Nestor Reserve Maduro is a true undercover gem. These things showed up on our docks a couple months back and the boss man said they used to sell like hot cakes, and they’re now back in production. I took a risk and fired off an email to the lovely CI Nation…crickets. I guess you all forgot. So here I am putting my name behind them. 

There are definitely some solid contenders out there for best budget Maduro bundle brand. Brick House Fumas, Bahia Maduro, Perdomo Slow-aged, and HC Series Black all come to mind. But this one offers a combination the rest don’t. And that’s the money-making trio of an all long-filler blend, an awesome box-pressed shape, and a price point that won’t alert the wife on your next bank statement. 

The exterior wrapper is a deep brown Connecticut Broadleaf that sometimes has a nice oily sheen. This particular one I’m burning lacks the oily presence, but flavor is not affected. Initially I get some sweet chocolaty and bready flavors. The chocolate stays with you, but in the back half it offers some more earthy and peppery notes. I find it to be right in the middle of the spectrum at a solid medium body. 

The construction and draw are top-quality for a relatively inexpensive bundle brand, and the 6”x54 box-pressed torpedo shape is truly a pleasure to burn. If any of you moochers ever raided my humidor, you’ll surely find some Nestor Reserve Maduro in there.