Don Gonzalez Special Edition (Maduro)
Awhile back, Duque Cigars sent me the Don Gonzalez Special Edition. After some rest in the humidor, it was time to smoke and review them. Rated 90 by Cigar Snob, these cigars use Cuban seed tobaccos grown in the region Esteli Nicaragua. You can see the selection of Don Gonzalez cigars here if this sounds like something you’d be interested in.
Stay tuned, coming soon I’ll let you know how to win a box of these.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Toro 6 x 50
Price: Around $5.00
Pre-Smoke & Inspection:
The wrapper was a bit rugged looking, with some discolorations and bumps here and there. Otherwise it showed no flaws in construction or quality. The wrapper had a sweet grassy like smell, while the foot had a more earthy and peppery odor. The pre-light draw was a little tight, and had a simple earthy tobacco taste.
The burn was good, requiring no corrections. The initial tight draw opened up and wasn’t a problem, and the ash held for well over an inch.
Flavor:
The first third began with a smooth earthy flavor. A sweet spice was detected when passing smoke through the sinus. Woody notes of cedar followed to round out the first third.
Just at I got into the second third, I started to pick up very subtle notes of cocoa. It was a dry cocoa, similar to the powder you’d put in milk. Next up was a peppery spice with a hint of sweetness. The earthy flavors remained while the woodiness took a back seat. Simple but decent.
The last third crept higher into the medium body range. The dry mocha increased in strength and stood out over the other flavors. There was a peppery spice when exhaling through the sinus. The woodiness lurked in the background.
Conclusion:
Although this cigar didn’t “WOW” me, I think it is a decent medium bodied cigar. Although the flavor profile was simple, I can’t fault it for that because it wasn’t harsh and didn’t taste bad. This is a cigar you’d have to judge for yourself. I say its worth trying.
