Cigar Review: Nestor Miranda Collection Maduro Robusto

Earlier this month, I reviewed the Habano Robusto from the new Nestor Miranda Collection. Miami Cigar & Co. recently launched the series to coincide with the company’s 25th anniversary and honor its founder as Nestor Miranda slowly transitions away from active management of the business.

It’s safe to say the Nestor Miranda Collection is a preview of what we might expect from Miami Cigar & Co. over the ensuing years. Jason Wood, Miranda’s son-in-law and vice president of (and presumed heir to) the company, is the driving force behind the series. Evidently, his work was met with Miranda’s approval. “I am excited about the new vision [Jason Wood] has for our future and the re-branding of the Nestor Miranda Collection,” he said in a press release. “[He has positioned us] to make a lasting impression on the cigar industry for years to come.”

The new Nestor Miranda Collection is made at My Father Cigars and is broken up into three lines: Habano (green band), Maduro (red), and Connecticut (blue). While the former are original blends, the Connecticut has the same recipe as the old Special Selection Connecticut cigar. All come in 4 sizes—Robusto (4.5 x 50), Toro (5.5 x 54), Corona Gorda (6 x 46), and Gordo (6 x 60)—and retail for about $7 to $9 apiece.

The Maduro Robusto sports a dark, mottled, and toothy Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper around a Nicaraguan binder and a three-country filler blend from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Brazil. Rustic in appearance, it’s adorned with large veins, a few bumps, and some thick seams. The firmness is moderate, the cold draw stiff, and the pre-light notes remind me of warm tobacco.

Once lit, a chewy, peppery flavor emerges with plenty of spice and leather. I wouldn’t call it a slap-in-the-face introduction, but the body is medium to medium-full. There’s a meaty sourness on the aftertaste of which I’m not particularly fond, and the draw is a little tight for my liking.

At the midway point, the draw starts to open, the smoke production increases, and a few new flavors join the fray. They include cocoa, cream, and coffee. The finish featyres an increase in spice, strength, and richness that places the final third solidly in the full-bodied range.

Aside from early-on issues with the draw, the construction is good. My samples exhibited a solid ash and a straight burn line.

In total, I can safely say I prefer the Habano Robusto to the Maduro, and I look forward to trying the Connecticut. On its own, the Maduro Robusto is a serviceable smoke that Connecticut Broadleaf fans should try. That earns it a rating of three stogies out of five.

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–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys