Meet the La Galera Anemoi Notus - a box-pressed Robusto Gordo with Dominican fire under its Connecticut Broadleaf hood. This 5x56 stick packs medium-full intensity wrapped in oily dark leaf that's practically begging to be lit. The blend's secret weapon? Wind-cured Dominican Criollo 98 and Piloto Cubano tobaccos that'll make you rethink everything you know about Caribbean leaf.
The initial light kicks off with blackstrap molasses sweetness wrestling dark roast coffee grounds. There's an earthy undercurrent of damp forest floor - the kind that clings to your boots after tropical rain. Smoke production stays moderate but dense, like inhaling a campfire made of forbidden textbooks.
Enter the spice cabinet explosion. Whole black peppercorns and nutmeg crash into charred cedar planks. The Dominican Piloto shows its teeth with fermented stone fruit notes that hover between ripe plum and balsamic reduction. Watch the burn line - that Broadleaf wrapper likes to canoe if rushed.
Things get serious in the home stretch. Unsweetened cocoa powder and leather tannins dominate as nicotine creep becomes noticeable. The last inch serves up a surprise cameo of dried cherry that'll either make you reach for bourbon or a brown bag - your mileage may vary.
Dry box this brute for 48 hours before lighting. That Broadleaf needs to breathe unless you're into relights. Pair with cold brew coffee or aged rum to tame the savage finale.
