This torpedo-shaped figurado comes in 6⅛"×52 format with an oily Ecuador Sumatra wrapper that glistens under light. Priced at $323.76 per box of 28 sticks, it's blended by Grupo de Maestros using Peruvian/Dominican/Nicaraguan fillers. The medium-full bodied smoke shows textbook construction with tight seams and a pointed cap that cuts clean. Let's break down how this Dominican-made anniversary edition performs compared to Cuban classics.
The cold draw brings sweet cedar with raisin notes. Initial puffs deliver black pepper spice that tingles the tongue - more aggressive than Cuban RyJs. Smoke production stays moderate, requiring deliberate draws. Ash holds firm for 1.5" before dropping, revealing slight canoeing on the burn line.
Pepper subsides into espresso grounds and dark chocolate. Retrohale shows leathery undertones with a sticky molasses sweetness lingering on lips. Smoke density increases noticeably, leaving visible vapor clouds. The broadleaf binder contributes to growing nicotine presence - not quite Partagás-level but demands slow pacing.
Last third introduces burnt caramel bitterness mixed with charred oak. Draw tightens slightly, requiring relights. Throat catch develops past the midpoint, typical of Nicaraguan-heavy blends. Savory umami notes emerge near nub, though few smokers push beyond 50-minute mark due to tar buildup.
Though rolled at Tabacalera de Garcia (world's largest cigar factory), several samples showed wrapper veins and spongy spots. The two-way Boveda packaging maintains 69% RH effectively - cigars arrive slightly overhumidified but stabilize after 2 weeks in humidor. Box date codes reveal 12-18 month aging before shipping.
