Flor de Selva tasting no. 15 - 2012 and 2022

Two identical cigars, perfectly preserved, and the experiment begins.

On Thursday 20 June 2024, we were lucky enough to taste two Maya de Selva No. 15s in the House of Smoke. One from 2012 and the second from 2022. These two cigars are exactly the same, like twin brothers 10 years apart.

Unreal, and yet... there she was, Maya. In flesh and soul, dancing as she spoke, telling us about her beloved Honduras, the pride she instils in every leaf, the hard work of her teams. A simple, authentic and deeply rooted sharing with a sunny and passionate person.

Let's get on with the tasting

Flor de Selva n°15 for 2012 gives us an unparalleled roundness. Like a wine skilfully matured in barrel, the aromas have 'melted' and intermingled. It is delicate and elegant. A hint of wildness gradually makes itself felt, bringing a gentle peppery edge to the creamy notes felt up to that point. A full, generous smoke emerges, characteristic of a cigar that has rested for years," Maya tells us.

At the same time, we are tasting the second Flor de Selva 2022. The earthy and spicy notes are more present as soon as the wine is lit, but they don't break the balance of the tasting.

The two cigars look like twins, and their flavours are very similar. The 10 years that separate these two vitolas will have given it a sort of 'elasticity' of flavour, a fullness and a greater homogeneity.

Our memories of this evening are of magnificent exchanges, an exquisite moment of sharing and discovery, and a meeting with a magician who mesmerised us with her passion, her knowledge and her love of her country. They say that some people are born in cabbage leaves, but Maya must have hatched in a tobacco leaf.