Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro: master blender Willy Herrera's signature

Willy Herrera's signature

Herrera Esteli is special because it carries the name of its creator, Willy Herrera, a blender Drew Estate sought out for his refined touch with leaf. When a major brand puts a person's name on a product, that is a commitment to quality.

The Brazilian Maduro is the bold variation, swapping the usual coat for Brazil's Mata Fina leaf, bringing a sweet and deep character all its own.

The blend

A Toro Especial at 6 inches, ring gauge 52, medium in strength. A dark, naturally sweet Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, a Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf binder, and Nicaraguan filler.

Rolled at the La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate factory in Nicaragua, the same home of so many famous lines. The Mata Fina leaf is the soul here, giving a smooth sweetness no other maduro can match.

The complexity of flavor

The aroma opens complex right away: coffee, cocoa and wood woven together, with spicy pepper adding depth. Throughout the body, a hint of sweetness from the wrapper keeps surfacing to soften the spice.

This is a cigar to analyze, to pick out each distinct note and watch them merge again. The balance between spice and sweetness is exactly where Herrera's artistry shows.

The experience and the moment

Smoking time is about 60 to 90 minutes, with a rich and even draw. Its medium strength gives it just enough heft to satisfy without going so far as to lose its refinement.

It pairs with strong coffee or a glass of wine. This is a cigar for someone already deep in the hobby who wants to taste the personal mark of a master blender.

Specifications