Foundation Olmec Maduro Toro

Extremely dark, oily wrapper, a beautiful shade of dark-brown-approaching-black, box-pressed, absolutely pulsating with vibe. The mystical floating head of an indigenous man on the label seems to confirm that this cigar is cool as shit and means business. One whiff of the dry stick and a cold draw from a V-cut suggests that we are headed to sweet, nutty, chocolatey territory. Once lit, all this high promise comes into focus and delivers an extremely satisfying if straightforward bolt of maduro sweetness which reminds me of a less refined Liga Privada with just the bass notes. Perfect burn and draw, slightly flakey grey ash, definitely quality. This is one of those cigars that is more about delivering deep, visceral satisfaction than about messing around with whimsical little flavor notes twinkling in the background, like a band who shows up, wastes no time rocking the house to its very foundation, then leaves without saying a word. Also like great music, it requires no foreknowledge to appreciate, its pleasures are just immediate, making this a cigar designed to please both beginners and smoke room veterans alike. For fans of Mexican San Andres tobacco, which is the source of the maduro wrapper, all this praise goes double. A stick that both looks and tastes like a candy bar cannot be a bad thing. Box-worthy for sure.