Pete Johnson's El Suelo Terreno brings bold Nicaraguan spice wrapped in Ecuadorian Habano leaf. This 5.25"x56 parejo from the L'Atelier line comes in bundles of 20, packing medium-full intensity through its Nicaraguan/Broadleaf core. The Oscuro wrapper shines with visible oils, promising complex combustion - let's see how this box-pressed stick performs.
First Third: Immediate black pepper kick transitions into roasted cashews. The Broadleaf binder adds molasses sweetness that battles the Nicaraguan filler's white pepper spice. Smoke production stays moderate despite the 56 ring gauge.
Middle Third: Dark chocolate emerges alongside charred oak notes. Retrohale reveals cayenne pepper heat that accumulates on the palate. Burn line holds razor-sharp, ash holding past 1.5 inches.
Final Third: Leather and damp earth dominate as nicotine builds. Sweetness diminishes to burnt caramel nuances. Stop at 15% remaining - tar accumulation gets noticeable in last inch.
The box-pressed format burns slower than traditional parejos. Triple-seam cap unravels cleanly. While draw resistance varies slightly between samples (common in Broadleaf-wrapped cigars), no relights required when stored at 65% RH.
