This box-pressed Dominican puro throws punches like a heavyweight in compact packaging. The 4.5"x50 figurado comes tightly wrapped in oily Mexican San Andres maduro leaf, smelling of fermented tobacco and dried fruit straight from the cellophane. At under $7 per stick in 24-count boxes, it's built for daily smokes that don't skimp on flavor.
First Third: Immediate earthiness with espresso grounds texture. Pepper spray settles into baking spices by the inch mark. Draw stays tight but manageable, producing chalky smoke that clings to the palate.
Middle Third: Leathery core emerges through bitter cocoa powder. Retrohale reveals charred cedar and cinnamon stick. Burn line holds straight without touch-ups, ash holding firm in ¾" segments.
Final Third: Nicaraguan ligero flexes with black coffee intensity. Dark fruit sweetness briefly flashes before burnt toast takes over. Cut it short at nub - tar buildup comes quick in last half-inch.
The triple-cap punches cleanly with XIKAR Xi cutter. Initial light needs multiple torches - dense pack requires patience. Combustion improves after first half-inch, needing only two corrections on breezy 70°F days at 65% RH.
Works best for maduro lovers wanting short smoke intensity without Cuban price tags. Newbies might find the pepper overwhelming, while veterans will appreciate the Nicaraguan power in petite format. Pair with cold brew coffee to cut through the bitterness.
