Cain Maduro

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Cain Maduro

Cain Maduro - 1

Cain Maduro - 2Brand: Cain Maduro
Blender: Sam Leccia
Vitola: Robusto
Ring Gauge: 50
Length: 5.50
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Origin: Nicaragua
MSRP: $5.80

Brand:

The Cain Straight Ligero line is the newest creation from Sam Leccia. Just like the Nub line, Cain cigars are crafted by the Oliva Family of Cigars in Nicaragua. Cain is available in both Habano and Maduro wrappers and are intended for those seeking extremely full bodied cigars.

The power of this cigar comes from its combination of Ligero. Both offerings feature a filler blend of 25% Esteli Ligero, 27% Condega Ligero, and 30% Jalapa Ligero. The remaining 18% is an undisclosed combination of tobaccos which help the stick burn properly.

Cigars are packaged in boxes of 24 and are available in three sizes. Those sizes include a Robusto (50 x 5.50), Double Toro (60 x 6.00), and a Torpedo (54 x 6.00).

Pre Light:

Cain Maduro - 3

Before lighting my Cain Maduro, I gave it a good looking over. The first thing to catch my eye was the lack of sheen on the wrapper leaf, which gave it a dull appearance. The color was a mottled dark brown with occasional spots of black.

There were a couple of small veins throughout the wrapper leaf, none of which protruded to add a rough texture. Despite the small veins, this stick had a very lumpy appearance which did not do it any favors. When pinched, the cigar did not feel uniformly packed with tobacco and instead was full of soft and hard spots.

The aroma on the wrapper was heavy while the aroma on the exposed foot was even more intense. When smelling the foot, the smell of the tobacco seemed to tickle my noise and routinely made me sneeze. The aroma at both places reminded me of damp earth.

After a quick clip with a guillotine cutter, I had the head of my Cain Maduro open. The pre light draw had very little resistance and had a mildly sweet taste. The lack of resistance on the draw, paired with the lumpy feel of the filler, had me a little concerned.

First Third:

Cain Maduro - 4

After my pre-light inspection was complete, I moved to toasting and lighting my Cain Maduro. As the tobacco began to burn, a thin line of smoke began to rise from the foot. The aroma of this smoke instinctively made my crinkle my nose and turn my head. I was amazed at how stinky and offensive this stick was, even before it was bellowing smoke.

After my cigar was evenly lit, I took my first puff and was rather surprised. As foul as the room aroma was on this cigar, the smoke was surprisingly smooth. The finish did not have any aggressive qualities and was easily passed through the sinus. The body is well inside the full spectrum, just as I would have suspected being labeled as Straight Ligero.

The core flavor was what I can best describe as oaky. As the core flavor settles, I get a sort of dense meaty flavor. The surprising thing here is that the volume of flavor is very low. In terms of body and strength vs. flavor, this cigar is out of proportion and lacks heavily in the flavor department.

The burn line was thin and relatively even while producing a highly aggressive room aroma. I constantly felt like I was inadvertently dodging any resting smoke lifting from the cigar as it irritated both my eyes and nose. Despite the loose pre-light draw, the draw was excellent throughout the first third and provided a generous supply of dense smoke.

Second Third:

Cain Maduro - 5

After about an hour of smoking, I was just about through the second third of my Cain Maduro. The body has remained fairly consistent and did not pick up much along the way. It remains very full and carries with it a vast amount of nicotine. The finish is smooth and surprisingly easy on the palate. I found that blowing the smoke through my sinuses was effortless and did not produce any uncomfortable sensations.

There was virtually no change in the favor department. The core remained a sort of oak wood flavor while producing a dense meaty secondary flavor. I’m still shocked at just how lacking this stick is in terms of flavor, it seems like it is nothing but power. The level of nicotine is high enough that I’m already feeling shaky and am developing a mild headache.

For the amount of ligero within this cigar, I am impressed with how well it burns. Up until this point, the cigar has yet to require a touchup. The ash is light in color and holds a nice compact shape. When the ash developed to about an inch in length, it is easily knocked off with a gentle tap.

Final Third:

Cain Maduro - 6

After nearly an hour and forty-five minutes, It was about time to consider setting down my Cain Maduro. The body picked up slightly as the cigar progressed but not enough to say that it made a significant step into another segment of the body scale. The finish remained smooth and easy on the palate.

At this point I am growing disappointed at the lack of flavor intensity in this cigar. Just like in the second third, it seems to be very unbalanced to favor strength over flavor. While I can pick up flavors of oak, it just isn’t enough to make it seem significant and results in a very generic Nicaraguan tobacco taste with no finesse.

I’m not sure if the level of nicotine is increasing, or if the effects are simply piling up. I have developed a mild headache and my hands feels shaky, as if I’ve put away a pot and a half of strong coffee. The room aroma remains very heavy and irritates my eyes and noise. While the cigar sits in the ashtray, I find myself glancing over to make sure a stream of smoke isn’t going to waft across the room and hit me in the face.

