This box-pressed 5¾"×46 corona gorda comes loaded with Dominican filler wrapped in that signature oily Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf. Priced around $14 per stick in 24-count boxes, it's the kind of full-bodied beast that demands respect - think pepper spray to your palate with occasional sweet relief.
Initial puffs deliver black pepper sharpness that'll make your sinuses tingle. Underneath the spice: charred oak and walnut husk bitterness. Smoke output feels surprisingly medium despite the bold flavors.
Espresso grounds and dark chocolate emerge through the Dominican earthiness. Watch for occasional caramel sweetness that disappears faster than morning fog. Ash holds tight in 1-inch segments.
Mineral tang mixes with leather in the home stretch. Retrohale reveals faint cherry notes struggling against persistent black pepper. Nicotine kick starts creeping up at the band point.
The magic starts in Ecuador's Quito Valley where cloud-filtered sun grows that dark wrapper leaf. Dominican Piloto cubano binder brings nutty base notes while Nicaraguan Jalapa ligero adds the kick. Every stick rolled in Fuente's Dominican factory using their signature tripa larga method.
Pair with black coffee or aged rum to cut through the intensity. Let newer boxes rest 6+ months - that pepper calms down nicely with some age. Morning smokers might want to eat breakfast first.
