Mardo Cigars

El Septimo

The appearance, draw, and burn for all highly acceptable on this blend. However, the flavor came up just a bit short. While there are several notes coming through, including a sweet nutty profile and bright pepper, it tends to be a little bitter or tingy.

Tatuaje

Even in the much smaller format, this one packs a punch of flavor! A profile consist of leather and dark coffee, with strong pepper coming through on the retro. The draw is smooth with a dead even burn.

CLE

This is a fairly clean cigar in general, but it still boasts full flavors of leather, mild pepper, and aged tobacco. The draw is openly smooth, but the burn that remained pretty even throughout.

Casa 1910

As a Mexican puro, this was intriguing. I expected darker tones, but instead I found cinnamon, spice, and light coffee. Bita of pepper only appeared on the retro. The construction was pretty good and the draw was fantastic.

Quesada

This one starts off like it will be a chocolate bomb. However, that fades away very quickly and leads into a profile of savory wood and pepper. Those notes remain the rest of the way. The draw is open, but the burn stayed very even.

AJ Fernandez

First off, this is an incredibly smokey cigar! It may be a Nicaraguan puro connecticut, but it definitely does not smoke like one. Flavor notes are of cedar, citrus, and pepper. Stronger than expected and very enjoyable.

United Cigars

This is a fairly simple and basic cigar. Profile notes consist mostly of sweet hay. Every now and then, a subtle touch of simple spice comes through, but nothing else. Although the burn needed several corrections, the draw was incredibly smooth.

IGM Cigars

This is a super smooth cigar. Part of Privada's LCA releases. The flavor profile is mostly wood and baking spice with subtle floral notes. The draw is incredibly smooth and the burn is fairly even.

Privada Cigar Club

The bold wrapper produces a strong hit of pepper at the first light, but this quickly fades into a more blended profile with some notes of dark chocolate and spice. There's nothing harsh or bitter. The draw resistance is adequate for this particular vitola as well.

El Septimo

An interesting profile for a shade. Profile notes are primarily bready with light notes of earth and spice. Solid construction allows for a perfectly resistant draw and fairly even burn.

AJ Fernandez

This is actually an incredible smoke, no matter the fun name and label. The profile is mixed with tons of wood and pepper, with a very clean draw. Definitely worth trying. Sloppy looking cap but stayed together entirely.

Patoro

An interesting blend of coffee, spice, and citrus notes. The burn was flawless, and the draw remained smooth. Solid construction aided in a very enjoyable smoke session.

Dapper

A sweet aroma leads into a grassy, sweet, cedar-like profile with strong notes of red pepper. Discontinued, but this particular cigar is from 2015 and still has its punch! Perfect draw and very even burn line.

Sinistro

This is from the 2021 pre-release. Notes are full of charred cedar, a little pepper and some leathery tones. A superb cigar that drew and burned very well.

Arturo Fuente

Always a great smoke: perfect construction, perfect draw, nice flavor notes (sweetness, cedar, nuts…), well balanced. A treat!

Sinistro

The closed candela foot provides immediate pepper that quickly backs away into a dry earthy feel. Subtle notes of cocoa and cracker appear later. The draw is smooth and very smoky, with a burn that gets wavy but routinely corrects itself.

Mardo Boutiques

When I first tried this cigar, there was almost no spice or heat. Luckily I had a second one, and after 4 extra months of rest, the spice and subtle heat now comes through. There is medium body tobacco and a subtle sweetness to it. Solid construction and draw allows this to be a decent smoke. The burn also stayed more even compared to the first experience.

Sinistro

This is from the pre-release that was put out in 2021. Notes are full of charge cedar, a little pepper and leathery tones. A superb cigar that drew and burned very well.

Freud

Very flavorful with toasted caramel and nuts. A very smooth draw the entire way.

Powstanie

Immediate hit of black pepper that soon balanced out. The remaining notes came through with some creamy caramel and something like chalky malt. The burn was phenomenal and stayed very even.

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust

A great short smoke! Notes of mixed cocoa, coffee, earth, and pepper. Everything you want in a good blend. Perfectly dense with a great draw.

Arturo Fuente

Great looking cigar. Brown reddish wrapper, free veins, neatly wrapped. Tightly packed, no soft spots. Good draw, plenty of white, creamy smoke. A great cigar every time

Dapper

Packed full of earthy chocolate. Very smokey as well. Dense construction but a perfect draw. Hits of pepper at times as well.

Caldwell

The profile comes a little richer than the original Buck 15. Notes of cocoa with a pretty smooth note of creaminess. Let this one with a cedar match and the burn stayed absolutely flawless. Great construction, great cigar.

Drew Estate

A ton of earthy notes with very subtle hints of chocolate. Thick rich tobacco as well. Slightly tight draw but very clean burn.

Jeremy Siers

This cigar pulls deep earth and rich tobacco with a well balanced blend of some pepper. The draw is very adequate, and the burn remained very level throughout.

Mardo Boutiques

For a cigar that is advertised as sweet and spicy, there is almost no spice or heat when first lighting up. There is medium body tobacco and a subtle sweetness to it. Hints of spice gradually arrive more frequently the further the cigar progresses. A solid construction and draw allow this to be a decent smoke, even though the burn tried to wave at times.

Dapper

The wrapper is a bit deceiving as the cigar is full of interesting flavor. Immediate notes of spice and bread like taste come out, this some vanilla bean and pepper coming through the farther you go. Great draw and burn as well.

Arturo Fuente

Such a grear cigar! Always a treat

L'Atelier

Seven weeks in the humidor, and my comments from December 2d remain on point. Will let the last of the trio sit for the rest of 2023. Perhaps it will help, but I'm also not in a hurry to revisit this cigar anytime soon.