Let's cut straight to this 5x58 figurado beast from Foundation Cigar Company. Nicknamed "Chocolate Log" by regulars, this $13-stick (box of 25 for $326.25) wraps Connecticut Broadleaf around Nicaraguan guts. The oily maduro wrapper practically shines under humidor lights - you know it's fresh when your fingers leave smudge marks. Perfect for after-dinner smokes, but keep that bourbon handy.
Cold draw hits with damp earth and molasses. Initial puffs deliver espresso grounds and bitter cocoa - no sweetness here. Smoke output's modest but thick, hangs in the air like barbecue smoke. Watch the burn line; ours needed two touch-ups in first inch.
Pepper bomb alert! Black pepper joins charred oak notes. Retrohale stings like wasabi - in a good way. Ash holds solid 1.5" before dropping. This is where the San Andrés binder shines, adding baking spice complexity.
Tar buildup kicks in around 45-minute mark. Last inch brings unexpected raisins and licorice twist, though some report metallic notes. Cut it before nub stage unless you want nicotine spins.
Rolled at AJ Fernandez's Nicaraguan facility - you can taste the Estelí volcanic soil minerals. The CT Broadleaf gets 18+ months fermentation, explaining that signature raisin sweetness. Box art features Haile Selassie's portrait, though ironically zero Ethiopian tobacco inside.
