Sindicato Maduro by Sindicato Cigars

At the end of October 2014, the new Sindicato Maduro began arriving at retailers around the nation. The Sindicato Maduro is the second release in Sindicato line following the original version, which I reviewed HERE. Having smoked through all of the lines by Sindicato Cigars, the original release of the Sindicato brought the company to a whole new level in terms of quality and refinement to their line-up. Produced at Casa Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua, the Sindicato Maduro is available in four vitolas ranging from $11 to $14: Vitolas include: Robusto (5 by 54), Toro (6 by 54), Churchill (7 by 52), and Magnum (6 by 60). I will be reviewing the Churchill today for your reading pleasure.

According to a press release by Sindicato Cigars:

The new Sindicato Maduro is a square-pressed cigar with an unfinished foot and is crafted with a beautiful, San Andrés Morrón wrapper from Alberto and Alejandro Turrent. Master blender Arsenio Ramos has combined this wrapper with the finest tobaccos from the farms of Eduardo Fernandez in Estelí and Jalapa, Nicaragua. The combination of this magnificent dark wrapper with a rich, bold Estelí double leaf binder, encompasses a blend of strong, flavorful Estelí and Jalapa leaves, which deliver a three quarter-full strength cigar with a unique taste.

The Facts

Samples Provided by Sindicato Cigars
Price: $12.95
Vitola: Churchill (square-pressed)
Size: 7 by 52
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Morrón
Binder: Nicaraguan (Double Binder)
Filler: Nicaraguan (Esteli and Jalapa)
Smoke Time: 2 Hours and 10 Minutes
Drink: N/A

Pre-light

The Sindicato Maduro is dressed in a very dark brown Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper. The black and silver band, with its gold trim, is eye-catching against the dark leaf. Stitch-like veins are scattered down the leaf that contains a good amounts of oil and a fine tooth. There is one small crack found in the wrapper, which I assume is from shipping. I find faint aromas of cedar and barnyard, along with some sweetness on the wrapper. While this cigar usually features a shaggy foot (as seen in the lower-right picture), somewhere in the travels the extra wrapper leaf broke off my review sample revealing the filler tobaccos.

As I bring my nose to the foot of the cigar, I am met with mild notes of red pepper and cedar. As odd as it may be, the foot aroma is very clean smelling. A swirled pigtail cap brings the Sindcato Maduro to a close. Upon clipping the cap, a free draw presents a buttery popcorn flavor, rich notes of clove and cedar, and some mild spice.

First Third

The Sindicato Maduro is opening with notes of popcorn, butter, sweet tobacco and a peppery spice. The buttery popcorn flavor on the cold draw transferred directly into the profile once lit. The pepper spice is highlighted on the retrohale accompanied by some notes of earth and cedar. The smoke feels creamy in the mouth, but not overly thick. An even burn is leaving behind a light grey ash. Up to this point in the cigar, I would rate both the flavors and strength as medium/full.

 Middle Third

Burning into the second third, the majority of the development has taken place as the sweetness evolved from sweet tobacco notes to a combination of cocoa and jam. The toasted popcorn continue to make up the core of the smoke. Approaching the crack, the wrapper begins to lift, but I am able to burn pass the crack with no major issue. The flavors are very well balanced and I am not perceiving any additional nicotine in the cigar.

 Final Third

The toasted notes have moved to the front of the profile pushing the sweetness to the background, but unsweetened cocoa and coffee linger on the finish of the smoke. The black pepper, which arrived early on in the cigar then dissipated in the middle third, has made a return. The Sindicato Maduro is much more rich than earlier as I begin to close out the cigar after two hours of smoking.

Wrap-up

The Sindicato Maduro carries a premium price tag of just under $13, but it is completely justified by the experience received. The buttery flavor and texture of the smoke sat easy on the palate meshing well with the toasted popcorn and pepper spice, rounded out by the ever-evolving sweetness. From the first third to the very end, the flavors were right around the full arena complimenting the medium/full strength. With Christmas around the corner, the Sindicato Maduro is an excellent choice to celebrate the Christmas season with your friends and family.