Grinches, the MATASA is my favorite of the 4 Legends. Ironically, I am one of the few people here that finds it medium to full-bodied. I wrote the descriptions for the 4 different Legends Series after smoking 5 each...so I think they're pretty accurate, according to my palate. I continue to smoke about 4 or 5 of the MATASA Series a week. Here's what I think about it now:
It starts out with a full-bodied blast that’s loaded with spice, and a nice natural sweetness from the wrapper. These two flavors dominate for the first inch or so, while a subtle, but noticeable hint of cedar lingers on the aftertaste.
After the first inch or so, the flavors mellow significantly, as it offers creamy notes of toasted cedar, and the faintest hint of pepper on the back of my palate. These flavors remain consistent throughout until I hit the mid-way point. It’s here that the flavors, and strength, begin to build. The flavors intensify, as the cedary notes become richer and more defined. The spice becomes increasingly more noticeable, until it is the dominating flavor once again. It finishes with a robust complexity that’s filled with pepper, cedar, and a somewhat nutty flavor that didn’t show itself earlier. At no point does the natural sweetness subside.
According to my palate, that’s the Blue Label in a nut-shell. Now you made me crave one. Thanks a lot!
