Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Honduran Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: 5 x 50 (Box-Pressed)
Strength: Medium
Purchase Link: A.S. Reserve The Mansa Maduro
THE MANSA MADURO REVIEW – DOM
Summary: Salty cedar has me envisioning the Captain’s quarters aboard a ship. As the cedar note morphs into pine, flakes of ash dust my keyboard. Chocolate pudding muddies the waters, but in a good way. While the smoking experience remains enjoyable at the cigar's equator, the complexity has yet to pass seven knots. Granola. Dropping the ash and dropping anchor.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Having a bird as a pet.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee.
Perceived Strength: Mild.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack.
THE MANSA MADURO – RICH
Summary: This cigar brought notes of nuts, oak, hickory, orange peel, cocoa, and earth. It started very woody/nutty, then moved on to a cocoa-dominated profile, and finished with more earth.
The draw was right on point. The burn got uneven, but never gave me any real problems.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Candy bars.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee.
Perceived Strength: Medium.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack.
THE MANSA MADURO – BEN
Summary: Soft boxed press vitolas have slowly become one of my favorites lately. The firmness, patient burn, and if done right - maintaining its shape throughout; however, this particular one has tons of soft spots and is loosely rolled.
In lieu of construction, it delivered a very nice combination of black pepper, earth, spice, and dry wood notes. Would have LOVED to enjoy this smoke longer but it burned super fast and hot.
It came and went so quickly; I'm tempted to smoke it again hoping the outcome was just a blip.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Instrumental jazz playlist.
Pairing Suggestion: Pinot.
Perceived Strength: Medium.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack.
THE MANSA MADURO – TED
Summary: This week we have a box pressed robusto in the review lineup. The box press doesn’t have sharp edges on it, but it looks like a well-made cigar. The cold draw is open and I taste cocoa and cereal grain flavors.
Notes of cocoa and wood, vegetal flavors, and coffee as well. This profile is ultra-mild. The retro hale offers just a hint of spice, but not much.
Middle section burning. It’s Groundhog Day. Copy and paste first paragraph here. It’s burning nicely and producing great smoke, but very linear.
End section simply playing follow the leader. Wood, leather, and a small amount of spice but extremely mild profile.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Waiting in line at the DMV.
Pairing Suggestion: Water only.
Perceived Strength: Mild.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single.
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
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