MQBA Mayura was originally announced in 2019 from MBOMBAY Cigars. The company disappeared off the map and a lot of people believed it was due to the uncertainty of the FDA and how they would affect the cigar industry. As it turns out Mehul Shah was subject to a perfect storm of unfortunate events.
Needless to say I was shocked when brand owner Mehul Shah reached out to me about send a few samples my way. I asked him where he has been and Mehul Shah shared with The Barrel Burner, “It was an unfortunate list of events. 2019, when COVID hit – we lost almost 500k worth of cigars in the transit. They sat in the container in 120 degree weather for a month. It was all destroyed. I was just getting back on my feet, I suffered a major heart attack and was bedridden for almost two years.”
According to the company, “MQBA Mayura is a statement of patience, precision, and unparalleled aging. Every draw is infused with the essence of three decades of meticulous craftsmanship, a rare feat in the world of premium cigars. At its core, the filler tobaccos—hailing from Paraguay, Peru, and Nicaragua— have been aged for an extraordinary 24 years, allowing them to develop deep complexity and refined character. The wrapper, a pristine Ecuadorian-grown HVA leaf, along with the binder cultivated on the company’s own farm, undergoes an additional 5-6 years of aging, ensuring an exquisite balance of flavor and smoothness. But the dedication doesn’t stop there. Once masterfully rolled, each cigar is further aged for four years, allowing the blend to harmonize and achieve peak refinement before it ever reaches the hands of a discerning aficionado. With a combined aging process of 30 years, the MQBA MAYURA offers a smoking experience that is both luxurious and profoundly complex.”
MAYURA ( ma-yoo-ra ) means “peacock” in Sanskrit language.
Cigar Review: MQBA Mayura
Size: 5 x 54 (Robusto Extra)
Wrapper: Ecuador HVA
Binder: Unknown
Fillers: Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru
Factory: Tabacos de Costa Rica
Release Date: June 2019
Production: Limited
The Cigar: Back in 2019 the cigars were shown has featuring two bands but the samples sent to me feature only one primary brand of white and gold. The logo of a peacock adorns the cigar with MQBA on the back of the band. The oily HVA wrapper has a caramel color to it and a few noteworthy veins. In the hand the cigar is firm to the touch and the wrapper feels brittle under the fingers with a nice weight to it.
The Taste: The cold draw has some familiar notes of mocha, earth and licorice but there is also a subtle mineral aspect that isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination but I would have to assume it is from the Paraguay tobacco. The aroma from the foot sees similar results with a touch of toasted caramel.
Once we toast and light the cigar there is a subtle floral component that is dominant to start before it slides into the background on the palate. It is worth noting the resting aroma of the cigar remains floral. As we smoke more of the first third notes of cookie dough, cedar and pecans round things out on this cigar were a medium perceived strength.
Moving into the second third of the MQBA Mayura the floral components remain on the aroma. However, it is like a switch has been hit and the vibrant notes of the first third become muted notes of the second third. There are hints of sweet cream, leather and cedar but none of them really pop. Subsequently around the midway point the flora notes disappear as some white pepper begins to emerge especially on the retrohale.
The last third sees the flavor profile ramp up a bit in terms of vibrancy but still not on the levels of the first third. There are notes of espresso, vanilla and cedar which effortlessly meld together.
Conclusion: I have a few thoughts on this cigar some good, some not so good. Let’s star with the not so good as it is a general gripe. The cigar is marketed as 30 Years of perfection. You can not take the added sum of aging and say it is a 30 year aged cigar despite using the word combined. In the liquor industry if a blended whiskey is made up of various components aged 9-14 years you can’t say it is aged 44 years. The age statement would be 14 Years. Yes, I am nitpicking but it does not sit well with me. The other negative is the price which does not factory into our final score. Tobaccos de Costa Rica is the same factory Nelson Alfonso yes for Selected Tobacco (Atabey, Byron, Etc). It is obvious this factory produces some great cigars, however, the wages in Costa Rica are considerably higher than other cigar making countries which in terms ads to the pricing.
As far as the cigar goes there is no questioning this is an elegant smoke that sometimes feels as if it under performs during the second third. As a result the score is hurt a bit. However, there is no doubt that is this an enjoyable cigar that sometimes left me wanting more especially with how it started. MBOMBAY cigars are currently being represented by their National Sales Director, Jonathan Carney.
Score: 91
Price: $31.00 (Before any local or state taxes)
