Vitola: Robusto- 5” x 50 ring gauge
- $9.35
- Samples provided by Bocock Brothers Cigars
Background
The last couple weeks I’ve looked at the first two releases from the Bocock Brothers Cigar Company in their World Traveler Collection, a Connecticut and a Habano. Today I’ll be turning my focus to the Maduro.
The company’s website indicates that the wrapper on this blend is from Honduras and that it carries two binders, a U.S. Connecticut and a Honduran leaf. I would say that Connecticut Shade would be very seldom used as a binder, so I’m guessing Broadleaf is what was used there. The filler leaves are not disclosed on the company’s website, although the other two blends use Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos.
While this is their “official” Maduro release at this time, when I was originally contacted by the company about reviewing these, it was mentioned that they are working on a “Mexican” wrapped cigar, which would probably be another Maduro of some sort…so be on the lookout for that in the coming months. I was provided samples by the Bocock Brothers and this is the third sample I’ve smoked.
Prelight
The band matches the design of the other two cigars in this series, with the “color coding” here being black. If you liked the design before or if you didn’t, I don’t think this cigar is going to change your mind. Personally I like it.
The wrapper leaf was a dark chocolate brown, rugged in appearance, with a moderate amount of oiliness. I mention that it’s rugged in appearance, and by that I mean that I could mistake this for a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper if I wasn’t told differently. The wrapper leaf had a rich coffee and chocolate “mocha” aroma, while the foot had notes of earth, cedar, coffee beans, and bell pepper.
This was my first review cigar that I cut with my new Xikar Xi cutter…an Xi1 in red with phantom (black) blades. It left a spectacularly clean straight cut with an excellent draw that had semi-sweet chocolate, espresso bean, and earth notes.
Flavor
Firing up the Bocock World Traveler Maduro, I got dry, unsweetened cocoa powder at first, with backup notes of earth and coffee bean and wood. Underneath that was a slight dark fruit sweetness and some black pepper. The retrohale had notes of wood, roasted nuts, and red pepper flake. As the first third burned along, I was impressed by the smooth notes of dark roast coffee and semisweet chocolate, overlaying earthy notes with just enough pepper and wood in the background.
The flavor of espresso beans increased in the second third, with a corresponding decrease in cocoa powder. There was a touch of sweetness left, but it was almost more of an afterthought by the end of the third. Other minor notes were of cedar and pepper.
During the final third, there was a slight resurgence of sweetness with dark chocolate coming back to play alongside the notes of earth and espresso bean. There was a slight increase in pepper, as well.
Construction
I had an excellent draw, very even burn line, and solid ash.
Value
Very good cigar at a very fair price.
Conclusions
For the first couple times I smoked this blend, I found it a little harsh, but a couple extra weeks in my humidor after travel really made a world of difference, rounding off the rougher edges and making this Bocock Brothers World Traveler Maduro a real delight. I found it at the lower end of full-bodied, with plenty of sweet notes to balance the coffee and earth that led the way most of the way. Although I like the Habano more for the first couple times I smoked either blend, the Maduro is definitely my preferred expression of this blend at this point. Very good cigar that I would enjoy again and again.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
