It has taken Carlos Fuente Jr. more than 3 years to develop this complex, fuller-bodied taste - but it was worth the wait. Instead of Connecticut shade wrapper, the Maximus features an Ecuadoran sun-grown wrapper from the El Bajo region harvested on the Oliva family`s Ecuador plantation. Carlos has selected leaves that are taken from the upper corona portion of the plant, which adds to the strength of its taste. The filler and binder consist of a heartier blend of Dominican tobacco, and the smaller ring size of the Maximus — 50 as opposed to the original Diamond Crown’s 54 — allows a more concentrated stream of flavor with each puff. Diamond Crown Maximus cigars are aged for six months.