The Mataza won’t win any beauty contests, but it does have a decent appearance. The red band near the head is a tad bland, and it shows the Mataza name and logo. The Brazilian wrapper is dark and has a nice oily sheen. The cigar is somewhat toothy in nature with a few medium-sized veins that are visible. As I give the Mataza a feel, I find zero soft spots. The pre-light aroma is of coffee, while the cold taste is sweet.

The Mataza Robusto Gordo lights with ease and exhibits a draw that is just right. There’s a nice volume of smoke as well. The burn does require a few touch-ups here and there, but nothing major. The gray ash is flaky, so keep that in mind when dressing up for your cigar smoking experience.

Alec Bradley was spot on when describing the Mataza as smooth. Complexity, on the other hand, is another issue. The cigar begins with a good dose of sweetness, as well as some wood. Midway into the second third some spicy pepper shows up. It’s just a small taste of pepper though. Not once does the cigar become overbearing or powerful. The final third is mostly coffee, plus the sweetness enjoyed in the beginning.

Overall, I have to say that the Alec Bradley Mataza was an enjoyable stick. It didn’t wow me with its appearance, but it had solid construction and was very smooth. I did not pick up a lot of complexity, but that’s okay. There were some decent flavor transitions to keep things from getting monotonous. The best part about the Mataza is its price. You can get a box of 25 for around $85. At that price point, I would consider getting a box to keep around for friends or days when I want something smooth and relaxing. Hiland’s Cigars, an online retailer, was the first to receive the Mataza, so look them up if you are interested in picking some up for yourself.

The Alec Bradley Mataza Robusto Gordo earns a rating of 3.5 out of four stars.