct, highlighting the individual layers rather than blending them into a single flavor. Dark espresso begins to appear, pairing naturally with the earlier chocolate notes. The fruit character shifts toward a brighter citrus quality that brings a subtle mouthwatering sensation, while the background spice remains restrained.
The ash continues to stack over an even burn line. The wrapper also begins contributing a natural sweetness that becomes more noticeable as the cigar progresses. At about the midway point, the strength settles comfortably at medium.
A exotic spice note develops later in the second third. It is neither peppery nor savory, but instead adds another layer of pleasure to the profile. Mild pepper remains present underneath. As the second third comes to a close, the chocolate develops into a darker cocoa character that approaches an 85% cacao profile. The burn develops a slight wave but it requires no corrective action as the burn straightens on its own.
The flavor profile continues to evolve with an increase in spice while a subtle plum note and some woodiness enters the mix. A light almond note appears near the end of the cigar, complementing the lingering dark cocoa that remains through to the finish.
Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes. Strength was a solid medium with a full body of complex yet incredibly balanced flavor. This is most certainly a box buy.
Final Analysis
The MBOMBAY MORA demonstrates what extended post-roll aging can contribute to a blend. Rather than relying on strength, it builds its character through gradual flavor transitions and balance. Construction was consistent throughout the smoking experience. The burn remained largely even, the ash held well, and the cigar maintained a centered burn cone after the first ash dropped.
The flavor profile remained engaging from start to finish, evolving from pepper and fruit into cream, earth, espresso, darker cocoa, citrus, wood, and subtle nutty notes without any single component dominating the experience. Smokers who appreciate cigars with steady progression and layered flavors should find plenty to enjoy in the MBOMBAY MORA.
