Cheap Smoke: Pioneer Valley Especiales Maduro

Overall Score

1 review for Cheap Smoke: Pioneer Valley Especiales Maduro

  1. TJ

    Pioneer Valley Especiales Maduro

    Origin : Nicaragua
    Format : Robusto
    Size : 5 x 50
    Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf
    Filler : Dominican/Nicaraguan mix
    Binder : Connecticut
    Price : on-line price for a box of 20 can be found for $29.99 ($1.50 per)

    This review is submitted by TJ and is participating in our “Share your cheap smoke!” contest. To get a chance to win a box of cigars, you can submit yours here.

    Pre-light

    This cigar, in my opinion, has a gorgeous, very dark, wrapper. The wrapper is slightly toothy with a light oily sheen. The stick is firm, with no worrisome soft-spots and only a few prominent veins but not concerned about them affecting burn. A quick whiff and I’m met with a strong cedar scent, thanks to the cedar sleeve that covers more than a third of the stick. Behind that, I get the standard barnyard presence. Double band, red, that stands out against the nearly black wrapper. Straight cut, torch lit…

    Pioneer Valley Especiales Maduro

    The smoke

    I’m not one to identify things such as saddle leather, black currant or green wood. Seriously, what the hell does leather taste like, and why would someone even know this? I focus on construction, draw, strength, burn and volume of smoke. I do appreciate the feel of the smoke in the mouth and make note when pleasing. Let’s see how this cigar plays out.

    The Pioneer Valley maduro burns like a champ. The several I’ve smoked produce a nice white ash that is fairly strong requiring no touch-ups, with a straight burn line that, when does get wavy, corrects itself. This is important to me as this is my fishing cigar and its constantly being bumped and put down, often going extended periods of time without attention. Draw tends to be on the loose side, maybe too loose for some. I have to remind myself to slow down as it tends to get hot if drawn to fast/often. I get a very, very mild nicotine flavor and rate this cigar in the medium category. This robusto produces a good amount of smoke, but it does not coat the mouth as a more expensive cigar might. For the price however, I don’t knock too many points off. I must point out that with the cedar sleeve on, and the age of the sticks in my collection, I do get a nice cedar taste; my horrible palate notwithstanding.

    Pioneer Valley Especiales Maduro

    The Verdict

    The Pioneer Valley Maduro will not blow you away with multiple flavor profiles, nor will it be a stick you reach for on special occasions. This is a stick however, that I enjoy on a regular basis and bring fishing for a few reasons. First, it’s not a full bodied cigar which is great for early morning as is often the time I fish. I don’t need to worry about a full stomach before smoking one of these. Second, I don’t get upset if I have to put it down to handle a fish and it falls overboard, or gets stepped on. The low-cost of the cigar eases my mind that if it goes to waste I haven’t burned a hole in my wallet. Lastly, the great burn and short size of the robusto doesn’t force me to commit to a 2-hour smoke. 60 minutes or under affords me both the enjoyment of a cigar and the time to fish. This cheap smoke, one that I do not hesitate to hand to others, is certainly box-worthy for those of us not concerned about hints of raisins or earth.

    Thumbs Up!

    [sz]pioneer[/sz]

    Helpful?
    0 0
    • Aubrey

      This review makes me question the veracity of Cigar Inspector in general. I don’t have the world’s best nose, but even I can detect notes of leather, cocoa and ….barnyard!

    • Frank

      This is a Real Review…all the “notes” about fruit and leather and such are silly, fake, pretentious; this guy is the real deal. Write some more my man!

    • sdleikam

      I enjoyed the review of the Pioneer Valley. That is the type of review I like. Gets right to the meat, without the appetizer. 🙂

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Cigar Region Nicaragua
Filler Dominican, Nicaragua
Wrapper Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder Connecticut
Length 5
Ring Gauge 50
Vitola Robusto
Construction Hand Made