The Particulars

The Review

This review for the Matilde Para José Seijas - Toro (6 x 52) is based on the journal entry dated 2026-01-11

Appearance & Construction (0-3):  Good (3)

This Ecuadorian Habano wrapper has a really nice medium tan color with a lot of sheen that gives it the appearance of really well broken-in leather. The cigar features a number of veins, both thick and thin, running through it. However, all the seams, including the triple cap, are tight and clean. While it has a rustic feel, it feels more like character than simply being sloppy. The bands are a beautiful blue and white with gold accents, but they come off very formal and I feel like they missed an opportunity to tell more of an emotional story.

Draw (0-3) & Burn (0-4):  Good (3) / Good (3)

The burn initially starts tight but loosens with heat and has good resistance. The burn is wavy but fairly even and well-controlled. The ash is medium gray with many tight striations and minor flaking. The thicker veins in the wrapper are where the burn slows down. But overall, aside from light waves to the burn line, it’s burning beautifully. The ash makes it through the first third before it starts to crack, but doesn’t fall until the second.

Flavor Profile (0-5):  Excellent (5)

This cigar presents an intriguing blend. The initial impression is a combination of earthy notes and wood, which quickly gives way to a strong presence of cinnamon and nutmeg, complemented by caramel. It finishes with a nutty and creamy aspect, leaving a lingering aroma of cinnamon, walnuts, and cream on the palate. After the first inch, coffee flavors and pepper give it a little bit more kick while the woodiness goes from brighter cedar to more oak with a sourdough breadiness. There’s still a good amount of barnyard and earth on the base. This is a fantastic start to the cigar and I’m swooning.

Getting into the second third, coffee and pepper are still building to a nice medium. It’s just enough to leave a tingle on the soft palate. Everything is combining into a really nice gingerbread cookie type of flavor. Nutmeg and cinnamon, molasses and dark bready notes, just the right mix of medium dark flavor and spice. It’s still very oaky, with a lighter barnyard and earth note that’s gotten more leathery. The creaminess is still nutty, but not quite as prevalent, and there are moments of raisin notes in the sweetness. I’m really enjoying the transitions because sometimes it’s gingerbread cookie, others it’s cinnamon raisin toast.

With the final third, it’s trending more cinnamon raisin toast to begin. The barnyard has let up, leaving more oak, molasses, cinnamon and pepper and bready notes. This cigar really just has fantastic complexity and balance considering how strong the flavor profile is. Pepper has crested at a very strong medium, it’s left a good burning sensation at the back of the throat, but that spicy, bready, molasses like dark profile never faltered! What a delightful blend.

Overall Experience (0-5):  Excellent (5)

This is a fantastic cigar. I feel like the Grinch as my heart grew three sizes thinking about how wonderful this cigar is as a tribute to José Seijas. It’s a little bit on the pricier side, approaching $20, so it’s not quite box worthy from a value standpoint, but it’s absolutely one worth trying. The one downside is this is a limited release of 750 boxes of 20, but Matilde has said they’ll do a batch every year going forward. I get some similar notes to other Tabacalera La iSLA gems, so if you’re a fan of the Warped Isla del Cocodrilo or LACC Gris Gris, this should absolutely land with your palate. 🔥

Review Base Rating (0-5):

4.75

Would I Buy It Again?

Signs point to yes (recommended)

Review Final Score (0-10):

9.17

Overall Score and Individual Journal Entries

While the review is based off one instance of journaling this cigar; there’s a number of reasons you can have different experiences smoking the same cigar multiple times. A blend can evolve with age (for better or worse), palates evolves, preferences change, and sometimes you just get a bad example!  This section captures the ratings from each journal entry and the related journal photo.  Below you’ll find an aggregate score based on every time the cigar has been journaled. Unless it was a gift or on-off smoke, this section will be updated every time I journal this cigar!

The Flavor Wheel

With every cigar I journal, I capture simple ratings of the basic flavor categories that I experience.  These are more generalized than what you would see in a review, but a distinct profile can still be built out.  When multiple instances of the same cigar have been journaled, the scores are averaged out in an attempt to build a reliable flavor profile based on my palate.

The values entered for the strength of each flavor range from 0 to 3.

• 0:   No flavor detected
• 1:   Mild flavor
• 2:   Medium flavor
• 3:   Strong flavor

Note: desktop / large screens will see a flavor wheel while mobile / small screens will see a bar chart.

With every cigar I journal, I capture simple ratings of the basic flavor categories that I experience.  These are more generalized than what you would see in a review, but a distinct profile can still be built out.  When multiple instances of the same cigar have been journaled, the scores are averaged out in an attempt to build a reliable flavor profile based on my palate.

The values entered for the strength of each flavor range from 0 to 3.

• 0:   No flavor detected
• 1:   Mild flavor
• 2:   Medium flavor
• 3:   Strong flavor

Note: desktop / large screens will see a flavor wheel while mobile / small screens will see a bar chart.