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Made in the same three shapes as the natural-wrapped edition, the maduros are firmly constructed with a Mexican binder and Mexican and Nicaraguan-grown fillers. This is a medium-bodied cigar that’s less present than the natural-wrapped version, but with a stouter taste. There’s a toasty aroma to this cigar and a sweet and creamy taste that’s easy to spot and easy to appreciate. The flavor can be slightly caramelized, but the sweetness of the maduro wrapper is plainly evident in this blend. There’s a short finish, but the overall impression is relaxed and mellow. A modest note of spice is introduced in the second half and the balance between the sweet and caramelized elements and the spicy notes leans more toward the latter as the cigar burns to the end. The maduro-wrapped blend has more character than the natural-wrapped version and will stand up better to other tastes. Perhaps this cigar is best served after a hearty barbeque? Like the natural-wrapped sizes, the maduros are offered in boxes of 23 at retail prices ranging from $5.75 to $7.50 before local tobacco taxes. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Tiant promotes the cigars himself and distribution has primarily been in the Northeast, although it is gaining fans in other areas as well. Another former pitcher, Pedro Ramos, has been involved in making cigars in Nicaragua for several years. Like Tiant, he was born in Cuba (in 1935), but specifically in the cigar district of Pinar del Rio, where most of the tobacco for Cuban cigars is grown. Ramos pitched for 15 seasons in the major leagues from 1955-70 (he missed 1968), compiling a 117-160 record for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds. He won 11 or more games in seven different seasons, but lost 10 or more in nine seasons. His cigars are better than his pitching. Havana Cigar – Don Pedro Ramos: [Nicaragua: available in 4 sizes] The Havana Cigar – Don Pedro Ramos line was introduced in 2003 and is distributed by Harold Levinson Associates of Farmingdale, New York as a value-priced, bundled brand. It features all Nicaraguan-grown tobaccos and has an extra-dark and rich-looking wrapper. Although presented as a mild-to-medium-bodied cigar, we found it to be medium-to-full-bodied with a nice presence and a toasty aroma. The flavor is sweet with a caramelized bent and a fairly long finish that quite entertaining. This is a soft, mellow and accessible cigar that’s perfect anytime and won’t disappoint you, especially on any measure of value. The intensity of flavor recedes in the second half and there is a spicy note towards the end. It isn’t subtle or complex, but it tastes good. At suggested retail prices of just $33.00 per bundle of 25 – regardless of size – this is an excellent golf cigar, or one to hand out to friends, who you can then regale with your knowledge of the pitching career of the man who developed this blend.. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Neither the El Tiante 23 Series or the Havana Cigar – Don Pedro Ramos is going to enter the pantheon of ultra-class cigars, but they are solid. Fans of maduro-wrapped cigars, especially, will enjoy the El Tiante maduros, and these are quality cigars to enjoy with friends or to enhance an afternoon watching baseball during the summer. They were good enough for the Red Sox, and now you can enjoy them too! ~ Rich Perelman CLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGCigar Humidors and Cigar Accessories at Humidor Vault! Your online cigar humidor source, with rock-bottom pricing and fantastic customer support!Like sports? Get news and commentary you won’t see in your morning newspaper at TheSportsExaminer.com! Join the examination! A limited amount of classified advertising is available in this space on a weekly basis. For details, call Pat Harris at (213) 365-7965 or inquire by email by clicking here. Have an opinion? You can send it using the “Comment” button below! Don’t forget to register for our drawing for free cigars and accessories! Just click on the “Register & Win” button above; enter today! Looking for a cigar party? Take a look at our exclusive list of hundreds of cigar events across the country, listed by state and date, only on CigarCyclopedia.com!
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Did you know?
“Cigars, as we know them today, began serious production in Seville, Spain around 1676.
