5 Great Maduros

When someone offers you a Maduro cigar, you probably immediately think “strong” or “full-bodied.” Most of the time you would end up being correct, although the special kind of dark leaf that is “Maduro” doesn’t automatically mean it’s going to be stronger than any other given blend. Today I’m going to recommend to you 5 Great Maduro Cigars, but first let’s talk a little about what “Maduro” is.

Firstly, it’s important to know that the word “Maduro” is Spanish for “ripe.” It doesn’t mean dark (that’s “oscuro”…another type of dark leaf) or strong (“fuerte”). The second thing to realize is that not everyone thinks about the appellation in the same way; there is a serious divide among cigar-makers between “Maduro” being a process versus it being a color. I have had discussions with respected manufacturers (with names you would recognize) that fall on either side of the argument.

I am in the “Maduro is a process” camp, myself. Maduro leaves are subjected to a longer and hotter fermentation process which results in the leaves being darker in appearance and also brings out more of the leaves’ natural sugars. Cigar tobacco is fermented by stacking it up in piles (“pilonés”) that basically start a composting process, generating heat in the middle of the pile. The pile is systematically turned once it gets to a certain temperature in the center, typically somewhere between 110 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit; Maduro leaves are allowed to get closer to 140 to 150 degrees before turning. Not all tobacco can stand up to that kind of heat without breaking down structurally, so not everything is turned into Maduro.

The most common Maduro leaves tend to be Broadleaf (both Connecticut and Pennsylvania), Mexican San Andres, and Habano (Ecuadorian and Nicaraguan being the most common for Maduro), although Brazil produces several very good Maduro options in Mata Fina, Cubra, and Arapiraca and there are some other more minor players in the Maduro field.

One reason I can’t get behind the “Maduro is a color” argument is that there is far too much color-manipulation possible. I’ve seen (and tasted) leaves that would have been just fine as “real” Maduros except they had been cooked, dyed, painted, or otherwise unnaturally altered to be darker in color. To me this usually results in a pronounced sourness in the blend. True Maduro processing should make a leaf sweeter.

One last thing: people usually think Maduros are automatically stronger. That’s not true, however, it does seem that Maduro leaves do blend better with a stronger filler/binder combination…the stronger cores work better with the sweeter outer leaf. There are some wonderful exceptions to this rule, though, such as Le Careme by Crowned Heads, a true medium-bodied Maduro. Here are 5 other Maduro-wrapped sticks worth your time:

5. La Nox by La Flor Dominicana

La Flor Dominicana has produced some great Maduro cigars over the years, but my favorite is La Nox, originally released in 2015. The dark Brazilian wrapper initially plays as medium-plus in body with a pronounced sweetness, but like all great LFDs, this stick is a powerhouse. By the time you get to the last third, the strength has ramped up to face-melting and only experienced leaf enthusiasts need apply. Still, La Nox doesn’t trade in its flavor for pure strength…it tastes great from beginning to end.

4. Tennessee Waltz by Crowned Heads

I remember asking Crowned Heads’ principle, Jon Huber, if they would do a Connecticut Broadleaf-wrapped cigar one day. His answer was, “I think Ernesto is hogging all the Broadleaf!” Coincidentally, it was only a year or so later when they started working with new blends at the My Father factory and suddenly Broadleaf became part of the game. The Tennessee Waltz is a medium-to-full-bodied Broadleaf blend that is only sold through Tennessee retailers (although Hawaii and Texas have their own sizes of the same blend, too). The My Father folks have done some outstanding Broadleaf sticks for themselves, Tatuaje/L’Atelier, and others, but this really might be the best of them…why else would Keith name it his “Cigar of the Year” a few cycles ago?

3. Herrera Esteli Maduro TAA Exclusive by Drew Estate

This one came from left field. The Tobacconist Association of America (TAA) allows for certain member-only blends and sizes every year. There are some really great ones out there, but when I heard about the Herrera Esteli Maduro, it just didn’t register that it would be an instant classic. Turns out the blend shares virtually nothing with the original Herrera Esteli blend, although some of the Nicaraguan fillers could be in common. For a binder, it uses a Brazilian leaf and the wrapper is Connecticut Broadleaf. If you pay attention to Drew Estate, you may realize that this is very close to the same description used for a Liga Privada #9. I’ve taken to describing the HE Maduro as the love-child between a regular Herrera Esteli and a Liga #9…and it’s not far off. Definitely a different blend…and one I like even better.

2. 1926 Serie No 90 Maduro by Padron

Four months ago I probably would have included the 80 Years Maduro on this list. Today the No 90 surpasses it in flavor…and undercuts it in price by about $8 a stick! In an industry where prices continually go up and up and up, getting a superior product for less money just doesn’t seem logical. But I’ll take it. Padron uses either a Mexican or Nicaraguan Maduro leaf for these cigars, depending on who you ask (I personally think the 1926 is Nicaragua, although I’m quite sure the 1964 Anniversary Series is Mexican), but in the end does it really matter? This is a great cigar. Period and end of story.

1. Mi Querida by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust

And so is this. Of course, I named the Mi Querida as my own “Cigar of the Year” for 2016, so it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that I put it on this list of 5 Great Maduros. But I seriously can’t say anything bad about it. I’ve smoked 5 different vitolas and the only one I wouldn’t care to do again is the Muy Gordo Grande, which is a 56 ring gauge stick that, for me, deadens the flavor notes. Stick with the Fino Largo (Corona Gorda), Ancho Corto (Robusto), or Ancho Largo (Toro) and you’ll be very happy. Find the Pequeño Pequeño (limited production petite Corona) and you’ll flip your lid. Like anyone else making cigars, I’m sure Steve Saka has the capability of making a bad cigar…but he hasn’t done so yet.

Those are 5 of my favorites…I’d have box after box after box of them delivered to my front door if I could. But let’s be honest…there’s really nothing on this list that will surprise anyone who’s a regular reader of this blog. So…what about you? What Maduros tickle your taste buds? Are there cigars that I’ve missed in my travels? Comment below and let me know!