La Galera Maduro El Lector Toro 2/17/18

 Appearance
The wrapper is dark chocolate colored with a few prominent veins. The seams are tightly wrapped and difficult to find. There is a very light oil sheen and a bit of tooth as well. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.
The primary band is very attractive.

Aroma
Barnyard, chocolate, a very faint leathery aroma and a hint of spice on the wrapper.
Nothing at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Chocolate, cedar, dried white fruit and black pepper spice.

1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar and chocolate, both very rich and bold. There is an underlying black pepper spice developing in the back of the palate. The chocolate really dominates the finish and THAT is a good thing. The draw is a bit snug. The burn is perfect. The ash is light gray and tight. Halfway into the 1st/3rd the dried white fruit joins the profile. Just past halfway the draw opens up. The ash held strong til removal.

2nd
The profile rolls into the 2nd/3rd the same. The ash gets a bit flaky. The black pepper spice picks up a tick. The smoke production is at the medium range. Strength is medium+. The burn got off about 45* due to the Ligero cone being off center and 3 1/8” tunnels on the faster burning side. With the help of simple physics it self corrects over the next 1”. Very well balanced so far.

Final/3rd
Burn has fully self corrected. Smoke production is at the low end of high. Flavor profile remains consistent through to the nub.

Overall
The La Galera Maduro El Lector Toro provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A well balanced and flavorful profile with a great draw and erratic burn(through first 2/3’s). A well made and blended cigar by Jochy Blanco(Jose Blanco’s cousin and owner of the Tabacalera Palma factory in the DR).
My 1st experience with this blend(Robusto) during #AZ2016 was not good as it had a heavy black pepper presence which I’m not a fan of. After hearing a number of people were enjoying the Toro size I figured it was worth another try. I’m glad I did as it was very enjoyable. So the lesson is: just because u don’t like a cigar doesn’t mean you won’t like it in a different vitola. In other words as I always say “GottaTryEmAll™️!!”