Let's talk about the Oscar Valladares Sumatra Sixty 2012 - a box-pressed beast rolled in Honduras with an oily Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. This 6x60 torpedo comes packed 20 to a box at $183.60, packing Honduran/Nicaraguan tobaccos that promise smooth transitions from first light to nub. The mild-medium body makes it approachable for afternoon sessions.
The initial third hits with dry cedar and saddle leather, minimal sweetness but plenty of earthy depth. By the second third, I'm getting toasted cashews and white pepper spice - enough to make my tongue tingle without overwhelming. The final third brings bitter cocoa and coffee grounds, though the thin smoke output had me retrohaling to amplify flavors.
The box-pressed parejo shape maintains sharp edges throughout the smoke. My sample burned unevenly in the first inch before self-correcting - typical of broad 60-ring gauges. Ash held firm in 1.5" segments, though the tight draw required multiple relights past halfway point.
At $9.18 per stick, it's priced between factory seconds and premium brands. Doesn't reach Padrón's complexity but outperforms similarly priced Nicaraguan bundles. Best enjoyed as a morning smoke paired with black coffee.
