Quick Draw Episode 10 – Dona Flor Selecao and Alonso Menendez Mata Fina

Well hello there. Today I put together another Quick Draw Episode for you guys. This one was based on some samples sent to us from our good friends over at Dona Flor Cigars. Daniel and I both enjoy a lot of the cigars they produce over there so I was eager to dig into these.

Dona Flor Selecao

Size: 5 x 52
Wrapper: Brazillian Mata Fina
Binder: Brazillian Mata Norte
Filler: Brazillian Mata Fina
Price: ~$7
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Pairing: Water

Prelight: This cigar is extremely rustic looking. The wrapper is a very consistent, very dark brown. The dark, meaty wrapper almost looks damp. The wrapper is extremely toothy and carries some decent oils. While the cigar may look like it has had better days, some of the craziest looking cigars produce some of the most pleasurable experiences. The cigar is pretty soft to the touch and doesn’t feel very packed. The wrapper has one or two larger veins running up to its double cap. The wrapper of the cigar gives off a very mild cedar aroma while the foot just boasts of natural tobacco.

Flavors: Right off the bat this cigar greets you with very sweet chocolate, leather, lots of cedar, and even a bit of cherry. As the smoke progresses the cedar becomes more dominant while the chocolate begins to damper off. The cigar finishes very sweet and very smooth. The Brazillian tobacco really is a step away from the usual experience. I found the flavors stayed more on the natural side with lots of sweetness and fruit in the background.

Burn/Draw: The burn was razor sharp the entire time. Outside of some large waves I encountered about halfway in the cigar burned relatively clean. It did require a few touchups during that troubled time, but nothing out of the ordinary. The ash produced was very thick and tightly compacted holding on for about an inch before giving way. Despite the pre-light experience with a loose feel, this cigar drew like a dream. Perfect and plentiful every time.

Thoughts: While this cigar didn’t give off a ton of flavor I found what it did create was a very balanced, smooth, and enjoyable experience. This is a perfect cigar for someone taking a stroll, enjoying a morning coffee, someone looking for a unique experience, or even a novice smoker looking for something that carries a bit more flavor than the average mild cigar.

Alonso Menendez Mata Fina

Size: 6 x 42
Wrapper: Brazillian Mata Fina
Binder: Brazillian Mata Fina
Filler: Brazillian Mata Fina
Price: ~$6
Strength: Medium
Body: Full
Pairing: Water

Prelight: I love this format. I am sucker for smaller ring gauges. This wrapper looks very different than the Selecao. Starting with a lighter shade of consistent brown, this wrapper carries quite a toothy texture. The cigar is seamless, with only a few very small veins running through the slender body. The wrapper of the cigar gives off a subtle cedar and sweet honey aroma while the foot of this one lets loots a very chocolaty, sweet, tobacco aroma.

Flavors: The cigar started out with just a slight spice, lots of cedar, heavy creamed coffee, and lots of sweetness. The sweet tobacco and honey really took over the deeper I got into the cigar while the spice faded in and out. The cedar remained the entire time before ramping up into the final third. There wasn’t much of a changeup in flavors, but I really enjoyed what this cigar had to offer.

Burn/Draw: The burn on this cigar was all sorts of crazy at the start. I touched up a few times and then it burned clean and clear the rest of the way. This tells me it had to do something with the way I toasted the foot. The draw was a bit tight on this cigar, but I was able to get a good amount of thick, white smoke after giving it a good puff or two.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this cigar. I have always liked Brazillian tobacco and this cigar really showcases what the Mata Fina has to offer. Lots of up front flavor, mild and creamy composure with just a tad of spice. This cigar is great for the novice smoker and it makes for a pleasurable experience for the more seasoned cigar smoker looking for something mild and smooth without skipping out in the flavor department.