Ventura Cigar Company has recently launched a new maduro variant to accompany its most-noteworthy PSyKo SEVEN line of cigars. Along with the new blend, Ventura has included PSyKo-branded lighters, cutters, and even a clever Rorschach test to coincide with the theme, which (of course) I had to attempt… More on that later. Samples of the cigars arrive in a wooden double-coffin box, a nice touch, whether intentional or not—it instantly made me think, “Take two and call me in the morning,” which goes perfectly with their slogan, “Medicate Your Mind”.
After I took the Rorschach test, it was determined that I was a true PSyKo and that I had most definitely “gone MADuRo” (as Ventura describes it). It was now time to begin my medication: two doses of PSyKo SEVEN MADuRo robustos, with a San Anders Mexican maduro wrapper sealed around a blend of tobaccos from just about everywhere, including Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Honduras, Dominican Republic and the U.S. of A.!
PSyKo SEVEN MADuRo Breakdown
- Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
- Binder: Ecuadoran Hybrid Seed 151
- Filler: Nicaragua, Peru, Honduras, Dominican Republic, USA
- Factory: Occidental Cigar Corp, Inc. (Dominican Republic)
- Production: Regular Release
- Vitola Reviewed: 5.5″ × 50 robusto
- Price: $5.70
I peel off the large prescription band to reveal the 5.5″ × 50 rubosto, with its dark, lightly veined and seamless maduro wrapper and a small red and white PSyKo band hidden underneath. I decapitate the cigar. The initial pre-light draw tastes of light cocoa and coffee. The toast is easy and the burn line is instantly straight.
Right out of the gate, there is that classic sweet maduro flavor, which reminds me of yellow and orange bell peppers, lightly sautéed in butter. The flavors were that specific to me. The rich maduro flavor filled my pallet and the smoke was a medium thickness. The retrohale brings out the white pepper and chocolate flavors of this cigar.
The flavors of the first third are soothing, and as I move into the second, my mind is calm and the medicine seems to be working. Sweet and tangy smoke pours from each puff. The draw has been perfect and the burn sharp, with no touchups required. The final third opens with a strong cinnamon zest and the “Ritalin effect” of this cigar has taken me from Mad Hatter to Absolem (the smoking caterpillar, for those not hip on Alice in Wonderland lingo…) , living life on top of a mushroom in a cloud of smoke!
Would I smoke this cigar again?
“Doc, I think I need to change my prescription…”
In a sea of never-ending Mexican San Andrés maduro-wrapped cigars, this one simply doesn’t have the extra oomph to stand out in my mind. A decent smoking experience, but not one I’ll be searching to smoke repeatedly.
Short Link:
- Great burn
- Plenty of smoke
- Solid flavors from start to finish
- No major transitions in flavors
- Not complex