Cigar Review: Soneros Maduro by Cubanacan

• Vitola: Corona Gorda
• 5.625” x 46 ring gauge
• Price ~$8
• Samples provide by Cubanacan Cigars

Background

Two years ago, I think I had never heard of Cubanacan Cigars, although they were not exactly a “new brand.” About a year ago, they started speaking with a much loud voice and suddenly it wasn’t just “Cubanacan” that I noticed, but names like Maderos and Soneros, the latter of which is the subject of today’s cigar review. Their website gives a good, concise background of the brand and it’s blender:

Omar González-Alemán, a true master blender with a long history in the cigar making industry, and former manager of one of the oldest and most prestigious factories in Cuba La Corona is bringing the flavors, aromas and blends of the past to Soneros, his new creation. The brand came to life in collaboration with the Cubanacan Cigars family located in Estelí, Nicaragua. This premium brand has been in development for more than a year with carefully selected 5-year aged tobacco. The rich and oily Ecuador Maduro and Claro wrappers are from the best quality tobacco growers in Ecuador and the fillers from the best regions of Nicaragua, Jalapa, Esteli and Condega.

Soneros (which is “A traditional Cuban musical style that forms the foundations for a wide range of modern Latin music”) is made in the Cubanacan factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. It’s available in 5 sizes and in both natural (claro) and Maduro Habano wrappers. Along with the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, it features an Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan fillers. I smoked two cigars during this review cycle and they were provided by Cubanacan.

Prelight

The musical motif is present in the logo and banding of the cigar with the “S” being similar to the treble staff symbol, musical notes appearing on a staff behind the lettering, and a guitar growing out of it all. The colors used are what I think of as more-or-less “traditional Cuban brand colors” of red, black and gold (white is also acceptable). The wrapper leaf was a milk chocolate shade of brown with more oiliness under my fingertips than to my eyes. There were no obvious flaws to the leaf and the cap and all else looked well applied and built.

Giving the cigar a sniff, I picked up on notes of earth and leather; the foot had a stronger earthiness. Once clipped, the cigar had a very good draw. The cold flavors were of a little earth, natural tobacco, and hay.

Flavor

The first few puffs of the Soneros Maduro were full of the flavors of earth, black pepper and unsweetened cocoa. The retrohale was intense and peppery. After a few minutes I got some moderate dried fruit sweetness and a touch of anise in the mix.

As I got into the second third, the sweet notes faded a bit and more earthiness and pepper took their place. I did still pick up a note of anise from time to time as well as some cedar notes.

The last third had intense earthiness and a stronger pepper bite than had been there before. There was no sweetness at this point, which I would have welcomed as a balancing note.

Construction

The Soneros Maduro had a straight-enough burn line with just a couple minor touch-ups needed. The ash was solid and the draw was great.

Value

At about $8 a stick, the value here is good.

Conclusions

I enjoyed the Soneros Maduro, although I found the first two third better than the last. It’s a good, solid example of a medium to full bodied Nicaraguan blend that I would compare favorably to the Padron 1000s series and if you like those, you may very well like these.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10