Los Blancos Maduro

Wrapper: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Toro (6×52)
Strength: Medium

The Los Blancos Maduro cigar comes packed in a bright yellow box banded with the bright yellow Los Blancos bands. The color compliments the dark oily wrapper so well I almost hate lighting the tasty maduros. The box sits well in any humidor, smoke room, or lounge and will catch the eyes of many.

Looks are not the only thing this maduro cigar has going for it: It’s a great stick to smoke and brought to you at a reasonable price ($6)

Construction: Los Blancos makes one intimidating looking maduro wrapper - this is one dark cigar. “Chocolaty” might be the best way to describe this Los Blancos stick. The wrapper in it self looked very well constructed with not too many veins and just enough texture to know it’s a solid smoke. Upon the removal of the cellophane you will immediately notice the nice oils coming through the wrapper. It’s actually just enough to get you excited.

Los Blancos Maduro’s are consistently firm with no soft spots. Never once have I encountered any unraveling problems while smoking.

Draw: My method of opening the cigar is normally a punch. The punch was a perfect fit for this stick and the draw was just right. I have used the trusty XIKAR Xi3 every now and then and have not had a problem; a quality cigar will always have a great draw.

Burn: This area of the Los Blancos Maduro review might bring my only complaint. Of the many cigars I have smoked a vast majority of them have burned slightly uneven and a correction with my torch was always needed. On a good note the burn rate was perfect and the ash was always securely in place.

Taste: While the Los Blancos wrapper may make the stick appear strong - that was not the case. This maduro was a very pleasant smoke. I picked up some cocoa flavors from the light and the smoke slowly introduced a woody flavor that has a hint of spice. The smoke is creamy and creates a very well balanced medium cigar.

Verdict Is: As you can see from my pictures I have a box of the Los Blancos Maduro. This is a great medium bodied cigar that you can enjoy in the day time, night time, summer, or winter. The price point is excellent at around $6 a stick. Heck, this cigar would still be a good value even if it had run a few bucks more (please don’t raise the prices). So at least get this stick the next time your in a shop and looking for something good to smoke. I have a feeling you may just pick up a box.

Montesino Toro Maduro

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler:Dominican Republic
Size: Toro
Strength: Mild-Medium

The Montesino Maduro cigar review. Montesino Maduro cigars are part of the “Cigar Family”, in fact this is one of the first cigars that Carlos Fuente Sr. and his son Carlos Fuente Jr. produced in their new Dominican Republic factory (a house actually). The Fuente Family says they use “only the finest vintage tobaccos that are aged for exceptionally long periods of time” and like some of the more expensive Fuente products: This cigar is just as tasty.

Construction: The Montesino Maduro looks like it wants to sit in your shirt pocket all day while you work, and when you’re done you pull it out and the Montesino will still be in perfect condition. In other words: It’s ROUGH. The maduro wrapper is also dull with no oily sheen. Fuente has produced a really antique looking cigar.

Fuente’s Montesino had no soft spots in the cigar and are always wrapped just right. While smoking you will not encounter any unraveling problems.

Draw: I punched this specific Montesino and have smoked others with a cut end. The results are the same: A perfect draw that’s not too hard / easy.

Burn: At times this rough cigar can create a rough burn becoming a little uneven at some points. This is not an issue though because the Montesino will quickly correct itself. Overall burn was just a little slow.

Ash had no problem staying on this maduro but it wasn’t firm as I would have liked to see.

Taste: Montesino Toro maduro is not a cigar that is bursting with many complex flavors. Initially I think a hint a cedar was present and the smoke was somewhat dry. However after the first couple of puffs the smoke began to get creamier and the taste began to change.

Continuing to smoke I picked up was a bit of spice that just tickled my pallet wishing for more. Wood and… (Chocolate?) just something else that stayed with the entire cigar. Again all these flavors were very light, but expected for a mild cigar.

Nothing much changed as the cigar came to an end. The smoke might have gotten just a tad bit heavier and a bit creamier.

It’s a mild cigar.

Verdict Is: The Montesino maduro cigars (in general) are sticks that you should always keep in your arsenal. One of the main reasons: It’s a tasty, cheap $4 stick that is mild to medium in flavor. Meaning you will have no trouble handing this cigar out to new smokers who wish to join you.

I would like to say that if I had $4 to spend on a personal cigar this would not be it. I would prefer the JFR Maduro or even the Oliva G.

Other Cigars:
Higher Priced: Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story
Same Price: Oliva G
Lower Priced: JFR