Pre-light Experience

The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Toro Especial has a chocolate brown wrapper with firmly pressed veins. The band is a coral blue, with white lettering and gold accents. The wrapper has aromas of sweet cedar, with light tobacco underneath. In the foot, all I’m able to distinguish is sweet tobacco.

First Third

The first few puffs are very creamy, leaving a light powdered cocoa taste and mouthfeel. Mild baking spices begin to develop along with cedar that lingers on the post draw. That cedar increases in intensity on the post draw rapidly, and brings some leather with it. As the cigar settles in, there’s a meaty sweetness anchoring the profile together. The leather stops increasing in intensity around 20 minutes settling at at medium minus intensity. At the 30 minute mark, some rich earthiness comes through at the end of the draw and carries into the post draw. By the end of the first third, the profile is defined by cedar and leather.

Second Third

Sweetness begins to push back on the cedar and leather flavor profile. Once the second third has had an opportunity to establish itself the leather moves to the post draw where it has a medium minus strength level, and a medium to long finish between draws. Some light plus baking spices return and carries through the entire third. In the second half of the third, powdered cocoa returns at a light plus level.

Final Third

By the final third, the cigar has settled into a cedar dominant profile around medium strength level, and there is no more development through the remainder of the cigar.

Burn

As with most Drew Estate cigars I’ve smoked, the construction is impeccable. The burn line is even through the entire cigar experience, with the ash constantly falling off around the one inch mark.

Draw

As with the construction, I can’t recall the last time I’ve had a draw issue with a Drew Estate cigar. The draw is at most a half notch into the resistant spectrum but still in what I would define as the ideal zone.

Overall

The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Toro Especial is an interesting departure from the blend profile that makes up the original Herrera Esteli line. I would describe the flavors as being cedar and leather forward, with supporting notes of powdered cocoa, baking spices and occasionally non-specific sweetness. The overall smoking experience was good, and I’m eager to try this offering in another vitola format. For the regular Herrera Esteli line, I found the Lonsdale Deluxe to have the most complex flavor profile. I look forward to comparing the results with the Brazilian Maduro Lonsdale Deluxe, Short Corona Gorda and PIramide Fino.

John McTavish

SCORE

6.82

Cost/Point

$1.42

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Toro Especial