Earlier this year, ACE Prime and Crowned Heads announced the launch of the Pichardo Maduro, a cigar that draws on the life and experience of its namesake – Don. Eradio Pichardo.
A fourth-generation tobacconist and heir to more than a century and a half of knowledge in the world of tobacco, Don Pichardo worked for Habanos SA (Cuba) for many years and became known as being responsible for the Partagas Blends such as Series E, and D.
After leaving Cuba, he established himself in Nicaragua in 2005 and then became the co-founding partner of Tabacalera Pichardo, together with Luciano Meirelles.
Luciano himself notes:
“I’m very proud of our aging process and our ability to produce this smooth Maduro. Only Pichardo could produce such a clean and smooth experience.“
The Pichardo-Maduro has a blend described as:
- Wrapper: Arapiraca – Brazil
- Binder :Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
Packaged in 20-count boxes, the Pichardo-Maduro is expressed in a single (6.5 x 50) Box Pressed vitola. This Medium to full strength cigar is a new addition to the Pichardo Clasico. MSRP has been set at $9.50/cigar and have been shipping to retailers since August of this year.
I recently purchased 3 of these cigars from Ambassador Cigars & Spirits in Troy, MI as part of the Stogie Press mission to Keep The Lights On.
Pre-Light Examination
The Pichardo Maduro is a dark brown, box pressed cigar, that has crisp edges and is smooth to the touch. There is a decent marbling through the wrapper and is practically veinless. Solid to the touch and seemingly well packed, the cigar is finished with a decently applied double cap.
A single forest green and gold band adorns the cigar that proudly displays the Pichardo logo in the center along with it’s place of origin – Esteli, Nicaragua. The bottom of the band declares this as the Maduro blend.
Running the cigar along the nose I picked up a sweet fermented leaf along the barrel while the foot offers fresh fruit and nut notes.
Once I sliced the cap with my double blade cutter, straight across the shoulder, I took some cold draw puffs that delivered notes of light earth and cream, all through a nicely restricted draw.
My double flame Bugatti torch lighter did the trick to warm the foot to an even orange glow, as I drew in the first puffs of what what I would describe as buttered corn bread. I know, it is strange note but that is what it remined me off. I love buttered corn bread, it is such a pleasant flavor sensation and brings me back to when I was a child and mother made corn bread muffins for breakfast.
Follow along as I burn the Pichardo Maduro to ash and I break it down for you note by note and burn by burn.
Cigar Review Notes
- First light offers a delicious buttered corn bread note
- Light fruit notes join the profile early
- Medium grey ash rests on top of a medium char line
- Smoke has a thick chewy texture
- Cream enters wraps the early fruit notes much like a Crostata di Frutta
- Thick chewy texture
- Mild wave forms as the ash gets flaky
- As the ash drops in a small chunk it reveals a flat burn cone
- So far this is a pleasant mild – medium strength cigar
- Touch of spice adds to the profile with a hint of raisin
- Ash has been falling often
- Cream notes move through the second third blending well with the spice
- Spice and fruit takes in town to the finish
- Medium – Full in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes
Overall, the Pichardo Maduro was a medium – full strength pleasurable smoking experience with interesting and enticing flavors and aromas. I especially enjoyed the early buttered corn bread note to get the journey started. The fruit and cream, later in the burn, kept the palate interested. From a construction perspective, the ash dropped often and was a tad flaky and the burn was a rather wavy through the first third. I feel this is worth a fiver and I rate it a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Ash Falls Often; (-1) Flaky ash in first third; (-1) Medium Grey Ash; (-1) Flat Burn Cone
