The Casa Magna Oscuro is the latest in the award-winning Casa Magna cigar line, that impressive result of the joint effort of well-respected industry veteran manufacturers Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plascencia. The talented duo’s Nicaraguan puro Casa Magna won the much coveted Cigar of the Year award from Cigar Aficionado in 2008, and now these two talented cigar artisans have released another powerful blend: the Casa Magna Oscuro.

This is a medium-bodied cigar, similar to the regular selection, but darker. The dimensions of this smoke are 5” x 52. The draw is decent, a bit tight at times, but not bad, and the burn is sharp and even throughout the duration of the smoke. The Casa Magna Oscuro produces thick, stout, stationary smoke with a rustic, woody scent. This cigar is dark, both visually in its smooth Honduran wrapper and in terms of its distinctive aroma and flavor. The filler of this cigar is all Nicaraguan, and the notes run a full gamut of full-bodied flavors for a rich, changing experience as the smoke progresses. The taste is fruity to start with, but still dark, reminiscent of prunes, and then drifts into a dark chocolate smoothness spiced with peppery, nutty notes. There is a slight bitterness in the first few draws, but this quickly falls to the backdrop as the experience unfolds. The finish also isn’t as smooth as it could be, many of the flavors having diminished by the end of the smoke. In light of the many positive qualities offered by the cigar at this price though, this is not a major drawback.

Priced very reasonably in the $5-7 dollar range, the Casa Magna Oscuro is a worthy purchase if you’re looking to buy something strong and atmospheric without breaking the bank. The Oscuro is sure to join the Robusto in the cigar lovers’ line of favorites. With the cocoa notes, this makes a great dessert cigar and goes very well with tea or coffee.

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