Straight outta the Dominican Republic, the La Galera Maduro Presidente Churchill rolls in with a 7¼" x 50 Churchill format that's perfect for those Netflix-and-chill evenings. This box-pressed stogie wears a dark Mexican San Andrés wrapper like a leather jacket - oily with just enough tooth to make your fingers tingle. At $97.95 for 20 sticks, it's the kinda daily driver that won't empty your wallet but still brings that medium-full smoke show.
Cold draw hits with dried fruit sweetness - like raisin bran without the milk. Initial puffs bring espresso bitterness that mellows into dark chocolate territory within three minutes. Smoke output's decent but not cloud-chaser level. The burn line's cleaner than my shave job, needing zero touch-ups.
Around the 40-minute mark, black pepper enters stage left. Not the "cough-your-lungs-out" Nicaraguan kind, more like fresh cracked peppercorns on a steak. Earthiness ramps up - think damp forest floor after summer rain. Retrohale reveals licorice that'll make Jelly Belly fans smirk.
Last third brings the nicotine hug. Cedar notes emerge through caramelized sweetness, like bourbon-aged firewood. The nub stays cool thanks to the Churchill length, though some might bail when the tar starts whispering sweet nothings to their throat.
Perfect for Maduro converts who find Padróns too intense. Construction's tighter than a drum - I've smoked ten of these and only one needed a perfectdraw tool. Pair with cold brew coffee or that cheap bourbon you hide from guests.
