The Best Maduro Cigars We Drafted at Creekside

From Creekside Podcast Ep. 030: These Are Hands Down The Best Maduro Cigars, aired Sep 05, 2025. Recorded at Creekside Cigar Co. in Maineville, Ohio.

In this episode, Dave, Noah and Conner get together for a Maduro cigar draft and a look at several cigars in the September Creekside Cigar Club shipment. The draft brings out different ideas of what makes a great Maduro: some picks lean into rich sweetness and chocolate, while others stand out for complexity, balance or a distinctive twist. Along the way, the crew also shares notes from a blind tasting that changes considerably as the cigars develop.

What cigars are in the September club shipment?

One featured cigar is Devil’s Hands by Warped. Conner describes it as a layered smoke that moves between fruit, sweetness, spice, earth, cinnamon and creaminess. Dave finds a creamy, peanut-like character with cinnamon and leather. The crew says the cigar came from a shipment of remaining stock, and they were excited to include it in the club selection.

The Aladino Corojo Reserva is another selection the crew is eager to share. They describe the featured size as a short, concentrated version of the blend, with dusty cocoa and toasted-marshmallow sweetness. Conner also talks about the Crux Epicure Habano, praising its Nicaraguan character, cinnamon spice, coffee and espresso notes, and richer profile. He calls it a strong choice for fall.

The shipment discussion also includes Crowned Heads Lost Calaveras 2025. The crew notes its San Andrés wrapper and says this release tastes different from some previous Lost Calaveras cigars: it is medium-bodied, with an intense bread-like quality. Dave sees its distinctive character as part of the appeal of the annual limited release.

How did the Maduro cigar draft work?

The three hosts each drafted five cigars, taking turns in a snake-draft format. They could choose different brands, but not repeat the same cigar in another size or limited version. Their picks show how broad the Maduro category can be. Conner opened with Corto Maduro, while Dave chose the HVC Edición Especial in a Corona Gorda, a cigar he describes as chocolate-forward, earthy and notably flavorful.

Other draft picks included the Tatuaje Cojonu 2003, Warped Sarto and Warped Companion. The crew praised the Cojonu for its flavor and elegant Broadleaf character. They liked Sarto’s dried-fruit sweetness and chocolate, while Companion stood out for raisin sweetness, earth and a measured amount of spice.

The draft continued with cigars such as Padrón Black PB97, Dunbarton Sin Compromiso, Foundation The Tabernacle, Crowned Heads La Imperiosa and Black Label Trading Company Last Rites. The hosts described Sin Compromiso as flavorful without being especially strong, and The Tabernacle as a longtime favorite. Last Rites came up for its sweetness, including a licorice-and-chocolate quality, alongside its full-bodied character.

What makes a Maduro worth returning to?

For the crew, a dark wrapper alone does not define a favorite. The conversation keeps returning to flavor and how it changes during a smoke. Dave’s comments on the Padrón Black PB97 focus on how much more he found in it than a familiar, consistent profile. He describes it as a cigar with multiple flavor notes and says he would buy it again despite its high price.

Several selections offer a different kind of appeal. The hosts point to Crowned Heads Broadway as a classic, sweet Maduro, with chocolate and caramel-like flavors. They also bring up Dunbarton Mi Querida Triqui Traca and a cigar they call Principle Night Flight. The latter is an example of a pick that reminded one host how much he enjoys Maduros, even as he joked that he had been speaking as if he rarely smoked them.

What did the blind Maduro tasting reveal?

The blind cigars gave the hosts a chance to compare impressions before learning the names. Conner’s cigar initially seemed thin and forceful at the start, but became richer as he smoked. He eventually described dark chocolate, black cherry, leather, cinnamon and a root-beer-like quality. It was Crowned Heads Tennessee Waltz. The conversation also explores its funky, fermented-fruit character, which Conner did not immediately identify.

Dave’s blind cigar was the Rojas Statements Maduro Corona. He describes early sweetness and later cinnamon, floral and caramel notes, and says the cigar had several especially flavorful moments. Noah’s was My Father Le Bijou. His notes include clove spice, leather, black pepper, coffee and earth, though he says it was not among his favorites during the tasting.

Key takeaways

• The crew’s favorite Maduros range from sweet and chocolatey to spicy, earthy and complex.
• Flavor development mattered: Conner’s view of the Tennessee Waltz changed as it opened up.
• The September club discussion featured Devil’s Hands, Aladino Corojo Reserva, Crux Epicure Habano and Lost Calaveras 2025.
• The draft highlighted how personal cigar preferences can be, even among people who smoke together regularly.

Cigars from this episode

• Warped Devil’s Hands: Conner describes fruit, sweetness, spice, earth, cinnamon and cream; Dave notes creamy peanut, cinnamon and leather.
• Aladino Corojo Reserva: The featured size is described as concentrated, with dusty cocoa and toasted-marshmallow sweetness.
• Crux Epicure Habano: Conner praises its Nicaraguan character, cinnamon spice, coffee and espresso notes.
• Crowned Heads Lost Calaveras 2025: The crew describes a medium-bodied San Andrés-wrapped cigar with an intense bread-like quality.
• Corto Maduro: Conner’s first draft pick; he contrasts its flavor with a more expensive cigar he found boring.
• HVC Edición Especial Maduro: Dave’s first pick, specifically in Corona Gorda; he describes chocolate, earth and stone-fruit notes.
• Tatuaje Cojonu 2003: Praised as a flavorful, elegant expression of Broadleaf in the Rothschild size.
• Warped Sarto: Described as sweet and chocolatey, with dried-fruit notes and less strength.
• Warped Companion: A draft pick praised for raisin sweetness, earth and a balanced amount of spice.
• Padrón Black PB97 Maduro: Dave calls it an especially memorable Maduro with multiple flavor notes and transitions.
• Dunbarton Sin Compromiso: The crew describes it as highly flavorful and relatively low in strength.
• Foundation The Tabernacle: Dave’s draft pick and a cigar he says holds a special place for him.
• Crowned Heads La Imperiosa: Conner describes it as a medium-to-full-bodied Maduro he has long enjoyed.
• Black Label Trading Company Last Rites: Praised for licorice-and-chocolate sweetness and an approachable full-bodied profile.
• Crowned Heads Broadway: Described as a classic, sweet Maduro with chocolate and caramel-like character.
• Crowned Heads Tennessee Waltz: Conner’s blind cigar; it developed into dark chocolate, black cherry, leather, cinnamon and root-beer-like notes.
• Rojas Statements Maduro Corona: Dave’s blind cigar; he notes sweetness, cinnamon, floral and caramel flavors.
• My Father Le Bijou: Noah’s blind cigar; his notes include clove spice, leather, black pepper, coffee and earth.
• Dunbarton Mi Querida Triqui Traca: Named as one of the Maduro draft picks.
• Principle Night Flight: Named as a draft pick; the hosts agree it belongs among their notable Maduro choices.

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