This hefty 6x60 gordo stick packs Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos under a dark maduro wrapper, retailing at $243/box of 24. The name comes from an after-dark tobacco field toast by brand founder Alan Rubin - though we suspect some Kentucky bourbon might have fueled that "magic".
First Third: Initial dark chocolate notes mix with baking spices. Smoke production feels moderate - no thick plumes here. The Brazilian wrapper's minerality comes through like licking a wet stone.
Middle Third: Transitions to espresso grounds and charred oak. Watch the burn line; the 60-ring gauge tends to canoe if rushed. Retrohale brings black pepper that lingers in the nostrils.
Final Third: Leather and burnt caramel dominate as nicotine builds. New smokers might ditch it here, but veterans will chase the emerging plum-like sweetness through slight tar accumulation.
The Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper's volcanic soil origins explain its ashy mineral edge. Nicaraguan Jalapa binder adds baking spice sweetness while Honduran Jamastran filler maintains combustion stability - crucial for this fat ring gauge.
Ideal for full-bodied lovers wanting 90+ minutes of complexity. Pair with black coffee or aged rum. Let rest 6+ months if sensitive to pepper sharpness. First-timers might opt for the smaller Robusto size instead.
