Psyko 7 Nicaragua cigars are a collaboration between the Ventura Cigar Co. and Indiana Ortez, a rising star in the premium cigar industry, who also happens to be the daughter of legendary cigar-maker, Omar Ortez. I’m a huge fan of every cigar created by Omar, so for today’s review I’m taking his daughter’s creation for a spin and find out if it’s true that the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.

For this Psyko 7 Nicaragua Toro cigar that I chose to smoke,   Indiana selected a Nicaraguan-seed  Connecticut desflorado wrapper leaf from a vintage  2007 bumper crop surrounding aged Nicaraguan binder and long filler tobaccos. The cigar is billed as medium-bodied in strength.

On the first inspection, The Psyko 7 Nicaragua Toro cigar looks much heftier than its 6 x 50 size, the cigar is firm to the feel, the wrapper is virtually seamless, and the large band covering this stick was made to resemble a page from a  doctor’s prescription pad. I’m assuming that Indiana intended this feature to make it a cigar that the doctor ordered. Nice touch!

The first puffs on this deceptively big stick wallop the palate with a blast of black pepper that is quickly joined by earth and charred wood. So far, this supposedly medium-bodied smoke is leaning far right towards the full-bodied side.

At the beginning of the second third, Psyko 7 Nicaragua Toro is still producing full-bodied flavors of earth, black pepper, and wood with no signs of toning down until the middle of this round when lush nuances of cinnamon and cocoa join the mix. By the end of round two the black pepper dials down while the rest of these notes, including some new hints of caramel take center stage and, provides the complexity that I’ve been waiting for.

During this homestretch, the cigar settles in nicely with exceptionally smooth medium strength flavors of cinnamon, cocoa, hints of spice, caramel,  and plenty of creaminess. The black pepper still remains on the retro-hale and the cigar is performing like a champ with only one minor touch-up required.

• It’s quite apparent that Indiana is following in her fathers’ legendary footsteps with this savory Nicaraguan puro blend that kept getting smoother and more complex as the cigar was smoked.

• The burn was slow, construction was top-notch, and the affordable price makes it a great recommendation for smokers on a slim budget.

• If you’re a fan of smooth and creamy Nicaraguan puro cigars with a solid medium to medium-plus strength profile, then the handmade premium Psyko 7 Nicaragua Toro cigar is a must-try!