Earlier this week David Garofalo announced the contenders for Cigar of the Year. If you listen to our podcast, you will know that we are huge fans of La Galera which comes from Jochy Blanco’s Indian Head Tobacco. While Mr. Jonathan loves the Connecticut, David and I have been partial to the Habano.
Cigar Review: La Galera Maduro
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: San Andres (Mexico)
Binder: Dominican Republic (Piloto Cubano)
Filler: Dominican Republic (Criollo ’98)
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 46
Vitola: Corona Gorda (Pegador)
Cutter: Lotus Jaws
Lighter: Vertigo Twister
The Look: Packaged in red dress boxes with a black velvet lined hood and gold text, the La Galera Maduro looks like a cigar that should cost more than it does. Inside the cigar features a gorgeous primary La Galera band and a secondary denoting Maduro. It features one of the most evenly colored natural looking San Andres wrappers I have seen. The cigar is firm to the touch with no soft spots and a well packed foot.
The Notes: The cold draw of the La Galera Maduro has a distinct cinnamon taste to it with hints coffee. In fact, the cigar has the taste of drake’s coffee cake. The aroma off the wrapper and foot of the cigar mimics the cold draw and for me this is pure perfection.
Once the cigar is lit it is a cinnamon flavor bomb of epic proportions. As we progress into the first third notes of cinnamon begin to fade as hints of leather, dark chocolate and cacao begin to emerge. There is a bitter sweetness on the finish like a high percentage cacao from Lindt chocolate.
In the second third of the cigar notes of leather and wood become the focal point. The well-defined notes of the first third take a backseat as the cigar begins to showcase the San Andres wrapper. There is a subtle spice on the retrohale with a touch of cacoa on the finish.
As the La Galera Maduro comes to a close the notes of dark chocolate return with a hint of cinnamon on the retrohale and on aroma of the cigar which has moderate finish.
The Burn: If there is a knock on this cigar, it’s the ash. It lasted less than a quarter-inch and kept dropping off in my lap. The cigar has a slow perfect burn with a thin combustion line. The draw is perfection and the cigar remained lit from first light to last puff.
The Finish: After smoking the Connecticut and Habano I thought to myself there is no way they can top those two cigars. However, I was wrong. The Maduro has an amazing flavor profile especially in the first third and this one might be my favorite of the three wrappers. I’ll need to smoke a few more before making the final call as to which is best but once you smoke them feel free to let me know which you prefer.
Score: 94
Price: $5.69 / $99.99
La Galera Maduro
La Galera Maduro Foot
La Galera Maduro Burn
