This is my first review of a cigar. Kyle and I will both have different styles of reviewing, so expect a variety of observations and notes. Please feel free to provide constructive criticism- though we may have smoked hundreds of cigars, we still have much to learn regardless. Thanks.

Notes:

Interesting construction. Annoying packaging. Rich, dark color, strong (but good) pre-light odor. Smooth wrapper, minimal veins. Little bud of tobacco protruding out of the head. Wrapper intentionally hangs over the foot of the cigar and is sort of folded over the foot and tapered off. I had to cut the tip of the foot off to light and draw. This is apparently AJ Fernandez’s everyday go-to blend.

First Third:

I used a guillotine cutter, as I’ve had bad experiences trying to punchcut a small cigar. First few puffs are very strong and peppery. Almost charred. Incredible amount of spice. The smell of the wrapper is of savory tobacco. About halfway through the pepper recedes. Introduction of a strong flavorful coffee note which simmers down just a little bit. Nice clean draw, lots of smoke output for a small cigar. Very good construction. Aftertaste is pleasantly peppery.

Second Third:

A nice but very subtle oaky scent introduced. I believe it is pretty common for the Man O’ War line. Rich coffee flavor is still predominantly the main flavor, along with that of savory, dark tobacco. Pepper and oak are still there. Ash clings well and is solid white. Coffee tones down a bit more and a nice, nutty flavor develops on the palate along with the pepper. The burn also slows down considerably and the bouquet also leaves behind a set of very peppery nostrils, which I personally like.

Final Third:

The sweetness of the scent has subsided, though the flavorful coffee is still ever-present. The nutty flavor has become more pronounced. It should be a nice downhill ride from here. Peppery aftertaste has also subsided considerably and I am left with a pleasantly oaky, smoky finish. All the flavors in general have lost their bite and are now smooth and flavorful. Oh, and I forgot to mention that the burn is razor sharp. Had a miniscule amount of canoeing but it corrected itself almost immediately. I’ve smoked down to a little over an inch. It is very hard to put down. Very tasty. It might just be me, but the last few puffs had slightly salty and leathery finishes. A very nice way to finish up. Would go very nicely with a cup of black coffee.

Verdict:

A very flavorful but strong cigar. The Man O’ War Puro Authentico Maduro is only a corona, but it packs one hell of a punch. Would not recommend to amateurs who are new to smoking. But for an experienced smoker, this little stick is surely a prize cigar. It has a lot of kick, so don’t be surprised if you get a headrush from it. These stogies were about 6-7 bucks a stick on sale, but were totally worth the buy. If you’re looking for a short but hard kick in the head with a blast of flavor, these little stogies are perfect for you.

Total Smoking Time: 37 minutes