AUGUST 3, 2023 - PHIL KURUT, COMEDY - CIGARS - MUSIC
BUENAVENTURA MADURO BV 500 (5 1/4 x 50)
WRAPPER: MEXICAN SAN ANDRÉS
BINDER: NICARAGUA
FILLER: NICARAGUA
This Buenaventura Maduro has a flawless draw and an excellent smoke output. I’m outside today, but smoke would be filling up my shed if the weather wasn’t as nice. A dark start. Earth, oak, spice, and bits of dark chocolate float around the palate.
Spice, coffee, and oak rest on the finish with the slightest touch of milk chocolate. Dark earth, leather, and coffee hit the retrohale. The finish and retrohale were in reverse order there, but the retrohale is more of an afterthought for me. When I’m not reviewing a cigar, I hardly ever retrohale. Believe it or not, I don’t even have any cool retrohale tricks.
The burn struggles to stay on the straight and narrow from time to time, but smoke rollsâ„¢ remedy those challenges. The ash hangs on well.
Mild leather and earth take over as we move along, allowing for bits of chocolate to fade in and out. Spice exits stage left…or right. I never remember which is which. Not a theater guy.
Buenaventura Maduro likes its darkness. The dark side? I can’t imagine watching a stage rendition of Star Wars, but I can imagine smoking another BV 500.
SMOKE TIME: 1 hr. 8 mins.
RATING: 3 / 4 - Welcome to the dark side.