Mi Querida Black debuted in 2021, and for its second size, Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust introduced the PapaSaka—a 5 5/8 x 48 corona following the 2023 PCA Trade Show. Crafted in Nicaragua, the blend features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over a Mexican San Andrés binder with Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan fillers.
A very dark maduro wrapper with a toothy texture and some visible veins. The cigar is well packed and firm to the touch, finished with a small, tight pig tail cap.
The opening delivers leather and pepper right out of the gate. Notes of Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, wheat toast, espresso, and aged tobacco follow, layered with toasted almonds. A slightly bitter dark chocolate character appears alongside a touch of salt, finishing with a cayenne pepper kick.
Leather and pepper remain at the core as the profile turns more savory. Grilled beef and charcoal notes emerge, while sweetness dials back. Dark chocolate and spice intensify, joined by a hint of black licorice. The retrohale introduces a surprising Parmesan cheese note that adds to the cigar’s depth.
This is where the cigar truly shines. Campfire smoke leads the charge, supported by dark chocolate, figs, and espresso. Earlier notes of spice and toasted almond have mostly fallen off, making room for oak, a hint of bourbon, and citrus notes reminiscent of orange peel in an old fashioned cocktail. A light floral touch lingers in the background.
An enjoyable, dynamic, and consistently flavorful cigar with an even burn, abundant smoke output, and a long, slow-smoking pace. Elegant and complex, it’s definitely going into the rotation. The flavor profile oddly, but memorably, evoked a charcuterie board, making it a natural pairing for one. Strength builds steadily as the cigar progresses, landing among the stronger cigars the group has reviewed. Balanced, unique, and engaging, this is a cigar the STARS would gladly smoke again.
Overall Score: 91.20 out of 100
Overall Strength Score: 6.81 out of 10
This blind cigar review (Cigar #30-B) was scored by a panel of cigar enthusiasts, including: Rev Eldon, Bill F, Jeff Endrizzi, Jeffery Knipe, Daniel, Ryan M., Chris V, MI_Cigar_and_Drink, Joey Bagodonuts, & Anthony
