This box-pressed Toro immediately commands attention with its obsidian-hued Nicaraguan sun grown wrapper gleaming like polished onyx. At 5½" x 56 ring gauge, the substantial vitola feels dense in hand with perfect box-press edges. Our sample from a 2022 box burned straight as an arrow despite its muscular construction.
The cold draw delivers damp earth and molasses. Upon ignition, thick espresso cream textures coat the palate with baker's chocolate intensity. Cedar undertones emerge midway through, balancing the chocolate overload. Smoke output stays moderate - dense plumes that linger like morning fog.
Caramelized walnut notes take center stage at the 30-minute mark. The retrohale sparks with white pepper that's more tingle than burn. Watch for mineral tanginess around the band point - a signature of Padron's aged Estelí fillers. Ash holds firm past 2 inches.
Leather and black pepper dominate the last act. Despite the full-bodied label, nicotine buildup stays manageable. The final inch introduces unexpected cinnamon stick sweetness before closing with graphite minerality. Total smoke time clocks 1hr45min.
The Jalapa Valley wrapper leaf undergoes 18-month natural curing in cedar pilones. Filler tobaccos from Estelí's volcanic soils age 10+ years in bales, developing that signature Padron sweetness. The box-press technique isn't just aesthetic - it creates slower combustion for flavor concentration.
