Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is slightly darker than medium brown with some marbling. There are some decent sized veins visible while the seams are nearly invisible. It looks like there are two caps that are decently applied. The cigar has an aggressive box-press. There are two bands. The primary band has the company logo and name. The secondary band has the brand and line name. Both bands are a salmon color with gold lettering and accents. There is almost no detectable aroma from the wrapper. The foot aroma is a sweet raisin with a little bit of white pepper. The pre-light draw brings that very same raisin and white pepper from the foot aroma. There is also a decent spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Matilde Quadrata Robusto has a beautiful Colorado red, box pressed Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The wrapper has a fine sandpaper feel with some good oil content. The veins are well pressed and seams tight. The box pressed cigar has a nice and uniformed give throughout the entire cigar. The head is finished off with a thick layered triple cap. Pre-light wrapper aromas gives quality humidor cedar and slight barnyard. Nosing the foot gives dry white pepper and natural tobacco sweetness. Cold draw tells a combination of spicy cedar and red chilis on the lips and tongue.

First Third

Initial draws bring a very spicy cedar. The spice that it carries is very diverse. After a few draws, the spice settles down and a good amount of cream comes in along with a little bit of coffee to mix with the cedar. The retrohale is creamy, but carries a decent spicy zing to it. At a quarter inch in, the coffee goes away and the cedar and cream remain. The retrohale has lost all of its spice and is also a creamy cedar. Three quarters of an inch in and a slightly green coffee bean flavor has joined in with the cedar and cream. At an inch in, the green coffee morphs to a light roast coffee and mixes really well with the cedar and cream. The retrohale now carries a slight vegetal note along with some cream. As the third comes to a close, it continues with the cedar, cream and light coffee. The retrohale is a mild cedar and cream. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

The first third starts off with spades of sweet and creamy bread and tongue layering dry white pepper spice. As I get into about an inch of the cigar, the pepper becomes a very pungent dry red chili spice. The spice reminds me of an “extra fuerte” Cuban custom roll, where it immediately hits your palate making its power known. In addition to the dry red chili, notes of charred wood and dry minerality. Through the nose, pungent dry red chili and bread. The finish consists of an intense dry red chili heat and charred wood weighing heavy on my tongue. In terms of strength, the cigar starts medium and quickly becomes medium full just an inch into the cigar. The body is at a consistent medium.

Second Third

As this third begins, the cedar transitions to oak and the cream and light coffee remain. The retrohale still carries cedar and cream. A quarter inch in, the coffee goes away and a bit of minerality comes in to mix with the oak and cream. Half an inch in, some sweetness joins the oak, cream and minerality. The sweetness is also present on the retrohale. At an inch in, the sweetness has left the profile and it is now oak and a slight cream and minerality. At an inch and a half, the profile has come together nicely. The retrohale is now a creamy oak. The strength in this third stayed right at medium.

Second Third

The second thirds intensity of the dry red chili has backed off (but still a major player). This allows for a more harmonious blend, providing creamy bread, dry minerality, charred wood and burnt toast. Through the retrohale, still a pungent dry red chili followed by barnyard and bread. The finish consists of dry red chili heat and charred wood fairly heavy on my tongue. Body and strength continues to be medium and medium-full, respectively.

Final Third

As this third begins, the profile is just oak. After a few draws, some cream and a light coffee join in. Three quarters of an inch in, the coffee goes away and some mintiness joins in with the oak and cream. The retrohale is primarily oak with a little bit of cream. An inch and a quarter in and the mintiness is up front with the oak in the background and the creaminess going away. This is how the cigar finishes. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

In the last third, the once intense dry red chili continues to decline, as I am now mainly tasting creamy bread, charred wood, dry minerality, burnt toast and dry nuts. The retrohale is still a pungent dry red chili and bread. The finish carries forth with charred wood and dry red chili weighing fairly heavy on my tongue. Body and strength continues to be medium and medium-full, respectively.

Burn

The burn was perfect through the first to thirds and then the final third had a couple of instances where it seemed like it wanted to go out, but a few quick draws would keep it going. The ash held on in about two inch increments.

Burn

The burn in all aspects was picture perfect. Total smoking time of 1 hour and 55 minutes. Burn line was razor sharp throughout the entire smoking experience. Ashes held on strong, averaging one inch increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect. Just the right amount of resistance for where I like it.

Overall

The first third was fantastic and then had a slight drop in fullness and flavor in each successive third. The performance was really good which is always a plus. I’d really like to try this in the Toro Bravo size to see if the slightly larger ring gauge might allow the cigar to progress better. With the flavor and strength profile, I think that this is approachable to any cigar smoker and is definitely worth seeking out. I’m looking forward to smoking this again. Each line that Matilde has come out with has impressed me and I am glad to see them doing so well.

Draw

The draw unfortunately was very loose. I had to considerably slow down my draws for the fear of the cigar heating up (it did in the last third). Not a huge issue as the loose draw did not effect the flavor profile, but the draw had to be coddled the entire time.

Overall

I find the junior release of the Matilde Quadrata to be their strongest cigar thus far. But true to Matilde’s form, it does not compromise full flavors. I enjoyed the interplay of the heated spice paired with sweetness, breadiness and minerality. I’m curious if the thicker ring gauged Toro Bravo and Torpedo will be tapered in the spice department. If that’s the case, I’m guessing that will be the absolute home run for my palate.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

7.20

Cost/Point

$1.18

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.73

Cost/Point

$1.10

Scoring System