Meet the Saga Short Tales Tomo II Cotui - a 5"x54 figurado that crams full-bodied Dominican flavor into short smoking sessions. This box-pressed beauty from De Los Reyes rolls up Cotui-grown wrapper leaf with Indonesian binder and a mix of Dominican/American fillers. At $9 per stick, it's your ticket to soil-driven flavors without breaking the bank.
Cold draw serves damp earth and molasses. Initial puffs burst with black pepper that hits like morning coffee - sharp but invigorating. Smoke output feels medium-heavy, coating the tongue. Watch that razor-sharp burn line as roasted nuts and mineral notes emerge. Retrohale shows why Cotui tobacco rules - flinty sparks mellow into cream.
Pepper subsides to let woody flavors shine. Imagine biting into cedar planks dipped in espresso. The Indonesian binder flexes its muscle here - adds a dry cocoa powder texture. Ash holds strong past 1.5 inches. Pairing tip: Dominican rum enhances the emerging raisin sweetness.
Strength builds steadily - nicotine kick might surprise you. Leather and black coffee dominate now, with background whispers of charred meat. Burn stays even but watch for tar buildup past the band. Smart move to nub it before the last inch unless you dig asphalt notes.
That Cotui wrapper isn't just marketing fluff. Grown in DR's mineral-rich Cibao Valley, the soil imparts distinct graphite and wet stone notes you won't find in Piloto-grown blends. Aging in Santiago's humidity (68% avg) helps mellow the raw power. Pro tip: Store these at 65% RH to keep that earthy edge from turning muddy.
