First Look: Carlos III Maduro

September 1999

Filler: blend of tobaccos from Honduras, Pennsylvania, Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican maduro

Where rolled: Danli, Honduras

Tobacco aging: 2-3 years
Cigar aging after rolling: Minimum of two months (see aging note below)

Release date: April 1999

Hueva de Cuba • 4.25 x 35/60 • $77.50/20

Cubanito • 5 x 30/50 • $65.00/20 • CW Review

Cafe con Leche Cubanito • 5 x 30/50 • $65.00/20

Poderoso • 7 x 30/60 • $100.00/20

El Perfecto Cubano • 5.75 x 35/60/35 • $100.00/20

Robusto • 5 x 50 • $42.50/25

Double Corona • 7 x 50 • $42.50/25

Background: Carlos III is a small cigar company that started in 1997. The goal of Carlos III was to "focus on the antique shapes and size, but keeping the taste as most important. Like a Cuban cigar, with richness and strength and complex flavors." The company sells its' products direct, mostly online. This helps keep the costs down and allows the owner, Carl Mott III to maintain closer contact with his customers: "I get feedback right away. If something is wrong I know about and can fix it right away."

Why the New Line: "We wanted to bring out a maduro with the rest of our cigars in 1997," says Mott. "But we could not find the quality maduro tobacco that wasn't artificially seasoned." Finally the search has ended and Carlos III is now offering the maduro wrapper in seven different sizes/shapes.

Aging: When asked about aging, Mott says that while the tobacco is all aged for two to three years, the cigars are only aged for a couple of months to let the ammonia escape. "It is a business decision," Mott says. "We are a small company. If we tie up our money in aging the cigars, we have less money to spend on the tobacco quality and blends." Mott says the cigars seem to reach their peak after eight to ten months of aging.