Said to provide a bolder and fuller experience of the original Cain F Straight Ligero, the Maduro variant has the same Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa filler yet at different percentages. Furthermore, it features a San Andreas wrapper, which earns its maduro namesake.
In this article, you will discover both the Cain and Nub versions of the Straight Ligero Maduro while we touch on the following points:
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Overview
- Brand: Oliva Cigars
- Range: Cain & Nub
- Reviewed Vitolas: 6 x 60 Gordo & 4 x 60 Nub Gordito
- Filler: 25% Estelí Ligero, 27% Condega Ligero, 30% Jalapa Ligero
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan San Andreas
- Factory: Oliva Cigars Estelí Factory
- Handmade: Yes
- Body: Full
- Estimated Smoking Time: 90 Minutes
- Pricing: $170 (24) MSRP [Shop On CigarPage]
As if saying to themselves that the original Cain F Straight Ligero just wasn’t strong enough, Oliva’s creative department, Studio Tobac, decided to develop an even fuller cigar. The result is the Maduro, featuring a different composition of Ligero tobacco filler as well as a thick San Andreas wrapper.
Cain & Nub Maduro Look & Feel
- Wrapper Hue: Aged Oak
- Rolling Consistency: Even
- Spring: Firm
- Aromas: Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
With its San Andreas wrapper, the Cain Maduro has the darkest hue in the family. The texture is somewhat rough and toothy with patchy traces of different shades of brown, which is reminiscent of old oak floorboards. Meanwhile, the veins are somewhat subtle.
The construction is very firm yet even. In fact, it’s so firm that’s it’s effectively solid. With the wrapper’s rough texture, it’s almost reminiscent of a wooden stick!
As for the aromas, they’re rather gourmand with notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg. However, they’re not quite as full as I would have expected.
Nub & Cain Maduro Review
As with all our reviews, we smoked a few cigars before starting the write-up. While I smoked mostly the Cain versions, Charles-Philippe had both these and the Nub editions as a basis for comparison.
Pre-Lighting Experience
- Draw: Some Resistance
- Aromas: Cocoa, Copper, Espresso
With a decisive (and tough!) snip of the cutter, I removed the cap and tested the draw. Although a little tighter than the Cain F, it’s still in the sweet spot. In terms of aromas, I experienced warm cocoa, a metallic hint of copper and fresh espresso.
1st Third Smoking Experience
- Notes: Oak, Cocoa, Butterscotch
Like the Cain F, the Maduro opens up with a full and spicy first inch. By the time this dies down, the first third settles to provide a warm, oaky accord with a fragrant hint of cocoa.
On the retrohale, the cigar is surprisingly creamy with a heady butterscotch aroma. In terms of tongue stimulation, I can feel a tingling on the front and forward-lateral sections of the palate.
2nd Third Smoking Experience
- Notes: Leather, Black Pepper, Earth
Once well into the second third, the cigar reveals thick notes of earthy leather with a hint of black pepper. Retrohaling tingles the nostrils and provides creamier notes of the same variety with a touch of dark fruitiness.
With regards to palate stimulation, the smoke continues to tingle the same front and lateral sections of the palate. However, there is more presence in the lateral rear, causing some mild salivation.
Final Third Smoking Experience
- Notes: Charred Oak, Coffee, Dark Chocolate
As I make my way to the final third, I’m bracing myself for a pepper bomb. Much to my relief – and surprise – there is surprisingly little pepper.
Instead, I experience notes of charred oak and a hint of filtered coffee.
On the retrohale, there are wisps of cedar and dark chocolate.
However, like the Cain F, the retrohale stings the back of the throat.
As for the tongue stimulation, it is slightly more balance with the main presence being towards the front of the palate.
Overall Burn
- Ash Backbone: Strong
- Burn Angle: Mostly Even
- Temperature: Cool
- Draw: Some Resistance
- Final Smoking Time: 70 Minutes [Nub], 90 Minutes [Gordo]
Like the Cain F, both the Nub and 6×60 versions of the Maduro offered excellent combustion and construction. The ash backbone was solid and revealed a dark grey stack. Meanwhile, the initially wavy burn evened out nicely within the first third.
Furthermore, the burn temperature was pleasantly cool yet the draw’s resistance slightly increased as I worked my way down.
Finally, like the Cain F, the average smoking time for the Gordo was a good half and a half at a relaxed pace. Meanwhile, the Nub version lasted for 70 minutes.
Ideal Pairings With A Cain Maduro
As mentioned earlier, the Maduro version of the Cain range offers a similar albeit more flavoursome smoking experience. Consequently, the pairings that you can enjoy are largely the same as those I listed there.
I personally enjoyed this the most with a Diet Coke as it offered welcome refreshment against the drying mouthfeel. However, I can see how someone would appreciate it with a heavily peated single malt such as the Ledaig Oloroso reviewed by Charles-Philippe.
However, my choice would be to pair it with a dark and mature rum such as a Brugal Leyenda, which is among my favourites. Being a relatively full-bodied rum, it offers an excellent complement to the Maduro.
Overall Experience
Again, like the Cain F, the Maduros are supplied in an unfinished wooden crate-style box. Down one side is a white glossy sticker with all the branding.
Inside the box, the cigars are bundled together with a white ribbon and can be pulled out together.
As for the band, Studio Tobac have opted for a white colour to represent the Maduro. This is unusual given that the Nub Maduro itself has a black box and dark brown band.
Unlike the Nubs, however, it’s attached to the foot rather than the usual position.
Presumably, this protects the cigars from knocks but it’s a shame that it requires removing before smoking.
With regards to when I would smoke one of this, I’d again refer to my Cain F review where I say that it’s great for late evening or nighttime smokes with a quiet but stiff drink. Whether you choose to do that alone or with friends is up to you. However, I wouldn’t save them for formal or special occasions.
Finally, the value for money is pretty good overall. Their MSRP for a box of 24 comes to $170, which means that the cigars are about $7 each. Many online retailers offer them at heavily discounted prices too so you can find them cheaper.
Closing Thoughts
Although a more flavoursome alternative to the Cain F, the Nub and Cain Maduro is still relatively linear. Nevertheless, it’s a pleasant smoke, and I’d hasten to add that it’s much more enjoyable than the original.
If you’re looking for a pure ligero experience, I’d recommend the Cain or Nub Maduro over the original Cain F version. However, this isn’t a cigar that I would encourage for beginners to try, as it is indeed quite heavy!
"An improved from the original. Although still somewhat linear and overwhelming, the Maduro version of the Cain series is much more flavoursome."
Further Reading
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