Let's talk about this big boy - La Gloria Cubana Serie R No7 Maduro. This 7-inch firecracker comes wrapped in oily Connecticut Broadleaf that glistens like melted chocolate. At 58 ring gauge, it feels chunky in hand yet draws easier than you'd expect. Box of 24 will set you back about $259, putting it firmly in "weekend treat" territory rather than daily driver material.
Initial light reveals black pepper that tingles the tongue. Heavy earth notes dominate, like damp soil after rain. Thick smoke production coats the palate. About 20 minutes in, burnt caramel sweetness emerges underneath the leathery punch.
Cocoa powder mixes with cedar as the burn line passes halfway. Retrohale gives espresso bitterness balanced by molasses. Occasional nutty flashes (almond?) appear then vanish. Ash holds firm for nearly 3 inches before first tap.
Last third intensifies with charred oak and mineral notes. Sweetness fades, replaced by umami richness reminiscent of soy sauce. Nicotine buzz creeps up around nub territory. Recommended to put it down before the final inch unless you're chasing that head rush.
Maduro wrapper shows minimal veins with tight cap. Pre-light sniff reveals barnyard funk. Cold draw offers raisin sweetness. Burn stays mostly even though canoeing occurs if puffed too fast. White ash forms tight rings. Best paired with black coffee or neat bourbon to cut through the intensity.
Rolled in General Cigar's Dominican factory using Nicaraguan binder and Dominican filler tobaccos. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper undergoes extended fermentation to develop those signature chocolatey notes. Non-Cuban heritage allows consistent quality control absent in Habanos products.
