Isla Del Sol Maduro is another masterpiece from Drew Estate.
As found with the Original Sungrown blend, this darkly encased edition offers an enjoyable smoke with hints of infused coffee/cocoa beans. The big difference is the oily maduro wrapper which gives way to a smooth medium bodied taste. The bonus is that this one is priced right for all of us to enjoy as well.
One thing that will not disappoint is the fine construction and aromatic smoke production, the latter of which Drew Estate has definitely mastered. These totally affordable well made cigars are smartly packaged and adorned with tobacco leaves inside.
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Maduro
When you have a chance, click on the “Ask Richie” icon on the upper part of the screen and read my “Bundles of Joy” submission. You’ll then understand how important the valued priced bundle category has been to both cigar makers and lovers.
This edition is one of the best medium bodied smokes available for the price. It’s well made with a great draw yielding a smooth, satisfying smoking experience across the board.
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican
Binder – Connecticut
Wrapper Type – Cameroon
I remember when this line appeared in the early 90’s. Up to then, the Avo brand was as hugely popular with smokers who enjoyed mild cigars as it is to this very day. The medium bodied XO immediately appealed to two groups of folks. People that enjoyed Avo Classics and felt their palates were graduating towards a more flavorful smoking experience. And those smokers that wanted the renowned Avo quality who enjoyed medium bodied cigars as part of their daily diet.
Avo cigars have never been cheap. In fact, their kind of pricey. What’s undisputed is that Davidoff has continued to produced Avo cigars perfectly over decades. Each one is flawlessly made with an abundant draw. It’s wonderful to see so many new choices available to try within this iconic brand.
Origin – Dominican Republic
Dominican
BinderDominicanDominican
Wrapper Type – Ecuador Connecticut
I have to admit that the rarely made Short Torpedo size is one of my go to cigars.
A year after the Synchro line arrived, Davidoff wrapped the unique blend of fillers and binder with a Habano 2000 wrapper ramping up its predecessors medium bodied taste to the medium-full bodied scale. If you enjoy the the first Synchro, the Fogata gives you more!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican-Nicaraguan
Binder – Mexican
Wrapper Type – Habana 2000
After years of planning the first original style San Cristobal was launched in 2007, crafted by famed Master Blender Jose “Don Pepin” Garcia along with the owners of the Ashton brand. The Elegancia blend is a mild to medium bodied cigar that can be enjoyed any time of the day.
Check out other San Cristobal styles here!
Wrapper: Connecticut seed Ecuadorian
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
There’s a few reasons why 90 rated Ashtons have remained in the top ten for decades. They are made by the folks at Arturo Fuente. They are insanely consistent and remain one of the benchmarks for mild to mellow taste. If you’ve smoked them you know. If you haven’t, I envy you!
Don’t let the dark, oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper scare you off! This 92 rated beauty is still true to Ashton’s classic mild taste. This maduro edition yields a more complex flavor that’s uniquely smooth to the finis
Filler – Dominican Binder – Dominican Wrapper -USA/ Connecticut Broadleaf
ACCOLADES
92 Rated – Cigar Aficionado, March 2023
92 Rated – Cigar Aficionado, August 2018
90 Rated – Cigar Aficionado, December 2000
This brand started in Cuba in 1940 and is still being made there. When Cigar Giant Altadis acquired the name for the US, production went from the Dominican Republic to Honduras where it remains. As time passed the brand began to evolve attracting new smokers. This edition was launched in 2017 and is a special one. Those of us that know this brand understand what full bodied smokes are.
The great part of this one is that it is literally packed with tobacco to the point of it feeling hard to the touch. This is one of the slowest burning, best drawing sticks around. The blend yields a very robust tasting mixture of sweetness and spice that increases as you move along.
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Honduran
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf
Just so you know, Romeo y Julieta Vintage will soon celebrate it’s 30th birthday.
When this original Vintage style was launched in 1994, it was introduced as a “Luxury Cigar”. Without a doubt, it remains so to this day! Unlike most of its medium to full bodied counterparts, this edition gives us a perfectly made, mild to mellow tasting masterpiece. The strategically blended combination of tobaccos utilized in these smokes yields a perfect draw and super smooth flavor. In fact, many of this cigar’s smokers are younger than what they’re smoking! How’s that for longevity!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican
Binder – Mexican
Wrapper – Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Shade
See all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
Romeo y Julieta Romeo San Andres is another collaboration between Altadis’ Rafael Nodal and Master Blender AJ Fernandez in 2018.
Reaching out to A. J. Fernandez to create a Cuban style, medium to full flavored edition for the RJ collection results in a very unique cigar for this iconic company. With attention to detail, Fernandez and Nodal put together a complex blend for seasoned smokers. With this in mind, Cigar Coop rates it a respectable 90 along with Blind Man’s Puff’s score of 91. Cigar Aficionado’s description in spot on. “A near-black cigar topped with a round head. The earthy, nutty smoke shows additional notes of coffee and anise before a strong finish of dark roasted coffee.”
Needless to say, If you’re a fan of Romeo y Julieta, Nodal and Fernandez, this one is a must try!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaraguan
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez
Blender: Rafael Nodal and AJ Fernandez
Romeo y Julieta 1875 Reserve Maduro consists of a four country blend that’s a joy to behold.
It’s hard to believe this great smoke is over two decades old. In fact, way back in 2003 Cigar Aficionado gave it a 90 rating. With attention to detail, this cigar is jam packed with vintage tobacco. Once lit, the wrapper combines with Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian filler to create tasty nut and coffee flavors. While being medium-full bodied in taste, it remains smooth to the finish with very rich flavor. Think coffee beans, dark chocolate and natural tobacco for starters.
With this in mind, don’t be afraid of the dark. Grab some of these outstanding Maduros today!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican-Nicaraguan-Peruvian
Binder – Dominican
Wrapper – USA Connecticut Broadleaf
See all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
Don Diego cigars have been around forever. This amazingly consistent cigar often gets lost in a sea of new entries. It is probably one of the mildest , smoothest and mellowist smokes in existence. The prefect Connecticut Shade wrapper is your first sign of how special this cigar is. The bit of Nicaraguan filler combined with selected Dominican leaves from the top of the plant yields a perfectly balanced smoke. Want mild with character…….Don Diego is it!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican-Nicaraguan
Binder – Dominican
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Shade
Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli is the second version of this very popular brand.
With attention to detail, the Esteli cigar is a more refined version of the popular Black Marker Cigar line. While the original Black Market is made in Honduras, Estelí is produced at Plasencia Cigars S.A., Nicaragua. For starters, Cigar Aficionado rates this blend an astounding score of 93 naming it in their top 10 cigars of the year. In fact, Esteli beat out many of it’s Cuban made competitors.
Their review describes it best. ” It’s earthy and leathery with sweet, concentrated undertones of raisins and cocoa. The draw is flawless, delivering a weighty, substantial smoke to the palate, which speaks to the cigar’s excellent construction and fine tobacco. ”
Without doubt, this medium to full bodied Esteli blend gives you more of what you love about the Original Black Market. The Torpedo is a top pick.
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua | Honduras
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A. (Nicaragua)
See all the Alec Bradley cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
