5 Vegas Gold Maduro

Size: Toro (6.0 x 50)
Body: Medium
Wrapper: Maduro (Pennsylvania Broadleaf)
Fillers: Nicaraguan and Honduran
MSRP: approx $4

The 5 Vegas Gold Maduro is a beautiful looking smoke with a beautiful band - It screams tasty just by looking at it. I couldn't wait to light it, so I'll get right into the review.

The cigar starts out with a strong taste of bitter cocoa, something I thoroughly enjoy in a maduro. A little bit of pepper fades in and out every now and then, barely discernible except in the aftertaste. As I moved into the second third, the bitter cocoa taste faded into a creamier coca taste, more akin to milk chocolate. Also, the spices become more noticeable, although still not consistent. As you entered the final third, the spice become both stronger and constant, although the slightly creamy cocoa is still the predominant flavor. Also, a slight "barnyard" taste enters the smoke, which when mixed with the milk-chocolate taste gives a slightly leathery aftertaste.

Unfortunately, the burn was abysmal. I must have given this smoke at least seven or eight relights, minimum, and I didn't even nub it. I have already had a couple other 5 vegas maduros (I try not to review it until I've had at least two), and they both had similar burn issues. The ash may have held on longer if I hadn't had to relight it so many times. Worse yet was the draw - I cut it with my perfecto cutter, and then used a punch, and then a bigger punch, and still it was difficult to get much smoke from the cigar.

In conclusion, while I enjoyed the classic maduro flavors coming off this cigar, predominantly of both bitter and creamy cocoa, the burn and draw issues made the smoke extremely difficult to enjoy. After writing this, at least 50% of the sites I looked at said the same, as pertains to the draw. Bad burn and bad draw make for a bad experience.

Overall: 2.5/5
Final Grade (factors in price): 2.3/5

Angolom