Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Cattle Baron Maduro Bull is a marbled dark brown and has a couple of raised veins and a network of fine veins present. The seams are smooth and very well hidden while the head is finished off with what appears to be a double cap. The band appears to be the same design and color combination as the original release. The aroma from the wrapper is slightly damp cedar and a light floral note. The foot brings a sweet musty cedar. The pre-light draw brings musty cedar and a bit of dryness to my tongue.

Pre-light Experience

The Cattle Baron Maduro Bull has a dark chocolate wrapper, with firmly pressed veins. Aromas from the cigar included medium strength barnyard and hay. From the foot, there was faint raisin and dry hay.

First Third

The cigar begins with cedar, mustiness and light floral note. At a quarter inch in, a light chalkiness joins the profile. At an inch in, the mustiness has dropped out and the profile is cedar, light chalkiness and light floral note. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

First Third

Sweet cedar opens the first third, with some cream and coffee notes settling into the middle of the retrohale. Post draw cedar and hay join shortly after. By the 20 minute mark, sweetness and cedar drive the profile. The sweetness on the retrohale has a malty character to it. Some time later, tannins joins the cedar.

Second Third

The second third is a continuation of the cedar, light chalkiness and light floral note profile. At a half inch in, the chalkiness is very faint and a light mustiness has rejoined the profile. The retrohale is now dry cedar and faint floral note. At an inch in, the chalkiness picks back up to its previous level. As the third wraps up, the chalkiness leaves and the profile is musty cedar and light floral note. The strength in this third remained at mild-medium.

Second Third

Sweet tannic cedar leads the cigar into the second third. That tannic cedar lingers between draws. As the second third settles in, a light plus citrus moves into the middle of the profile.

Final Third

As the final third begins, some light chalkiness returns to the profile of musty cedar and light floral note. At a half inch in, a light char joins the profile. The retrohale is just musty cedar. The cigar wraps up with a profile of slightly charred and musty cedar, light chalkiness and light floral note. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly below medium.

Final Third

Dry cedar and light earth take the Maduro Bull into the last third. The earth steps up to medium minus quickly, moving into the middle of the flavor profile.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy throughout, but never needed any attention. The ash held on in two inch increments.

Burn

The burn begins relatively straight, becoming offset in the second third. A re-light is required when the cigar went out in the last third.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar began with cedar, mustiness and light floral note. Some chalkiness joined in fairly quickly and the mustiness dropped out a bit later. During the second third, the mustiness returned and the chalkiness dropped out. The final third saw the chalkiness return and a light char join the cedar. Construction was very good and strength was mild-medium most of the way. The Cattle Baron Maduro Bull had a much lighter strength and different flavor profile than I was expecting. The enjoyment was at an average level the whole way. I enjoy a floral note in a cigar, but with the flavor combination, it never really popped for me. Nothing wrong with this cigar, but it performs at a level that a bulk of the cigars on the market do. If you’re a fan of lower strength cigars and enjoy cedar and floral notes, I’d recommend giving this a try. The chalkiness could put some people off, so something to keep in mind.

Draw

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

Overall

The Cattle Baron Maduro Bull was an overall average smoking experience, with the first third offering some promising flavors of cedar, cream, coffee, cedar and malty sweetness. I would smoke the Maduro again, but I’d be more inclined to try it in a more traditional size like their Stockyard (Robusto). Construction and draw were good, with a re-light required once and some resistance to the draw. Total smoking time was 1 hour and 28 minutes.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.50

Cost/Point

$1.73

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$1.69

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Cattle Baron Maduro Bull