Initial Smoke

Ever have a piece of a dark chocolate bar that has dried chili peppers in it? Well, if you have, then you know exactly what light-up on this premium cigar blend tastes like. But there's more to it than just that, with sweet cedar, oiled leather, creamy nougat, and a strong but smooth earthy finish coating it all over. 

The draw is fair, and grows more open as you puff, and the texture of the smoke is already full in body. As advertised, aromatics are excellent, and they copy the flavor profiles of the cigar.

1st Half

Aromas of roasted tree nuts take over much of the experience once the first third gets underway, with dark chocolate and pepper spice swirling behind. This pairs perfectly with the flavors of cedar and caramelized brown sugar on the tongue, as aromas influence flavor. 

But the cigar is also resinous and sap-like in both flavor and smoke texture, which makes the oily, full body of the smoke feel even heavier. It's a delicious taste and texture mixture that transforms into a maple granola bar note further down, and it adds a certain degree of familiarity to an already awesome smoking section. 

2nd Half

Countered by a wonderful array of bright Christmas spices, which, over time, turn into a secondary cola spice cigar flavor profile. The darkness of the smoke is just as deep as it is delicious. Still incredibly full, and significantly drier than earlier, the big transition in the second half begins with a shift in sensations and ends in flavors of leather and pepper.

Spicy, but in measured amounts, with oily leather tastes and aromas sitting underneath, moving into the final third is the biggest transition within the blend. Still rather resinous and swimming in Christmas spice cake flavors, the last third of the robusto is big and blazingly good, without being too brash or bitter. Smooth and strong, flavors and strength levels have nearly caught up with the body of the smoke by now, and with the blend becoming more soil-forward, the last push into parting puffs appears to be a bit of a beast. 

Parting Puffs

Even oilier and chewier than before, with medium amounts of sweetness and that sappy, resin-like taste touching every taste bud, the closure to this blend is indeed bold. Dark, heavy, spicy, and definitely fruity at times, this is going to be one of those parting puffs that people are either going to love or hate. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Beyond an ash drop in the final third and another one in parting puffs, my review stick burned beautifully. In fact, every cigar I've ever smoked from Valentino Siesto has burned well, if not perfectly. That said, you do need to pace yourself with this blend because the smoke will get hot and cling to you in a heartbeat if you are too aggressive with your smoking. You also may notice that the draw opens up a fair deal when you roll that porcelain white ash off in your ashtray, so be especially mindful of your draws when you do so.

Final Thoughts

Although it may be one of the stronger, fuller maduro cigars I have smoked this year, the Valentino Siesto Premium Series Maduro does a fantastic job of keeping it all under control. Even though I feel this maduro would have benefitted from being a bit sweeter, I cannot fault the blend for its unflinching focus on creating rich cigar flavor profiles and tantalizing aromatics at every turn.

Jam-packed with oily, leather-heavy flavors and dark, loamy soil, the heavier notes within are balanced by dark fruits, holiday spices, and a bunch of semi-sweet chocolate tastes and smells that are sure to satisfy even the darkest cigar smoker. It's also incredibly resinous in its own unique way, which can be an unpleasant attribute in some cigars, but in this American blend, it feels right at home.

These, and all of the other reasons listed above, give me reason to spark up another one of these bold little robustos in the near future, purely for my own smoking pleasure. I'll just need to make sure that I have a beverage nearby that is potent enough to stand up to all of those intense characteristics.