Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra Maduro
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitola: 5 ½ x 48
Strength: Full
Purchase Link: Foundation Metapa Maduro
FOUNDATION METAPA MADURO REVIEW – DOM
Summary: The scent of this cigar smacks of whole wheat toast. A second pre-light note: Renaissance artists would have loved this cigar. From the even shade of wrapper, to the sleek box-press, to the pig tail cap, this cigar looks good naked. Dark coffee, umami, and roasted nuts start this cigar off rich and malty. Slowing down my puffing, butterscotch melds with the roasty toasty notes in a rip-roaring fashion.
In the second half, the complexity wanes, but a popcorn note still proves to be enjoyable. Semi-sweet chocolate leaves a tasteful finish on my palate as I put down the nub. Solid smoke.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Pants off dance offs with your significant other
Pairing Suggestion: Anejo tequila
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
FOUNDATION METAPA MADURO REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar brought notes of black pepper, anise, clove, cinnamon, molasses, and dark chocolate.
Construction was on point - no complaints at all about how the cigar was made.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Assorted Christmas cookies, but with added black pepper (it works in a cigar, but maybe don't try this with your cookies)
Pairing Suggestion: Brandy
Perceived Strength: Full
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
FOUNDATION METAPA MADURO REVIEW – BEN
Summary: cold draw taste like a moonpie but it's starting off more like mudpies. Charred meat, green pepper and leather. as short as this stick is, it felt like forever to get to the second half. Just past that, a faint sweeter note peeks through but it’s too late for my liking. The reto is a little harsh and the ash is flakyyyyyy.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Another set of taste buds
Pairing Suggestion: Rootbeer
Perceived Strength: Medium+
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
FOUNDATION METAPA MADURO REVIEW – TED
Summary: This softly box-pressed cigar sporting a pigtail cap has my attention before I even clip the cap. Call it a gut instinct driven by its good looks. Interesting cold draw too. Hay and mild absinthe.
Wow. Let’s get dark. Notes of dank earth, charred meat, dark cocoa and black pepper presenting distinctly and boldly. The whole thing has a musty taste to it. I’m also getting just a hint of anise which may account for the perceived absinthe in the cold draw. Lots of smoke, lots of big, in-your-face flavors.
Just as I reach the middle of this cigar, I‘m encountering a small tunnel, and in turn the flavors become quite muted. With a little patience and work, the smoke starts to roll and the flavors start to come back. I’m still tasting the hints of anise along with burnt toast, dark earth, charred wood, and strong, slightly bitter coffee.
Wrapping things up here with a continuing dark profile built of black pepper, charred wood, anise, earth and rather than coffee, I’m now tasting strong, black tea.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Using a sledgehammer to do sledgehammer things
Pairing Suggestion: Guinness
Perceived Strength: Medium+
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
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