The La Gloria Cubana Serie R No.8 Maduro smacks you with its 7x70 frame - think baseball bat thickness with Dominican-Nicaraguan guts wrapped in oily Connecticut Broadleaf. At $11 per stick in 15-count boxes, this dark mastodon delivers a 90-minute power trip for seasoned smokers chasing flavor density without breaking the bank.
The punchy open serves espresso grounds and black pepper with an undertow of fermented sweetness - like chewing on a wet cedar plank. Smoke output stays surprisingly manageable despite the massive ring gauge.
At the 40-minute mark, stewed plum emerges through charred oak notes. Watch for nicotine creep - the Honduran ligero starts flexing here. Retrohale unleashes baking spices that'll clear your sinuses.
Last two inches get dirty in the best way: molten chocolate, burnt ends crust, and a mineral tang reminiscent of gunflint. Gut check time - combustion stays true but the body load demands food prep.
