Blind Cigar Review: Maya Selva | Flor de Selva Maduro Tempo

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Double Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 60
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Jamastrán (Honduras)
Binder: Brazialian Mata Fina
Filler: Habano Jamastrán (Honduras) and Ligero Azacualpa (Nicaragua)
Factory: Tabacos de Oriente, S.A.
Blender: Maya Selva
Number of reviewers: 5—–Ron (shuckins) Steve (ThaGreatWazoo) Wes (SosaCub4Life) Emmett (rhetorik) Jack (Jack_H)
Price: $15.00
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: July 2014
Contributed by: Maya Selva Cigars

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 90

“This is a fat, but good looking cigar. The wrapper is a dark brown with a reddish tint and a little mottled with darker parts. There are a few large veins that stick out and the double cap is applied very well.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Aroma: 92

“Rich, dark coffee and spicy peppered tobacco aromas delight my senses.” –Ron (shuckins)

First Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Some burn issues in the beginning. Has a cocoa and hay complexity. Very smooth on the retrohale. First third is shaping up quite nicely.” –Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)

“I get some real maduro flavors off the bat. This starts crisp and savory, with a real black licorice quality (not a bad thing for me) and some light, flavorful smoke. Black pepper, and that same earthy character that I smelled earlier.” –Jack (Jack_H)

Second Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“I think somebody switched cigars on me, because it’s smoking along smoothly now as a taste of cedar pops in and takes some of the edge and most of the heat out of play. There is still enough pepper and plenty of coffee flavors to keep things from getting dull.” –Ron (shuckins)

“The burn has gone astray and the draw is still tight and producing feeble amounts of smoke. The spice has picked up making things a little bit more interesting. The citrus flavor of the previous third is gone, and all I’m left with is some generic wood and spice.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Final Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Splashes of leather join the coffee, bringing enough creamy smoothness with it to drive the remaining heat out of the picture. There is still enough pepper with the cedar tasting tobacco to provide an entertaining kick until the very end.” –Ron (shuckins)

“The final third has been a lot like the second, but the spice a picked up a bit. Nice and creamy with great spice. Razor sharp burn and smoke pouring out.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 90

“Draw had a decent amount of smoke throughout. Had to relight a few times.” –Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)

Burn: 90

“Slight waves here and there, but I feel the need to throw in a disclaimer; I was smoking outside in a decent amount of wind. Through all this, the cigar held a pretty darn good burn line. For a large ring gauge cigar, this baby burned like a gem.” –Jack (Jack_H)

Construction: 93

“Great construction. Held a good ash and produced lots of smoke. Very well make stick.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Overall Experience: 88

“A rough starting cigar, with the heat and bite up front, but changed gears and direction quickly enough to become a much more enjoyable cigar at the finish.” –Ron (shuckins)

“The cigar was surprisingly great. Had a good complexity. Though the ring gauge was daunting initially, the flavor profile stayed on par and was very enjoyable.” –Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)

“Overall, this was a great cigar for me. Lots of great spice throughout and tons of smoke. Burn was great. Super enjoyable smoke.” –Wes (SosaCub4Life)

“Overall, this cigar wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good. It suffered from the same things as most large RG cigars; tough draw, bad burn, too much tobacco and not enough flavor. I didn’t enjoy how long this cigar took to smoke and the flavors were generic. I’m afraid I can’t recommend this to anyone.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

“This is a cigar that will warrant a second try. I usually don’t go for large ring gauge cigars because of poor construction. Not the case with this cigar and that is what disappointed me the most. I may chalk it up to the wind or just a bad stick and the others are better, but this one just didn’t do it for me.” –Jack (Jack_H)
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Smoking Time (in minutes): 106

Edit

Reviewer	Appearance	Aroma	1/3	2/3	3/3	Draw	Burn	Constr.	Overall
Ron	90	92	88	90	90	92	90	93	90
Steve	90	88	92	90	90	85	83	88	90
Wes	97	90	97	95	95	97	97	97	97
Emmett	90	95	88	85	83	80	85	80	85
Jack	90	92	88	88	85	95	95	95	88

 

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
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Blind Cigar Review: Maya Selva | Flor de Selva Maduro Tempo