I spent real time with the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro No. 6 (5 7/8 × 60) to see if this broadleaf-wrapped classic still lives up to its reputation for bold flavor and full-bodied smoking. The Serie R line has...
I spent real time with the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro No. 6 (5 7/8 × 60) to see if this broadleaf-wrapped classic still lives up to its reputation for bold flavor and full-bodied smoking.
The Serie R line has always been known for strength, big ring gauges, and unapologetic flavor. The Maduro version promises a darker character with deeper sweetness and a little more weight compared to the natural wrapper.
So, the question is simple: does it still hold up today? Let’s break it down from cold draw to nub.
Profile: Medium-Full to Full
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco
Factory: Dominican Republic (General Cigar)
Sizes Available: No. 4 (Robusto 4.9 x 50), No. 5 (Robusto 5.5 x 54), Pyramid (6 x 60), No. 6 (Gordo 5 7/8 x 60), No. 7 (Gordo 7 x 58)
Notable Feature: Large ring gauge Serie R format designed for cooler, slower smoking
Flavor Highlights: Coffee, earth, cocoa, black pepper, sweetness, dark wood
Price Point: Around $10 per cigar when bought in a box of 24, typically around $11-12 for a single stick
La Gloria Cubana, as a brand, dates back to 1885 in Cuba. The name carried weight long before the modern Serie R existed. After the Cuban Revolution, the brand eventually found new life in the United States under the direction of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr., who began revitalizing the blend at the El Credito factory in Miami’s Little Havana.
In the 1990s, during the Cigar Boom, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R was introduced to meet the growing demand for bolder cigars. Smokers wanted bigger ring gauges and more intensity. The Serie R delivered both.
Eventually, General Cigar acquired the brand, and production moved to the Dominican Republic. Today, the Serie R Maduro remains part of that bold lineup alongside the natural Serie R, Serie R Black, and Serie N.
The Maduro wrapper version isn’t the same cigar as the natural wrapper release. While the core concept is similar, the Broadleaf wrapper shifts the profile significantly toward deeper sweetness and darker earth.
If you want more background on the brand itself, you can read our full La Gloria Cubana Brand Guide.

First off, the appearance of the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro No. 6 is exactly what you expect from a serious maduro cigar. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is almost black. It has a slight sheen with a firm roll. I couldn't find any soft spots anywhere along the body.
In hand, this stick feels solid but not clunky despite the 60-ring gauge. On the cold draw, I got dark cocoa, black coffee, and a light molasses sweetness. There’s a natural earth note and just a hint of oak. The draw was smooth with slight resistance, something I was happy to find as I've had much tighter draws on LGC cigars in the past.

At the initial light, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro hits with black pepper right out of the gates. The peppery spice shows up strongest on the retrohale, but its pleasant and doesn’t overpower your taste buds.
Right behind that, is dark coffee and cocoa. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper shows its sweeter side here, bringing molasses and a light chocolate tone that keeps things interesting. Earthy notes and dark wood round it out.
This is a full-bodied smoke from the start, but it stays smooth and that’s a good thing. It's not only bold but it has great flavors and aroma. By the end of the first third, the Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro makes its point, rich, steady flavor.
This left me excited to see how it would progress

By the second third, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro settles into its lane. That black pepper backs off a bit, and darker notes move forward. Coffee becomes more dominant for me, closer to black coffee than sweet cream, with earth and wood sitting underneath.
You start to taste more of the tobacco itself here. The Dominican and Nicaragua filler begin to show what they’re bringing to the table. There’s still sweetness from the maduro Broadleaf, but it’s more controlled now. It's far from being sugary and is just enough to keep the spice from drying out your taste buds.
The draw stays consistent, and the smoke stays thick. This is where the large ring gauge of the Gloria Cubana Serie R format really helps. It burns cooler and lets the flavors build instead of spike.

In the last third, it turns up a notch. I got more black pepper again, especially on the retrohale. The coffee deepened, closer to a strong black roast. Earth and oak came forward, and the sweetness from the maduro wrapper faded into the background but never completely disappeared.
That boldness stayed present without getting harsh and that’s what I liked most. The burn stayed mostly straight along the way with only minor waviness. I still did not run into needing any relights which always is nice.
Construction on this No. 6 Toro was solid overall. The ash stacked cleanly before dropping, and the burn line stayed mostly straight with only minor unevenness. Some cigar reviews mention occasional uneven burn or a tight draw in certain Serie R Maduro releases.
In my experience, this stick had slight resistance in the draw but stayed consistent, producing thick, steady smoke throughout the entire cigar. The construction of this cigar reflects the careful rolling and solid tobacco selection LGC made when blending this cigar.
Overall, construction felt dependable and well executed for a cigar in this price range, no major complaints in these departments from me.
At just over $10 per cigar when bought by the box of 24, and around $11–12 as a single, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro sits in a strong value lane. For a full-bodied smoke built with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Dominican and Nicaragua filler, and produced by General Cigar, that price feels fair.
This is the kind of cigar you can keep in the humidor and doesn't need to be stashed away for a special occasion. It would also make a solid gift for a friend who prefers bold, maduro-forward blends.
Compared to the Serie R Natural, the Maduro is, of course, darker, sweeter, and heavier overall. The natural wrapper leans more toward cedar and spice with a sharper edge, while the Broadleaf Maduro shifts the profile toward chocolate, earth, and deeper richness. It’s not the same cigar with a darker wrapper; the sweetness and weight noticeably change the experience.
Against the Serie R Black, the Maduro feels more balanced. The Black pushes intensity from the start, darker and more aggressive, while the Maduro delivers its strength with smoother edges thanks to the Broadleaf sweetness.
Now, stack it next to the La Gloria Cubana Spanish Press, and the difference shows up in both flavor and construction. The Spanish Press uses a box-pressed format that creates a slightly firmer draw and a more concentrated delivery. The Serie R Maduro No. 6, with its traditional round format and larger ring gauge, produces a broader, cooler smoke.
If you prefer sweetness and richness, go Maduro. If you want structure and spice with a slightly tighter feel, the Spanish Press earns its place.

If you enjoy bold cigars with coffee, earth, chocolate, and real presence, this cigar is worth your time. Just know it’s not a mild stick, nor does it look it. It is a great option if you want a flavorful, medium-to-full experience that doesn’t fade halfway through.
This is the kind of cigar that satisfies when your palate wants depth, structure, and rich tobacco character. For after-dinner smoking, especially paired with dark roast coffee or whiskey, it makes a lot of sense.
| Category | Rating (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Flavor | 8.8 |
| Construction | 8.9 |
| Burn / Draw | 8.8 |
| Value | 9.0 |
| Overall Rating | ⭐ 8.9 / 10 |
(Roughly an 88–89 on a traditional 100-point scale.)
The Serie R Maduro No. 6 backs up its reputation with thick smoke, dark coffee notes, and consistent construction. It’s bold, rich, and easier to enjoy than it looks.
If this La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro No. 6 sounds like your kind of cigar, you can grab it right here at After Action Cigars. We keep singles available if you want to test one, and boxes if you already know this blend belongs in your humidor.
If you’re still deciding between the Maduro and the natural Serie R, you can compare both side by side and see which profile fits your rotation better. For smokers who appreciate bold flavor, real Broadleaf richness, and dependable construction, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro earns its spot, especially at this price point.
You can shop all La Gloria Cubana cigars right here at After Action Cigars or try our Full Draw cigar sampler that features this cigar along with four other top full-bodied cigars.
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