This Nicaraguan puro dressed in dark Mexican robes demands attention from full-bodied enthusiasts. The Reserva Maximo variant measures 5½" x54 with box-pressed parejo shape, packing aged Nicaraguan filler under that oily San Andrés Oscuro wrapper. At about $11 per stick in 24-count boxes, it's positioned as a premium daily driver for seasoned smokers.
First Third: Immediate black pepper burst transitions to dark chocolate fudge and charred oak. Noticeable espresso bitterness balances the sweetness - think 85% dark cacao with demerara rim on a cortado cup.
Middle Third: Earthiness emerges like damp forest floor after rain. Baking spices (cinnamon/nutmeg) surface beneath leather undertones. Retrohale brings cayenne-like heat without harshness.
Final Third: Mineral graphite notes creep in as pepper crescendos. Chocolate transforms into cocoa powder dryness. Burns cool to nub if you can handle the nicotine kick - strength accumulates like compound interest.
