Talking Terminology #1

Mondo Maduro

Upon chatting with The White Salamander yesterday, a question arose regarding what exactly a Maduro cigar meant. What differentiates a Maduro from other cigars? How does this affect the flavor of a smoke? Would an average cigar smoker enjoy this over a lighter wrap? These are all great questions, which made me think that cigar terminology may be a good thing to discuss for the average cigar enthusiast.

Maduro in Spanish translates to ripe, which this type of smoke really is. In order to achieve this type of readiness, typically the leaves are exposed to the sun for longer periods of time. The dark brown to almost black color can be achieved by a cooking process or a prolonged fermentation.

Maduros are normally more robust smokes, and typically not meant for the beginning smoker. I’d recommend a Connecticut shade wrap which is much more mild in flavor, however that’s another topic for another post.

Lately, there’s been an influx of Maduro wrapped cigars from a variety of manufacturers, therefore finding one for enjoyment should not be that difficult. If you’re up for a leathery, peppery, almost chewy smoke, then look no further than the Maduro.