Today's pair of reviews are geared towards fans of Maduro-wrapped cigars. Up first is the very affordable Perdomo Fresco Maduro Robusto, which will be followed by the bold and flavorful La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro No. 5.

Perdomo Fresco Maduro Robusto

There are some smokers who seem to enjoy cigars with flashy bands and even flashier packaging. That's fine, but you can expect such decorations to add on to the cigar's price tag. Depending on what state you live in, that price tag could be boosted even higher by excessive taxes. In other words, is the packaging that important? If it isn't, you may want to check out some bundled cigars that keep it simple. The Perdomo Fresco line is one of the most popular of its bundled kind, and it's up for review today. More specifically, I'll be testing one of the line's Maduro Robusto sticks.

The Fresco Maduro Robusto measures 5 x 50. It's one of four sizes offered in the line, with the others being the 6 x 50 Toro, 6 1/2 x 54 Torpedo, and 7 x 50 Churchill. The cigar's filler blend consists of tobaccos grown exclusively on Perdomo's farms in the fertile Esteli region of Nicaragua. The binder is also Nicaraguan, and the cigar is completed by a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper. Like other Perdomo lines, the brand offers the Fresco in a Connecticut Shade wrapper as well for those seeking a smoother smoke. In terms of strength, the Fresco Maduro is listed as being medium to full-bodied.

I know I spoke about fancy packaging in the intro and whether or not it's really necessary, but the Fresco Maduro Robusto actually looks like a premium stick. The decorative band near the head is large and colorful. It features the Perdomo Fresco label surrounded by various Perdomo logos in gold, black, and red. The band definitely stands out and could catch some looks. The cigar itself has a dark and oily wrapper. There are not too many veins that are visible, and it appears to have solid overall construction. I can tell that this stogie is well-packed with tobacco due to its firmness and lack of soft spots. Before lighting, I sense a sweet taste and a spicy aroma.

After striking the Fresco Maduro Robusto with my lighter, the cigar exhibits a solid burn. It does need a couple of minor touch-ups, but never gets out of hand. The draw is good and there's plenty of smoke produced. The ash is solid and white in color. We are good to go in this department.