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Initial Smoke

Spicier than a short-tempered Scotsman getting cut off ahead of last call, the first dozen puffs throw a flurry of punches your way with wild abandon. Crushing blows of salt and pepper hit the senses, grasped tight behind a clenched fist that's been encased in an oiled leather glove of flavor. Retrohales are pretty much impossible to pursue at this point, as any attempt to do so causes my eyes to water. So instead, I focus on the underlying tastes flowing from the V-cut end of the cigar, with bittersweet chocolate and damp soil providing me with something to settle on, as I patiently wait for reprieve. 

1st Half

I don't have to wait long for some much-needed respite, with the spicier side of the blend falling away quickly, exposing a chewy brownie batter backbone. Salted and buttered walnuts, heavier levels of soil, milk coffee, and a creamy, completely manageable retrohale move the cigar straight into full category for flavor, with body riding right behind. Baking spices are still overshadowed by the lingering spiciness left behind from light-up, so the first third may seem a touch unexciting to those looking for deeper flavors.

Leather soon shifts upward toward retrohales, and by doing so, it opens a slot for light licorice and heavy cream to fill. Bittersweet chocolate and soil are still the primary cigar flavor profile, but with the second third heating up, things slowly grow sweeter and more suave. That mineral-like salinity sure does like to hang around too, and by doing so, the finish becomes longer and more balanced. 

2nd Half

As a creamy oiliness gradually begins to coat the nose and tongue, the dark chocolate brownie batter grows more fudge-like, and both the body of the cigar and its finish hit full. Despite growing spicy once more, retrohales are now 100% doable, with a silky texture to the smoke making them very enjoyable.

There isn't much else to report in the second half, other than the taste of walnuts growing in force, which by now have taken on a roasted characteristic. So while you may miss out on some transitional stages, the fluidness of the smoke flow and the flavors that form are fantastic, and I didn't find myself feeling like I was missing out all that much.

Parting Puffs

Sweet licorice is the first cigar flavor profile to crank up the beat in parting puffs, with a spicier finish and an even oilier serving of leather flowing underneath. Aftertastes are peppery and earthen, creating a chocolaty, nicotine-strong closure that is smooth and not a touch charry, but a bit hot on the tongue. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Although my review stick struggled to keep up when it came to the burn down one side in the first third, the cigar eventually straightened itself out, and there was no need for a correction. Smoke flow was good from a V-cut and only improved as the blend burned, with minor ash drops, a swift burn time, and some flaking being the only issues. While heat was felt in parting puffs, this was the only section where it was detected, and the full-bodied smoke that filled the air was a lot of fun to play with.

Final Thoughts

Being that this was one of the strongest, most full-bodied cigars I have reviewed to date, one might think that it would also be a flavor-bomb to boot. But while the tastes that were detected were indeed full-flavored and very rich, the blend itself is a pretty traditional Mexican maduro in many ways. This caused the cigar to taste nice and perform well, with a gradual smoothing of tasting notes maintaining a balance, but at the expense of complexity and depth.

That fireball of a start and the gradual increase in spicy heat from the final third onward also cloaked many of the subtler notes, leaving me feeling like I was missing out on some key tastes at times. What was detected still hit the spot, and I really admire the texture and finish from the smoke, but it seemed somewhat short-handed and simplified. 

Even with me deducting a handful of points for burn bungles and an overall lack of complexity, this maduro version of the San Lotano still scored well, and I would most certainly smoke it again. But only after I had a full meal and maybe a stronger beverage by my side for security's sake...