Vitola: Toro
Size: 6.125″ x 46 ring gauge
Price $10.00
Purchased from Silo Cigars
Background
I had heard Dave mention before that the original release Gran Maravilla he got a chance to try was one if not the best cigars he had tried. I was curious about the re-release (with a slight blend change) at Silo Cigars. I didn’t really know if I wanted to commit to purchasing a box of them and talked to Paul via Twitter (@SiloCigars) about getting a 5 pack of the cigars. Dave was able to pick them up at the release party and send them to me. You can read Dave’s review of this cigar here. This was the first one of these cigars I smoked.
Prelight
The wrapper on this cigar was a slightly greyish brown in color, with a good amount of oils, very light tooth and some scattered fine veins. The wrapper was fairly smooth and the roll was just about perfect. I do wish there was some sort of band though. Seeing as I only picked up a 5 pack these cigars are going to need to be kept separate in my humidor so I can remember what they are. Putting my nose to the wrapper I got a very intense aroma of leather with some leather and barnyard coming from the foot. When I gave it a squeeze there was some give but no soft spots. After clipping it and taking a cold draw on it I noted some flavors of cocoa, leather and sweet cream with an ok draw.
Flavor
The cigar starts off with a good amount spice on the tongue and a wasabi like burn on the retrohale. After a few puffs I started to get the tastes of leather, cream, wood, coffee and hints of cinnamon with a slightly sweet finish. The cigar starts out firmly in the medium-full range. When I got into the second third the spice had toned down a bit but not gone completely away. The flavors in this third were of coffee, leather, earth, wood with a sweet cream finish. The cigar built a bit in strength and I started to get a slight nicotine hit from it. The final third saw the cigar finish off strong. I got a couple puffs with almost a cotton candy flavor then it settled into caramel, coffee, leather, wood, and earth with the sweet cream finish still present. I definitely was getting a nicotine hit from it as it progressed into the full range by the end.
Construction
The draw was a little tight at the beginning but by the end of the first third it had opened up considerably. The burn line was pretty even throughout.
Value
A limited edition from Tatuaje for $10, sounds good to me.
Conclusions
Overall I really enjoyed this cigar. I am curious as well how this cigar will age and think it will do well. It has gotten me to second guess my decision to only pick up a 5 pack. If you’d like to get your own you can pick up a 5-pack or a box from Silo Cigars.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
Another Tat to try if I see one, nice profile. What’s up with that no band business?
I honestly can’t say why Pete opts for no bands on some of his cigars. I thought at first it might be because these are wet-packed, but so was the Black Label jar and those had bands. I believe the original Maravilla did not have a band, though, (for reasons unknown to me) so to honor that style this “Gran” version did not include a band, either.
I agree I’m not the biggest fan of no bands, but I have actually had this stick (I know shocker) and I really enjoyed it. Lots of flavor and a nice small RG was right in my wheel house.
Nice review. Agree with everyone else, the no band thing can be such a pain in the ass, especially trying to remember if you like them!
Loved this cigar.. was gifted to me and the no band made it hard to know what I loved.. but asked and bought a few..