Let's cut to the chase - the La Dueña No.2 Belicoso packs Nicaraguan fire in a 4.75"×48 figurado format. At about $8.30 per stick (box of 21 for $174.83), this My Father blend delivers textbook Nicaraguan character with some unexpected twists. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper shines like a used baseball glove, hinting at the earthy adventure within.
Cold draw serves barnyard earthiness with raisin sweetness. Initial puffs deliver cocoa powder dusting over charred oak - that Connecticut Broadleaf doing its dirty work. Pepper stays restrained but present, like a bodyguard standing in the corner.
Volcanic soil minerals take center stage, backed by espresso grounds and rotting cherry notes. Burn line stays razor-sharp despite the irregular figurado shape. Retrohale brings unexpected floral hints - like finding violets in a coal mine.
Smoke turns creamier as tar builds, introducing cashew butter and burnt caramel. Last inch gets aggressive with nicotine punch - perfect time to pair with raw honey or demerara rum. Finger burning comes before actual harshness, a rare achievement.
The belicoso taper holds its shape better than most - no unraveling even with careless guillotine cuts. Ash stacks like compacted sandstone in 1" segments. Draw starts slightly firm but opens up after first 10 minutes. Box-pressed sides prevent canoeing common in rounded figurados.
