Let's talk about this Nicaraguan beast with a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper that's been bourbon barrel-aged for 14 months. At 6½" x 48, the Corona Grande format gives you a solid 75-minute smoke packed with dark flavors. Priced around $210 for 24 sticks, it's that reliable mid-tier Maduro that won't obliterate your wallet or your palate.
First Third: Immediate dark chocolate hits with that signature Maduro sweetness, backed by black pepper that prickles the tongue. Retrohale brings burnt caramel and hickory smoke. Ash holds strong for 1.5" before dropping.
Mid-Session: Transition to espresso grounds and charred oak dominates. The pepper mellows into cayenne-level heat rather than habanero. Noticeable oil ring forms as the barrel-aging influence manifests in vanilla undertones.
Final Stretch: Leather and earth take over with nicotine strength peaking at medium-full. Last inch develops bitter cocoa nibs - classic Maduro tail. Pairing tip: cuts through bourbon nicely but overwhelms lighter rums.
Construction notes: 2/24 sticks in our test box had minor wrapper cracks - common with oily Maduros. Perdomo's Nicaraguan puro recipe uses volcanic soil-grown tobacco from Estelí and Jalapa valleys. The bourbon barrel aging adds sweetness but doesn't overpower like some infused sticks.
