One of the most anticipated releases at this years IPCPR 2018 was the Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro from Drew Estate. Following the acclaim the original Herrera Esteli, it was only natural that a maduro would be next. What is unnatural was the choice of wrapper. Willy Herrera chose to use Plantation grown Brazilian Mata Fina as the wrapper which is usually used as a binder or in the filler. This is what Willy had to say about his choice of wrapper for this blend:

From Little Havana Miami, Master Blender Willy Herrera, notes, “With the Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro, I wanted to bring the Mata Fina to the forefront of this blend. This tobacco has such a unique texture and it showcases the lush floral and earthy notes I wanted to capture in this cigar. In addition, now that the Herrera Esteli line has been repackaged blending modern simplicity with classic Cuban style, it really shines on our retailers’ shelves and brings unity to the brand.”

The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro was released in 5 sizes:

• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Robusto Grande 5 ¼ x 52 MSRP $227.94/ Box of 25
• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Toro Especial 6 x 52 MSRP $241.94/ Box of 25
• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Lonsdale 6 x 44 MSRP $231.94/Box of 25
• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Fino 6 x 52 MSRP $269.94/ Box of 25
• Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Short Corona Gorda 5 7/8 x 46 MSRP $203.94/ Box of 25

This review cigar was purchased at Parkway Cigars in Tallahassee, FL.

Pre-Light

The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Short Corona Gorda has a oscuro colored wrapper with a well applied cap. The slightly veiny, bumpy wrapper gives the cigar a rustic look. The cold draw is perfect with notes of leather, cedar and earth.

First Half

The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Short Corona Gorda starts off with strong black pepper blast that tingles on the back of the palate. The black pepper blast is short lived though and melds into a nice spicy, sweet flavor profile with notes of leather, cedar, vanilla, and cocoa powder. The cigar got much sweet after the first half an inch and is quite tasty. The cigar is medium bodied during the first half building to full.

Second Half

The Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Short Corona Gorda is more savory on the last half than in the beginning. I get notes of cedar, leather, earthy and cocoa powder, but less vanilla. The sweetness is a lot less and now I’m picking up a little bitter coffee note. The black pepper is also becoming a little more stronger near the end. The cigar is full bodied from the midpoint to the end.

Conclusion

The Herrera Esteli has always been a favorite of mine so I was excited to see a maduro version be released. The wait was worth it in my opinion. The Herrera Esteli Brazilian maduro is a great maduro blend that has a ton of flavor. I like the balance of the sweet and savory flavors this blend showcases and a nice medium-full body. These cigars are starting to hit the stores as this review is being released so go check this out if you’re a maduro fan as I think this one is a superior blend to most. I think the blend will shine more in the larger ring gauges, but I haven’t been able to try those yet. Willy Herrera never seems to disappoint with his cigar releases and this one is another winner.

Final Score: 90