This box-pressed Dominican puro comes swinging with a 6.25"x52 frame wrapped in oily Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf. At $25+ per stick, the ESG 23-Year Salute positions itself as a special occasion smoke. The initial cold draw teases cedar and dried fruit notes that quickly evolve into spice-laden complexity.
First Third: Immediate cedar and baking spices (cinnamon/nutmeg) mingle with creamy cashew undertones. Combustion starts razor-sharp with thick smoke output despite the box press.
Second Third: White pepper ratchets up intensity alongside emerging dark chocolate notes. The ash holds firm despite flaky appearance - no touch-ups needed. Retrohale reveals subtle caramel sweetness balancing the spice.
Final Third: Transforms into espresso-forward powerhouse with leather accents. Strength crescendos to full-bodied territory around the band point. Molasses-like sweetness lingers between puffs to offset nicotine buildup.
The Colorado Maduro wrapper glistens with visible oils. Triple-seam cap cuts cleanly with standard guillotine. Burn line stays even until final third when slight canoeing may occur - quick correction with torch lighter.
