Cruzado Marios

[BlackIrish]

The cigar: Cruzado Marios

Nutritional information:
Serving size: 7x47 churchill
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan criollo rosado
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaraguan criollo 98 and corojo 2006

The marketing (courtesy of IllusioneCigars.com):
A blend dominant with Criollo '98 tobaccos complimented with one component of Corojo 2006. The blend exhibits a rich, spicy aroma in the air. The flavor profile is palate-forward with hints of leather, coffee, and spice.

Prelight: For the eyes, there's a beautiful, slender double corona, with a veined criollo rosado wrapper and a perfect pigtailed triple cap. For the nose, there's earth and leather, foretelling deep, rich flavors. For the mouth, a firmly rolled head, a slightly tight draw, and more earth and leather.

Construction and burn: Excellent in build and burn. The burn is mostly straight (I gave it one touch up), the ash is strong and long (1.5 inches), and the draw, though slightly tight, delivers satisfying amounts of smoke. It's a slow burner -- set aside 1.5 hours or more to enjoy this cigar.

Flavors: The opening puffs are earth, leather, and a bit of spice -- not as peppery as an Illusione, but with similar Nicaraguan flavors. The spice mellows and the flavors round out after an inch or so, developing into dark, leathery chocolate, just barely sweet in that Nicaraguan way. There's some nuttiness (hazelnut?) and maybe vanilla. The smoke feels more creamy than I'd expect, medium to medium-full in body, medium in flavor. I like it!

The flavors stay consistently in the same region of the spectrum -- call it choco-leather-creamy-nut -- but they are fluid, complex, and interesting. As the smoke progresses into the second half, there's more leather, less cream, more spice, but always balanced and in proportion. There's enough nicotine that you'll feel it, but not enough that you won't enjoy it.

Overall, this is a terrific cigar that I'd highly recommend.