Principle Martinique Corona
Principle Cigars is Darren Cioffi’s boutique line: antique labels, short runs, and a long partnership with Hendrik Kelner Jr. at Kelner Boutique Factory in Santiago. Martinique is the house Connecticut—Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper, Dominican Monte Plata binder, Dominican and U.S. filler—built for creaminess with more flavor than that wrapper usually promises. First there was Corona Gorda (6 × 46) and Lancero (7½ × 39). In June 2026 a 5½ × 43 corona joined them. Small Batch Cigar bought the first 250 boxes, so that size is exclusive there until the next shipment
Interesting fact:
A few years ago Principle made a 24-hour run to the Canary Islands to hand-deliver Martiniques for a Guy Ritchie shoot. Nothing came of it, they thought. Then The Gentlemen Season 2 dropped on Netflix. Episode 1: Marco Moretti, Sergio Castellitto, clips and lights a Martinique and passes it to Eddie Horniman, Theo James. The cigars made the cut after all.
Stogie At A Glance
Check out our curated music playlist for the Principle Martinique here.
Review
First Third
Strong coffee and pepper notes on the light, slight coffee sweetness on the finish. Pepper on the retro. Slight vanilla sweetness coming through with the pepper, very enjoyable like a semi-sweet vanilla coffee. Creaminess is really coming through with the coffee, and I swear I just tasted a blueberry muffin note, I know that sounds crazy but it was very faint. I'm still getting some of the blueberry muffin on the retro, with pepper and some coffee and cream. Creaminess continues with a little more added sweet note, almost a honey-like note. Coffee and light pepper still on the finish. The coffee, honey and creamy slight pepper notes are coming through consistently, incredibly enjoyable. Slight caramel note on the finish as well.
Second Third
Starting the second third, the creamy coffee note is still there, but a woody note has added, almost cedar but very light. Creamy coffee and slight sweetness still define the experience, with a light pepper every once in a while. Very enjoyable. Great smoke output, consistent burn, cool smoke even though it's such a small cigar. Cedar and pepper have started to come out more, with a little bit of baking spice, and pepper on the finish. The sweetness and creaminess are still there but not as pronounced as they were in the first third. Still coffee notes and pepper on the finish. Coffee, pepper and a slight floral note coming through at the end of the second third. A little bit of an earthy twang is coming through as well.
Final Third
Starting the final third, coffee continues to come through, with a slight maple syrup sweetness, as well as pepper on the finish. Sharper compared to the previous 2/3, but a creamy sweet note still continues. Spicy vanilla notes continue, with a creamy and earthy note with pepper on the finish. The sweetness has died down and some of the flavor notes have gotten sharper in the final third with more earthiness instead of floralness, but overall still a creamy peppery profile. Finishing up the final third cedar and woody notes become stronger and the pepper is picking up, with a floral sweetness that's very slight but still there. The sweetness has died down a lot since the first and second thirds and has sort of evolved into being floral sweetness instead of a honey sweetness like it started out as. Still creamy coffee and peppery notes on the finish. Lots of smoke, very enjoyable.
Score
90/100