[j6ppc]

My first attempt at a review-

I decided to order a 8 pack sampler of this cigar from JR - 4 each maduro and natural; for $19 hard to go wrong there.

Background: My all time favorite book is The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann - the protagonist's favorite cigar is.... you guessed it --- Maria Mancini; the cigar figures a bit throughout the book. Hard to resist ordering some to try; well rated cigars @ under $3 / stick even with shipping.

Common to both the maduro and natural:

Size: 6X54
Shape: Pyramid, Square Pressed
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Nicaragua
Burn: Even not quite razor but close indeed

Both were well constructed and certainly looked the part of a much pricier cigar.


On to the "reviews"


Maria Mancini Magic Mountain Natural:

This cigar was tasty. Have I mentioned it was tasty? The natural version of the MM with a h2000 wrapper was a lovely smoke. Peppery but not overpowering with a nice, even burn this cigar was a good smoke right to the last, went well with a pastis. A definate do again (buy more) IMHO.

Maria Mancini Magic Mountain maduro:
A beautiful cigar as was its natural counterpart.
Chocolaty, fragrant - nubbed it actually. Good from beginning to end with the flavours changing towards peppery/choco towards the (not bitter) end. On my buy list as well. This cigar reminded me of the Padron X000 series, 'nuf said (is this heresy?).

Summary - these represent excellent value -- well worth smoking and remind me more of $10.+ cigars than sub $3 ones. I'm going to order more and look forward to trying the De Gaulle and other sizes.

Between the two the maduro gets a (very) slight nod-- both are tasty indeed.

Bests

Jon