Wrapper: San Andrés Maduro (12-Year Aged, Extra Chocolatey)

Binder: Undisclosed

Filler: Undisclosed

Profile: Full

THE CHOCOLATE IS CHOCOLATING. THE PORTER IS PORTERING.

The legendary CHOCOLATE PORTER was originally released over 10 years ago — and it fast became one of the most coveted and sought-after Ezra Zion unicorn cigars in the world. A cigar that people begged for, DM’d about, and hunted down relentlessly. One of those releases that defines what a boutique cigar experience can be.

Now, Ezra Zion has taken the CHOCOLATE PORTER smoking experience and made it even more rich and even more decadent. They didn’t think they could do it. But they never ceased to be amazed at what is possible with the right leaf.

CHOCOLATE PORTER XQ.

The “XQ” stands for eXtra Quality — Ezra Zion’s designation for cigars built with the rarest, most luxurious tobacco in the warehouse. Cigars with this designation aren’t just good. They are guaranteed to have a place on the tippy-top shelf of your humidor.

The tobaccos in this cigar are so absurdly rare, so painfully difficult to source, that making even this small production was practically a miracle. A full-bodied, med-full-strength 6 x 54 Super Toro wrapped in a 12-year-aged extra-chocolatey San Andrés Maduro leaf. Binder and filler tobaccos remain a closely guarded secret — all aged between 4 and 13 years.

A word of warning: this is a cigar for the true aficionado. The flavors and character are deep, heavy, and rich, with a complexity that is absolutely astounding.

First light detonates with chocolate stout, milk chocolate, and dark roasted coffee. Brown sugar, dried fruit, and aged cedar immediately follow. The finish lingers long with nutmeg and vanilla. The retrohale delivers a warming black pepper burn.

As it progresses, the age of the tobacco becomes impossible to ignore. Raw cane sugar, bourbon barrel, and white pepper. Magnificent.

Halfway through, the richness escalates again. Espresso beans, caramel, milk chocolate, aged leather. Hints of cocoa, hazelnut, and clove appear.

The final third is something else entirely. Huge waves of dark chocolate. Powdered sugar, walnuts, black licorice, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and butter. One of the most insanely complex final thirds ever experienced in a cigar.

Binder and filler tobaccos are undisclosed — but every leaf in this blend is aged between 4 and 13 years.

Total Production: 770. CHOCOLATE PORTER XQ is a masterpiece. Get yours before they’re gone.