The Dawn and Dusk from Mayflower were excellent cigars but when I saw that the double maduro Dream was released, I knew it was a cigar that was more in my wheelhouse. Pennsylvania broadleaf with a San Andres binder caught my eye. If you have not seen the interview on Simply Stogies podcast with Michael Knowles, please go and check that out. Michael knows a lot about cigars and has dived deep into the cigar lifestyle for quite some time. These cigars have been a direct to consumer offering for a period of time but I believe Mayflower has also gone to some brick and mortar stores as well.

OVERVIEW

VITOLA: Robusto
SIZE: 5.5″ x 50

ORIGIN: Nicaragua
FACTORY: Tabolisa

WRAPPER: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
BINDER: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
FILLER: Nicaragua

STRENGTH: Medium to Full

SOURCE:
Manufacturer

ENVIRONMENT

WHERE:
Outside

WHEN:
November 17, 2025 @ 3 PM

DRINKS:
Water

WEATHER:
Sunny and cool

HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:
3

PRODUCTION

RELEASE TYPE Regular Production

ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE May 2025

TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size: Boxes of 15
Production Totals: Unknown

VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o Robusto (5-1/2″ x 50)
o Toro (6-1/2″ x 52)
o Box Pressed Toro (6″ x 52)
o Gordo (6″ x 60)

BAND DESIGN

Mayflower has the best cigar band in the business in my opinion. The symmetry, the gold foiling, the clean lines, and clean shapes are very attractive. There is a nice deep royal blue behind the flower that makes it pop. Towards the back of the band has a cloud like dreamy feel to it. The flower is bold but elegant at the same time. I like that it a is die cut band as well.

PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS

CONSTRUCTION

The cigar is very neat but rustic at the same time. There is some mottling on the wrapper and there are spots where tooth is more prevalent than others. Not too many noticeable veins but I did notice a bigger vein towards the head of the cigar on this last sample. It’s a dark chocolate brown wrapper with some spots that are almost black. Topping off the cigar is a very neat double cap. On this particular sample, on the body of the cigar, there is one piece of little leaf wrapper that was applied to cover up a hole or spot in the main wrapper. I’ve never really seen that before.

AROMA

Rich and sweet aroma’s permeate off of the body of the cigar. There is strong sugary orange peel note followed by a sweet leather. After that, it morphs into a buttery caramel. On the foot, not a lot of spice, more barnyard and earthy notes. Still very sweet and citrusy and some ripe plum as well.

COLD DRAW

Getting a lot of resistance off the cold draw. There is one little sliver of air that’s coming through. The cold draw reminds me of an earthy Dr. Pepper. There’s definitely a little bit of sweetness and a very muted baking spice in there.

SMOKING EXPERIENCE

LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Straight
Fire: Torch

The restriction on the cold draw is not an issue once the cigar is lit. There is just a second of a char note that comes out right off a light up, which is the case a lot of times when using a torch. I’m honestly surprised about how soft the flavors are considering the blend with Pennsylvania broadleaf and the San Andreas maduro binder. There’s a nice subtle oak that forms on the palate. After that, you get like this nice espresso, that’s dusted with cocoa powder. It’s a little bit of cream in there, it rounds out those darker flavors. The retro is barely spicy, I get a little bit of black pepper on the back end, but the front of it is just like a nice subtle and warm cardamom and cinnamon earth. The finish is almost a little fruity, like a dark chocolate covered raisin.

SMOKE

The smoke output is great on this cigar. There is a nice room note of marshmallow and very and a dark bitter chocolate. Again, this is just not what I expected from a such a dark cigar. At this point, the Dream is medium bodied stick. The smoke is nice and thick, and it’s really rolling off the foot of the cigar.

FIRST THIRD
>> Chocolate Caramel, Raisin, Buttered Pastry

Smoke output is still awesome. The burn is straight. The ash hangs on for a good amount of time and it’s an eye-cathcing bright white almost in most spots. I’m getting a lot of flavors and a lot of the flavors are changing so I will try to summarize what I’m experiencing with this cigar. There is still not really any spice and it’s surprising. There’s a deep dark chocolate caramel mixed with Oak and earth. The retro continues to be spicier on the back end, but still just a faint black pepper. The finish is just a touch creamy like a milk foam creaminess sprinkled with dark chocolate shavings and under that you have a mocha that is it’s deep and earthy, but also fruity on the back end. When you think the finish is finished, you taste that raisin fruitiness I described before. On top of that, a buttery floral note, it is truly insane. There’s definitely a leather note that is mixed in there as well.

SECOND THIRD
>> Fudge, Sugar Cookie, Toasted Almond

The burn continues to be semi straight, has great smoke output, and an excellent draw. Without even trying, the ash holds on for over 2 inches. The second third presents you with deep notes of oak with a mild spice. The cream is still present and coats the palate along with a nice rich, thick, and earthy chocolate note. You start to get a little more pepper on the retro, but still not enough to really sting your nostrils. I experienced a little bit of a floral cinnamon note as well. The finish offers a soft leather, oak, and toasted almond. It is reminiscent of a sugar cookie with amaretto.

FINAL THIRD
>> Charred Marshmallow, Oak, Soft Leather

No need to correct the cigar even though the burn is semi wavy. The draw and smoke output remains the same as the previous thirds. The notes in the last get a little bit warmer and a little more intense. A strong oak is at the forefront. There is a sweetness that reminds me of a nice warm bourbon. Following that, a soft leather from before along with vanilla extract. The retro definitely gets kicked up a notch in the last third. A lot more black pepper coming out, stinging the nostrils and then following that black pepper is a charred marshmallow. Lots of oaky notes again on the finish. Complimenting the oak is some cream, a smidge of sweetness, and some vanilla and almond thrown in at the very tail end.

RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS

FLAVOR PROGRESSION

This cigar was one of the more interesting cigars I have smoked in recent history as far as flavor. The stick progresses from a complex fruity first third to the more earthy and leathery second third and then ending with like a more vanilla oak bourbon in the last third. It’s like having like a nightcap in the last third. The Dream kept me interested the entire time each time a smoked it. I didn’t know what to expect next and it was a great experience.

BURN EXPERIENCE

This cigar has great construction even with that little patch up job that the last sample had with a different wrapper color. I never had to correct the burn, it stayed fairly straight and the smoke was plentiful. There’s really nothing else you can ask for in a cigar. You just relax and smoke it.

RATING BREAKDOWN
0.75 / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.35 / 0.50 … Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50 / 0.50 … Lighting Process
7.50 / 7.70 … Smoking Experience
0.50 / 0.50 … Personal Enjoyment

COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES

The Absolute Best Offering From Mayflower.

I’ve tried every Mayflower cigar (there are only three) and I’ve enjoyed them all. The Dawn and Dusk were good but this one is hands down my favorite from Mayflower. I can confidently recommend to anyone that buying a box of these is money well spent. The Dream teeters between medium and full bodied, but definitely stays on the more medium side. While there are a lot of dark notes, the gentle introduction of every flavor was really impressive. You could really taste the flavors without being overwhelmed by boldness that typically come with double maduro cigars. It is a beautifully balanced cigar that smoked perfectly every time.

SIMPLY STOGIES RATING: 9.6 / 10.0

Cigar Review: Dream by Mayflower