Final Thoughts:

Cain Maduro - 7

In terms of burning characteristics, this cigar was very impressive. With all of the ligero in the Cain Maduro, I was so sure it was going to burn and perform miserably but I was pleasantly surprised. In regards to flavor levels, I was very disappointed with this stick. I hate to say it, but in my opinion, this is the least flavorful product of all of the Oliva offerings I have had to date.

I can’t help but think that this cigar is designed for those seeking out the most wicked power bomb on the market. The nicotine levels were uncomfortably high and deliver one hell of a nicotine buzz. The smoke was amazingly smooth and easy on the palate for something so strong. While this stick may be extremely popular and making a splash across the web, it just isn’t for me.

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enjoying cigars since 2005

20 thoughts on “Cain Maduro

  1. Hey Walt…I think you really summed up this cigar and cigars like it. Who wants to smoke a cigar without a decent flavour? It’s all about the flavour. It really is that simple to me. It is always good to see a honest review, thanks.

  2. Personal taste is everything…I have to disagree with you on this one.

    I found both the Maduro and Habano expressions of Cain to be very good and flavorful, but neither of them were nearly as strong as all the hype would lead you to believe. Strong, yes; strongest ever, not even close. To put things in perspective, I smoked an LFD Limitado IV a week or two after the Cain (and a week or two ago from today) and it nearly put me on the floor with the power of the nicotine content–after a huge dinner! It was also one of the most complex and flavorful smokes I can remember and well worth the $10.25 that I paid.

    If found the Cain Maduro to be about an 8/10 in strength and the Habano to be about a 9/10.

  3. I wonder what Oliva does that other manufacturers don’t do to get their heavy Ligero laden cigars to burn so well. In addition to this cigar I find that the heavy ligero El Cobre also burns like a champ every time.

  4. Ditto to everything. I found the habano to be better, but if it’s this or a serie o, im going with the o. At that, even some of the price points I’ve been seeing these at my local shops, a serie v for a few dollars more! these were going for 7.75 at my local shop and I think the serie v is what 8 or 9, come on now really!

  5. Nice Review Walt.

    I agree with you about the flavor department on the Maduro.
    To me its the least flavorful of the 3 Cains.
    I also think a lot of people though confuse its smooth character with a lack of strength.

    I recommend the Cain F (my favorite of the 3) it has 32%Eseli, 25%Jalapa, 25%Condega ligero in comparison. Its a bit stronger, and more spice, but it also adds more complexity as well.

  6. no question, the cain f’s are some of the best i’ve tasted from oliva. the maduro version does seem too smooth and at times bland, making me ask why you chose to review the maduro over the F. The F is much stronger, much better balanced, and very complex for an oliva cigar. If you see them for sale, they’re in boxes of five only, pick them up. I got mine for 30, a great deal at 6 bucks a stick, imo.

  7. Awesome review man!

    I have not had the balls to smoke my maduros yet from the event 🙂 I actually havent smoked any more of them, but the habano I had that night was not anywhere near as powerful as I thought it would be! I also thought it was a kind of “plain” stick. I would snag the Nubs faster than these!!! or the Oliva Connie!!

    Mike

    Dont worry – when I smoke a Cain Maduro, everyone on twitter will hear about it =)

  8. I think its obvious that the focus is on power over flavor. Personally, I prefer the reverse. I’d take a LFD Chisel (for example) before a Cain any day. At least the LFD has more flavor and more power.

  9. I’m smoking a Cain Habano Double Toro right now. I don’t think it’s that powerful. The El Cobre is the most powerful Oliva product. This is just smooth.

  10. Yeesh! all these comments are making me want to just give my torpedo away,and not even bother! I’m a big LFD DLC fan and this sounds like something it pooped out.

  11. I did not like either cain, that is to say, nothing special and would not buy again. Good review and on the money IMO!

  12. I had a Cain today. A powerful smoke. Believe me, from someone who used to smoke illegal organic leaves, it is strong! The flavor is awesome as well. Body stronger than a camacho corojo, flavor as good as a la riqueza.

  13. Too bad I am reading this just after lighting up. I have a torpedo but maybe I’ll need to focus on the Jefferson’s Reserve.
    On the plus side, I wouldn’t mind a little extra buzz over and above the porter and bourbon. I’ve got the Obama blues.

    Thanks

  14. Smoked the Cain Maduro NUb. It was outstanding. Don’t understand why there is so little love for this cigar. I would second everything that D Jones says above, except I would say the strength is even less. Also, I detected a faint but lingering barnyard aroma.

  15. I agree. I actually found the flavor to be off-putting. Very acidic, acrid flavor. There was something there on the tongue that was not agreeable. Very strong stick.

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