This Honduran puro with Nicaraguan guts comes in at 6"x52 ring gauge - your classic Toro size. Priced around $9 per stick in 20-count boxes, it's got that Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper glistening with oil that makes you want to rub your thumb across the seam. Let's light this art-inspired stick and see what flavors painter Elmer Ciserón Bautista brought to the blend.
Initial puffs bring damp earth and black coffee bitterness. The draw opens up after half-inch burn - cedar planks and almond skin emerge through pepper-spiced smoke. Retrohale stings slightly with white pepper, though nicotine hasn't built up yet.
Core profile shifts to melted dark chocolate (85% cocoa). Baking spices come alive - cinnamon stick, nutmeg, and a touch of allspice. Smoke texture thickens noticeably, leaving maple syrup sweetness on the lips.
Last third introduces graphite minerality blending with leather tones. Pepper fades while burnt caramel sweetness lingers. Stopped at 1.5" nub - tar never overpowers. No relights needed throughout the 85-minute session.
The Honduran roll showed excellent combustion - ash held 1.5" chunks. Triple-seam cap cut cleanly. Wrapper maintained elasticity even in 65% humidity. Box code 23HND shows 9-month aging potential according to blender Juan Carlos Garcia's recommendation.
