Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Dominican Corojo
Filler: Dominican (Piloto Cubano, Ligero, Seco), Pennsylvanian
Size: 6.75 x 50 “Rama”
Body: Full
Price: $9.90 MSRP ($9.00 at CF- Minus 10% membership promo code= $8.10)
Today we take a look at the new El Cedro Maduro Rama.
Thanks to Miguel Castro for the cigars. He also sent me some of the Habano blends which I will review soon.
I would like to start this review by telling you something important.
The Alzheimer’s Dilemma.
Clearly, the last year of my reviews has been on a steady decline. I’ve lost the art of humor. I find myself being repetitive and redundant. I meander on too long. I don’t want to go out a laughing stock
So, changes will be made. I will no longer worry about the background info. Many good reviewers out there will help you out if you need to know the back story of the cigar.
I’m just going to focus on what the cigar tastes like.
I will be more to the point and succinct.
One thing won’t change. Smoking and reviewing at the same time. If I had to take notes, things will become even more confusing for me.
Unless, stimulated by some exterior force, I will no longer be adding stories at the end of reviews. I’m tapped out. I’ve written countless hundreds of stories. That should be enough.
So here we go and thank you all for your patience and loyalty.
Both the Maduro and the Habano use Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero, Seco and Pennsylvania fillers over a Dominican Corojo binder. The Maduro is about 30 cents more than the Habano version.
DESCRIPTION:
Good looking cigar. Long and sleek with a super oily medium brown colored wrapper with the tiniest bit of tooth. Some big veins and tight seams. A beautiful triple cap.
The cigar band is simple but classic. Another white band with gold lettering. I can’t believe it. I can’t get a good photo lately of this combo.
And a black ribbon footer.
Both the Maduro and the Habano use Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero, Seco and Pennsylvania fillers over a Dominican Corojo binder. The Maduro is about 30 cents more than the Habano version.
For some reason, there isn’t a single review of this blend. Only the original El Cedro blend.
SIZES AND PRICING:
Tronco (Trunk) 6 x 60 $8.50
Rama (Branch) 6 3/4 x 50 $9.90
Torpedo Purple Dye 6 x 54 $8.90
Habano blend, same sizes, is 30¢ less per stick.
AROMAS AND COLD DRAW NOTES:
From the shaft, I smell strong honey sweetness, spice, cedar, orange citrus, and dark cocoa.
From the clipped cap and the foot, I smell brilliant floral notes and honey, spice, chocolate, cedar, coffee, and orange citrus.
The cold draw presents flavors of fresh orange, spice, malt, honey, floral notes, chocolate, and cedar.
FIRST THIRD:
As I carefully toast the outside perimeter of the foot, I notice a lot of imperfections. I smell trouble with the burn line. I allow the cigar to rest for a couple of minutes to help even out the burn.
This morning’s musical accompaniment is the double CD of Led Zeppelin’s Greatest Hits remastered by Jimmy Page.
The draw is spot on. Lots of smoke.
First flavors: Chocolate, spiciness, creaminess, malt, an assortment of nuts (Like the Packers locker room shower), very toasty, cedar, and licorice.
The burn line begins to waver.
Otherwise, a good start.
I’ve burned 1” and there haven’t been any significant changes. No transitions.
The char line is nothing to brag about. Lots of touch ups. The first two I smoked were smoked too soon. They were harsh and bitter and full of ammonia. I didn’t hang around long enough to see how they burned.
Strength is medium/full.
But this last stick is good to go but is nothing special. The burn problem is a serious issue. It continues on a path to try and canoe like it is in its DNA to do so. I now know why no one has reviewed this blend. Don’t want to step on toes.
With 1-3/4” burned, the flavor profile has stalled out. This is fucking ridiculous and totally unacceptable for a $10 cigar. Shame on you, Anwar Elboustani (Owner of El Cedro).
SECOND THIRD:
Fast smoking cigar. Smoke time is 20 minutes.
It seems that every other cigar has a cigar band with a white background and gold lettering. I have real trouble getting decent photos. The light just blots everything out. An iPhone would take better pics than my $450 Fuji camera.
Flavors are there but totally flattened out. No complexity. No balance. No finish. No good.
Now I gave this abortion several months of humidor time. I went through 2 cigars to get to this point. Both were horrible and unsmokeable. Could it be that the El Cedro Maduro Rama needs 6-9 months of humidor time? Ridiculous.
The El Cedro Maduro Rama needs one major char line touch up after another. How does this cigar have a chance to display its flavors when I am torching the shit out of it?
I should end the review right here but I want to see it to the end. Maybe there is hope? LOL.
I reach the halfway point. Smoke time is 30 minutes.
Flavors begin to peek out from under the covers.
Strength reaches full body.
At the moment, it tastes and burns like a $3 bundle cigar.
I had a hard time deciding which cigar to review this morning. I chose wrong. Drew Estate sent me a nice Christmas present of some cigars and a ball cap. Two of those cigars are the Liga Privada Único Serie Velvet Rat. Tomorrow.
But then I didn’t want to make my Alzheimer’s Manifesto on a gift cigar from DE. Ain’t right.
Flavors return. Same as the start of the cigar.
Lots of chocolate, malt, creaminess, red pepper, nuts, cedar, black licorice, and orange citrus.
Instead of flavors showing up as they began, there should have been a buildup of transitions. Still no complexity.
The burn line has calmed down a bit.
LAST THIRD:
Smoke time is 50 minutes.
Finally. We have a real cigar blend.
The spiciness has returned. For my tastes, I need a good deal of spiciness to make the cigar interesting. I feel it gives the other flavors some zestiness.
Unfortunately, the resurrection of flavors does not make for a good cigar blend.
And the $10 price tag is ridiculous. I could name hundreds of cigars in this price range, and lower, that are 100% better than the El Cedro Maduro Rama.
Thankfully, this cigar burned quickly. So, the torture of this review was swift.
Construction was terrible. It was slightly redeemed during the last third. As were the flavors.
No one reviewed this cigar. I guess someone had to. Me.
Maybe I can save lives with this review. I don’t want to have heart attacks on my conscience. The El Cedro Maduro Rama is a total waste of money and time.
I’m sorry Miguel. You are the kindest and most generous person I know. And I hate trashing a gift horse.
The El Cedro Maduro Rama ends harshly with some bitterness.
Time to put it down.
If you buy this cigar, I will come to your home and bitch slap you. Or I will have my connections with the JDL do it for me. Won’t be pretty.
RATING: 80
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by Phil 'Katman' Kohn 
Well, looks like it was a blessing I never got around to smoking my set of these. I had a hunch and threw them in my winter aging humidor when I first got them. Here’s to hoping something magical happens in the next five to six months!
Do a Swisher Sweets Limited Special 2015 Holiday Cranberry & Eggnog Series™ next!