It was a ridiculously cold and rainy Wharf Wednesday today.  As we walked in for our weekly lunch smoke, Jordan, the most-excellent manager, thrust upon us a new unopened cardboard box containing ten different Aging Room boxes.  We grabbed the M356 blend  and because of the rain, work stress, and just because it looked good, we selected the Mezzo....a gargantuan toro that is really close to a toro grande.  I have been dying to try this brand so without too much haste, I fired it up.  How was it?  Let's see....

Construction: The Mezzo is huge.  I would actually guess that the 54 ring gauge is closer to 56 - it's a jawbreaker.  The wrapper is a nice redish brown chocolate color with a few veins visible.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: I picked up spice, hay, and strong tobacco from this unlit monster.

Light and Burn: Well, The Wharf finally restocked their wood matches so....it took three to light this baby up.  As the smoke progressed I noticed a fairly even burn with a couple of spots that made me touch up for cold spots.  Nothing too hateful, however.

Tasting: The opening is a nice woody peppery spice.  Not exactly like Pepin or Tatuaje, but still very enjoyable and noticeable.  In the first third, I picked up light roast coffee, black pepper, and some roasted nut flavors.  All of these blended to provide a nice creamy core.  Very nice.  The second third made the coffee intensify to dark roast while adding leather to the mix.  Overall very nice.  The final third added some black cherry sweetness as well as a fair amount of cedar and spice.  The most interesting flavor was mint.  It wasn't like menthol or anything like that....but mint that left my mouth cool and unsullied.  A nice touch in any cigar.

Value: The Mezzo will run you around $9 and change.  Not bad for so much tobacco.

Final Thoughts: While not nearly as complex as I had hoped, the M356 is a great cigar.  The flavors are well paired and blended and very consistent from start to finish.  Both myself and my pal, James were buzzed from the nicotine content in this smoke as well.  Overall, I recommend this cigar.

Wrapper: Dominican Habano
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican

Strength: Medium to Full

Size: 6 x 54