Boutique Wednesday Cigar Review: Boris 11 Maduro
Size: 7×50, Churchill
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Filler: Domn. Olor, Cubano, San Vicente
Strength: Medium
Price: Box of 20, $189.95
Grade: 8.3
Today’s cigar is exclusive to Corona Cigar Company. The Boris 11is available in a Connecticut and a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper and is sold in five sizes: Churchill (7×50), Perfecto (5.25×50), Robusto (5×50), Torpedo (6×52), and a Toro (6×52). Today we’ll take on the Maduro, which was gifted to us by Corona some time ago. You can view our take on the Connecticut here.
The filler on the Boris 11’s is mixed and the ratio is kept a secret by Corona. Noted online as being complex and bold, yet medium in body, we’ll see if the stick matches the description. You can learn more about the Boris 11 here.
And now, on to the toasting…
Pre-light, 1.7:
The band on this smoke is very simple, but elegant and I am a fan. The Maduro wrapper is dark and has a bit of tooth to it, with prominent veins, which all lend to a very rugged appearance and feel to the Boris 11. There are a couple of soft spots but overall the weight is solid in the palm. The pre-light aroma is musty with notes of earthy tobacco and a hint of sweet sugar at the foot. The cold draw is full of earthy tobacco with a shot of sweet spice on the finish. A good start.
Burn, 1.8:
The draw on the Boris 11 Maduro is good, producing an adequate amount of smoke. The ash stacks up nicely with a white to very dark gray color within the layers. The burn is consistently even requiring no touch ups or re-lights, as the ash holds to almost two inches before I give up on it. This was surprising to me, as the texture of the ash seemed powdery once it fell into the ashtray.
Flavor, 2.4:
The first puff on this smoke produces notes of earthy tobacco with a hint of sweetness, which is very similar to the pre-light notes. The first third followed this trend with a medium finish on the palate. The second third is not as tasty, with some sour notes prevalent on the finish. Earthy tobacco is still present along with the sweetness, but the sour finish really did me in on this cigar and it never did go away from the second third forward. The above profile was consistent with two samples.
Overall, 2.4:
I have not been impressed with the Boris 11 line; the Connecticut was not a great success, so I was hoping to get more from the Maduro. Both wrappers were somewhat bland and uneventful and at over nine dollars a stick I expect more. Though the construction and burn were excellent, the flavor is the great determiner for me and it was very unstable. As a fan of Maduro smokes, I really wanted to like this cigar but unfortunately that was not the case.
(Total: 8.3)
Question of the Day: How far do you let a cigar go before you give up on it, if the flavor is not pleasing? Does what you paid for it play a factor?
There are 3 Comments to "Boutique Wednesday Cigar Review: Boris 11 Maduro"
Huh. Too bad. I have a coupla these; thought they might be good.
I look fwd to other answers for the QOTD: I have been known to nub with as much as a third left!
If something sucks I toss it. Price or no price… I actually had a Fonseca Cuban Limitado the other day that tasted terrible and burn all uneven constantly (straight from the B&M) So I pitched it about 1 1/2 inch into it. I paid way too much for that to occur.
I just read your review on the Boris from Jan. and I’m sorry but I completely disagree. I’ve only had one Boris and I thought it was very good. It’s also my understanding that the Boris line is the AVO 787 rebanded for Corona cigars, and the AVO 787 is a fantastic line of cigars! Sometimes you can just get a bad stick. I love Tat Franks! But, I had one over the weekend that was completely underwhelming. You should revisit the Boris. I also don’t see a review for the AVO 787 which I think would be very interesting to get your take on.