La Flor de Maria Mancini (Maduro) - Robusto Larga

[AmsterDan]

Brand: La Flor de Maria Mancini
Size: Robusto Larga 6" x 50
Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Costa Rican Maduro
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Nicaraguan

Appearance, Touch and Scent
This is a beautiful looking Maduro, almost like pure chocolate. There are little to medium veins and is fairly evenly rolled with a slightly looser feel near the foot and a well constructed double cap at the head. The scent has two specifics; hayish sweet with an almost sour influence. I've had only one previous experience with a Costa Rican wrapper .... the delicious Taboo Costa Rica Maduro. Looking forward to see what this Maria Mancini is going to be like.



Cut and Light
The first few puffs bring a bitter wood with pepper to the front of my palate.
In the first part that bitterness is gone, it moved to the finish. Sweetness of the cedar wood and pepper are leading. The overall impression so far is that the cigar could be smoother and I think that is to blame to the somewhat sharp pepper. So far a simple palate, light to medium body.

The second part is where Maria starts to flourish. She's getting smooth, mellow and the flavours mature. Cedar wood is dominant, the sweetness originating from that become deeper, darker and rounder, like the taste of raisins. Spices support the woody tones and pepper is there to suit the palate well. Altogether it reminds me of ginger bread. The smoke is definitely friendlier compared to the first part, leaves a nice mouth feel and brings a medium coffee/soil flavour to the finish.

Third part is similar to the second part and is full of wood and round spices, like ginger bread but also kicks up some pepper. Later on, near the nub, it's about cedar wood making a come-back and the onset of bitter tones ... time to let this cigar rest.

Conclusion
Flavour wise, I enjoyed the second part the most and even discovered three citrus tones which didn't sustain. The down side was the burn, ugh ... continuously in need of a touch up since it wouldn't self-correct and would extinguish quickly. Ash was fluffy and held on for about 1 Inch. The draw was perfect. A side note my girlfriend made (who loves cigars as much as we do) said the aroma was 'dirty' smelling, nothing like the typical cigar smell. Don't really care to much for that but in social events I find the aroma to become important. There's nothing better than hearing someone say, "That smells so nice!". So ... would I smoke the cigar again? No, I really enjoyed the palate for just one part of the cigar and the smoking experience wasn't very good.

Appearance: 8/10
Construction: 7/10
Draw: 9/10
Burn: 5/10
Ash: 7/10
1st Part: 6/10
2nd Part: 8/10
3rd Part: 6/10