Micallef Grande Bold A Maduro 650M

The Gómez Sanchez family has been in the tobacco business for three generations and was started in Cuba by Pedro F. Gómez in 1934. His grandson, Joel, took over the business in 1994 and joined his grandfather at one of his factories in Veracruz, Mexico where Pedro passed his knowledge on to Joel. In 1998, Joel’s older brother, Edel, joined the family business in Miami, where it is based. Later that year, their mother and daughter-in-law of Pedro, Migdalia Sanchez, also came on board in Miami. Migdalia is widely known for her vast knowledge, rolling abilities, and awards she has received throughout the cigar and tobacco industry worldwide. She has even represented Cuba in several different international expositions to Spain, Chile, Peru, and Sweden, to name a few. To say this family knows about tobacco is an understatement! Today, the three generations use their family traditions and heritage to craft every single Micallef cigar.

Released under the “Grande Bold” line, our panel told us that the Bold A is a perfect example of a classic Maduro. What makes this a classic is the magnificent Ecuadorian Broadleaf maduro wrapper that dresses a Nicaraguan binder and a mix of Nicaraguan long-fillers. Full bodied and, more importantly, full flavored, the Micallef Grande Bold A Maduro has bold and balanced notes of wood, nuts and dark chocolate with hints of cedar. Our panel loved this powerful smoke and recommended a single malt as an accompaniment, possibly after dinner.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.