Oscar Valladares The Oscar Maduro Gordo

📌 Brand: Oscar Valladares
📌 Line: The Oscar Maduro
📌 Size: Gordo (6" × 60)
📌 Weight: 23.1 g
📌 Age: 2 years
📌 Origin: Honduras

Tasting Notes

• Cocoa & Espresso – Rich, bittersweet foundation with roasted depth

• Dark Fruit – Hints of raisin and plum sweetness

• Earth & Leather – Rustic core with grounding character

• Black Pepper – Gentle spice adding structure

First Impressions

The Oscar Maduro Gordo is presented uniquely, wrapped in a candela leaf instead of cellophane. The wrapper itself is a dark, oily Mexican San Andres Maduro, exuding aromas of earth, cocoa, and dried fruit. Firmly packed with a rustic but striking presentation, it immediately signals a bold, flavorful smoke.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Cocoa and dark fruit lead, with black pepper rising subtly in the retrohale. Medium-full body with an earthy foundation.

• Second Third – Espresso and leather take over, balanced by touches of raisin-like sweetness. The smoke thickens, rich and chewy.

• Final Third – Earth and pepper dominate, while cocoa lingers in the background. A hearty, bold finish that maintains excellent construction and balance.

Pairings

• Alcohol: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum — layers of molasses, toffee, and dried fruit harmonize with the Maduro’s cocoa and raisin-like depth.

• Tea: Lapsang Souchong — smoky, pinewood-infused tea that mirrors the cigar’s earthy core while cleansing the palate between draws.

Music Pairing

“Nothing Else Matters” – Metallica.

Powerful yet melodic, echoing the bold intensity of the Maduro profile.

Final Thoughts

The Oscar Maduro Gordo is bold, flavorful, and beautifully presented. It offers a rewarding balance of cocoa, espresso, and earthy complexity with a rustic edge. A cigar that appeals to lovers of Maduro richness, and one that leaves a lasting impression both visually and on the palate.

Final Score: 8/10
Why not a 10?

• Lack of much complexity second third

• Relight once towards the last third

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.