Maduros are becoming more popular.  The small powerful palette of these cigars can turn off some newer smokers from them, but those aficionados who are looking for something with a big more punch are out searching for the perfect maduro for their after dinner collection.  I first saw these cigars available at Famous Smoke Shop. Cubao has been around for several years making quality cigars, but this is their first maduro, and so far the reception has be great.

The wrapper is an Ecuadorian broadleaf maduro wrapper.  The wrapper is dark brown, oily and smooth, with a nice sheen to it.  The filler and the binder are both Nicaraguan tobaccos mixed by Don Pepin Garcia, and create a unique flavor different from any of his tobacco blends.  The cigar is rolled to a 5.5×52 belicoso, making it a nice hefty cigar for after dinner.

The draw and burn of this cigar is very easy and enjoyable.  The draw is very smooth, but there is a very small drag to it.  You won’t struggle and fight to get some smoke out, though.  The burn is very even as well, for the most part.  You may want to keep your lighter handy in just in case, but otherwise it’s a nice smooth smoke.

The flavors of the Cubao Maduro start off very strong.  The first third can be described mostly as spicy, with peppery notes like red pepper.  But as you go through the second third, it moves to something a lot smoother.  Leather, cocoa, and occasionally spices like clove and nutmeg, follow through the second third of the cigar.   These flavors really mix well with the spiciness of the beginning, and pick up in strength as you smoke the cigar.  The flavors never really go away, but keep building and building as you smoke the cigar.

Overall, it’s a very good maduro, nice and strong with great flavors.  The ash is really good in this cigar, too; long enough to go over an inch before falling off.  If you’re looking at a nice strong after dinner cigar, then you’ll really enjoy the Cubao Maduro.  The flavors shift well as you smoke it, and mix really when you finally nub it out.

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