MAXX The Fix Toro Grande

Alan Rubin, President of the Alec Bradley Cigar Co., likes to please so for those smokers for whom bigger is better and anything under a ring gauge of 50 is wimpy, he's your man! The smallest ring in the line measures 50; the largest a hefty 60. Size does matter when it comes to maximizing flavor and strength. As Alan says, the MAXX line is "for smokers who want more – more flavor, power, and balance." MAXX may be a beast when it comes to both the size and flavor but it’s far from overpowering. This is definitely a medium-bodied smoke with balanced layers of rich, toasty flavors that evolve during the burn. The Fix takes a hearty four-country blend of aged long-fillers – Columbian, Nicaraguan, Honduran and Mexican tobaccos – adds a tasty Costa Rican binder, and cloaks it in a dark Nicaraguan maduro leaf wrapper. The result is a rich, medium to full-bodied smoke that's silky smooth and chock-full of earthy, toasty undertones. Our panel found the burn slow and even, producing nice, thick smoke. The taste was a combination of rich espresso and woody flavors. A third of the way into the cigar, creaminess predominated and the woodiness diminished. At the halfway point there was a hint of dark, bitter chocolate complimenting the espresso flavor. Look for a lingering sweet finish. Not surprisingly for a line of such depth and complexity, MAXX received an impressive 9.4 out of 10 from Smoke Magazine and a '91' rating from Cigar Insider. This stogie deserves Cognac or Armagnac, a French brandy even older than Cognac.