Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Casa Cuevas Maduro Toro is medium brown and has a network of veins that are raised to various degrees. The seams are easily visible as they are raised as well. The head is finished off with a well applied set of caps. The band is the traditional design for the brand and this offering carries a color combination of gold and black. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of spicy cedar and damp earth. The foot brings cedar and black pepper. The pre-light draw brings wood and a bouquet of floral notes.

Pre-light Experience

The Casa Cuevas Maduro Toro has a well thought out UPC design on the cellophane that leaves it intact when the cellophane is opened. The cigar band is gold lettering and accents on a black background. As early as removing the cellophane, I picked up aromas of spicy cedar from the cigar. Nosing the wrapper directly, there’s a more intense aged cedar. In the foot, I was able to smell sweet raisin.

First Third

The cigar begins with wood, chalkiness and a light floral note. At a half inch in, the chalkiness eases up a bit as some black pepper joins in. The retrohale is wood and a combination of chalkiness and mustiness. At an inch in, some mustiness mixes in with the chalkiness. At an inch and a half, the black pepper has left the profile. As the third comes to a close, the profile is wood, mix of chalkiness and mustiness and a light floral note. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

The cigar opens with creamy cedar and a spicy earth finishes each draw. Spices are quite prevalent along with some pepper on the smoke aroma. Sweetness with a short finish comes through at the end of each retrohale. Pepper and earth take up the post draw, as molasses sweetness settles into the middle. Once the cigar has fully settled in, some dryness comes through on the post draw. By the one inch mark, chocolate joins the retrohale. At the end of the first third, sweet cedar defines the retrohale moving into the second third.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the chalkiness is now the lower of the two in combination with the mustiness. At a half inch in, the floral note has left the profile. At three quarters of an inch in, the profile and retrohale are both wood, mustiness and light chalkiness. At an inch and a quarter, the chalkiness picks back up to become even with the mustiness. As the third comes to a close, the wood remains up front as the chalkiness has lessened again and the mustiness is between the two. Strength remains at slightly below medium.

Second Third

The sweet cedar on the retrohale takes on a sweet finish that fades to a dry cedar. Chocolate rejoins the retrohale center as the second third settles in. By the halfway point, cedar defines the middle of the profile, with earth joining the post draw. That earth rapidly ramps up in strength, pushing into the middle of the profile.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the chalkiness once again becomes even with the mustiness which is still right behind the wood. At a half inch in, the wood, mustiness and chalkiness are all even. The retrohale has a bit of a sting with bitter wood, mustiness and chalkiness. At an inch and a quarter, a faint bitterness joins the wood. As the cigar comes to a close, it warms up a bit and a vegetal note joins the profile. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Final Third

An earth and cedar defined retrohale leading into the last third. That earth takes up the middle and post draw, taking on a bitter char character. Some minor sweetness pushes back on the middle earth as the last third settles in. Cedar joins the post draw shortly after. Some mild citrus is detectable occasionally on the end of the draw, but it is immediately run over by the intensity of the earth and char. By the halfway point, the earth and char have pulled back in intensity to a medium minus.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy, but never needed any attention. The ash held on in one inch increments.

Burn

The burn is relatively straight, developing a canoe part of the way through the first third, requiring a touch-up. The ash holds on up to 2 inches at several points.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with wood, chalkiness and a light floral note. Some black pepper joined in and left and some mustiness joined in. In the second third, the floral note dropped out and the chalkiness fluctuated in fullness. The final third saw a faint bitterness joined the wood and then a vegetal note as the cigar finished up. The construction was very good and strength was slightly below medium most of the way. The Casa Cuevas Maduro Toro had a nice start with a good combination of flavors, but from the second third, when the floral note dropped out, the profile became average the rest of the way. The chalkiness from this maduro isn’t something I’m the biggest fan of, but it wasn’t as off putting as some other maduro wrapped blends. Just a fairly average cigar and not something I’ll be in a hurry to revisit, but would smoke on occasion if it was handy.

Draw

The draw has some resistance to it, between 2-1/2 to 3 notches.

Overall

The Casa Cuevas Maduro Toro was good, with varying levels of flavor intensity through the first and second thirds. I’m not sure why the last third took on so much earth and char, but it does detract from an otherwise enjoyable experience. I’m hoping that some rest will allow that final third to harmonize. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$1.32

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.07

Cost/Point

$1.30

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Casa Cuevas Maduro Toro