La Gloria Cubana Serie R 4 Maduro

This 4.9x52 stick offers a jet black thick wrapper with slight tooth, minimal veins, tight seams, fairly dense pack and a rich aroma of sweet tobacco. First light reveals a perfect draw, lots of medium bodied smoke with flavors of an oily textured dry tobacco and a heavy finish. The first third transitions to a very smooth deep sweet earth with a very chewy mouthfeel. On the long earthy finish comes a touch of pepper zing over the tongue. 30 min in at the 1/2 way point the only change is a slight creamy coffee during the draw. The ash is still holding on, draw is perfect and the burn is almost razor sharp. 40 minutes in just past the 1/2 way point the ash finally fell off, and flavors changed slightly. The coffee dropped and a sweet licorice joined the finish. The last third showed no changes, continuing the great performance ending at the hour mark.