Onyx Reserve Toro

Quick review on a surprisingly good cigar. This is a deep, dark stick - almost black, with attractive mottling throughout and few obvious veins. Very nice matte oil sheen on the toothy wrapper looks tasty. Pre-light aroma was the classic horse barn / cow patty earthiness I remember as a kid when we went to the local riding stables. Cold draw was unremarkable - fortunately, better than the initial aroma! Lighting was a bit longer than most- probably due to the very dark tobaccos used. Once properly toasted, the burn was good with moderate white smoke. A couple of touch-ups required, but nothing major.
First draw was fairly tight, but still offered up a LOT of spiciness and bitter coffee...great start. I was hoping for a stout smoke and found exactly that. First half inch was a bit rough, but things settled in shortly with smooth, creamy coffee and expresso flavors. No major flavor changes - just slight shifts of the same, but smooth and flavorful throughout. Only down side was that the draw was a bit tighter than I like, but was still manageable.
This is an often overlooked cigar that is really quite good. Much better maduro than some ultra premiums I've tried. Can be had for a fiver at most B & M shops. Recommended!
RR