The name of this amazing edition is a shout out to a historic tree and its surrounding land in the Connecticut valley where Native American Indians would gather to grow their own smoking tobacco. And there’s your history lesson for today! Foundation owner’s love for his home state and the amazing leaves he grows is combined with a vintage blend of Nicaraguan and Indonesian inners producing an amazing cigar. This 93 rated stick yields a smooth, creamy, mild to slightly medium bodied flavor that’s complex and wonderful! The old school uncut foot is a nice touch as well.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Sumatra
Wrapper Type – Ecuador Connecticut
Ok, I’ll admit it. This is one of my personal favorites. Henry Clay has a rich heritage dating back to Cuba. Cigar giant Altadis has done a great job with this old school brand. This complex little guy is wrapped in a near black USA grown Connecticut Broadleaf with a Honduran Broadleaf binder. The Dominican fillers are combined with a rarely used, very powerful Capa Dura Honduran leaf which oddly enough, is a leaf thats grows on the plant after its been harvested. The result is a highly rated medium-full bodied pigtailed powerhouse with a $4 price.
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Dominican
Binder – Honduran
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf
Rated 96 and named Cigar of the Year in 2012 beating out every other cigar including all the Cuban entries. Medium-full bodied. Amazing. Enough said.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Take the band off this Habano wrapped cigar, give it to your buddy, let him light it up and get it going and then tell him it’s about a $3 smoke! General Cigar produced Las Estrella to give us a value priced BOXED cigar worthy of any occasion.
It’s medium bodied in taste with an even burn.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Coming Soon!
Binder – Coming Soon!
Wrapper Type – Habano
It’s hard to believe this Arturo Fuente made premium brand is approaching a 30th birthday. I was young and beautiful when I smoked my first one! While the blend of leaves is different from the company’s signature line, these well made, fairly priced, medium bodied, smooth tasting sticks have remained very popular over the years. I’ve often looked at them as kind of “comfort cigars”.
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Wrapper: U.S.A./Conn. Shade
Country: Dominican Republic
When Master Blender Willy Herrera teamed up with Jonathan Drew (Drew Estate) it caught everyone’s attention. As this first Habano edition hit the street receiving an incredible 93 rating along with placing #8 in the top 25 cigars of the year, we all knew a new level of cigar making had begun.
This amazing blend is a super smooth, medium bodied, perfectly made cigar with an ample draw. Its slow burn is balanced with a complex taste that slightly increases in intensity as you move along. Only as it comes to a close do you experience a robust full bodied taste reminiscent of Cuban made powerhouses.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blender:Willy Herrera
To begin with, Master Blender Jose “Don Pepin” Garcia created La Aroma de Cuba. This Ashton sister brand received a “Top 25” award twice! It’s 93 rating over 20 years ago is still a testament to its quality today. This Cuban seeded Nicaraguan blend of vintage fillers combined with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper yields a Cuban style medium bodied smoke that’s hard to beat at any price! The Robusto is a top pick!
Want to see more La Aroma de Cuba cigars? Click HERE.
The Ashton Symmetry edition was Ashton’s first venture into adding Nicaraguan leaves with their traditional Dominican filler. The result has been several 94 ratings along with two placements in the top 25 category. This cigar was a real achievement. Not only did it offer a more complex robust taste, it retained Ashton’s classic smoothness with a medium-bodied flavor.
Filler- Dominican-Nicaraguan Binder- Dominican Wrapper Type – Ecuadorian Habano
ACCOLADES
Top 10 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2017
Top 10 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2015
94 Rated – Cigar Aficionado, January 2018
Check out other great Ashtons here!
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!
Those of us that have enjoyed Ashton’s Classic series over the years have become accustomed to their signature taste. When the Puro Sol edition was launched it was Ashton’s first venture into the medium bodied category. Bang! Not only did it get a 94 rating, it placed #7 of the top 25 best cigars of the year. So if you’ve enjoyed Ashton Classics, you must step up and try the Ashton Heritage Puro Sol flavorful beauty.
Country: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano wrapper
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
ACCOLADES
Top 10 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2012
Top 10 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2008
Top 10 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2005
Top 25 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2021
Top 25 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2004
94 Rated – Cigar Aficionado, May 2021
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real is another highly rated offering of this iconic brand.
When the original 1875 White line was launched it rapidly became one of the country’s top sellers. Shortly after, the Reserva Real series hit the ground running. While this blend upped the flavor to the medium bodied level it remained smooth and balanced with just a hint of spice to liven up your palate.
As luck would have it, Cigar Aficionado recently rated the Lonsdale size a respectable 91. Their description says it best. Initial notes of dried citrus and vanilla combine on the palate for an orange creamsicle effect. There’s a slightly cedary element as well, making for a bright, sweet cigar that draws and burns evenly.” Not convinced yet? The Porto Real came in at 92!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican-Nicaraguan
Binder – Dominican
Wrapper Type – Ecuadorian grown Connecticut
See all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
Viaje Special 2023 Holiday Edition consists of two special blends from this great company.
With attention to detail, each one of these amazing cigars is a testament to the reputation of Andre Farkas. Here you go!
Holidays come and go, but these cigars are worth having all year round…..when you can get them!
See all the Viaje Cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
The Asylum Martes 13 cigar is made with Honduran Corojo tobaccos that have been aged 6 years. They come in two sizes: 48×4 and 54×6, only 500 packs are available in each of the two sizes.
As usual, it ships free and humidified 🙂
Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua is one of this long storied company’s best cigars ever.
Celebrate the rich and flavorful heritage of Montecristo cigars with this specially made Nicaraguan super star. With attention to detail, this special Anniversary edition is an expertly crafted interpretation of the brand’s original blend from 1935. Rich and complex, with a creamy texture and hints of spice, these cigars will transport you to a world of luxury and sophistication. It should be noted that Master Blenders Rafael Nodal, and AJ Fernandez as well as the Montecristo’s Grupo de Maestros created this world class cigar.
Receiving an astounding 95-point rating and garnering the #2 spot of 2021 by Cigar Aficionado is well-deserved to say the very least. Their description is perfect. “…a spicy, earthy backbone refined by notes of leather, coconut and malted milk.” These medium to full bodied jewels are any cigar smokers joy to behold.
Without doubt, this Montecristo is an absolute must try.
See all the Montecristo cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: San Latano AJ Fernandez
Blenders: Grupo de Maestros, Rafael Nodal, AJ Fernandez
See all the Montecristo cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Joya De Nicaragua Numero Uno is yet another one of this iconic brand’s amazing newer selections. The line started as the No. 1 in 2017, and was only offered to World Leaders by Nicaraguan ambassadors.Número Uno is now part of the “Masterpieces” collection meaning Joya’s top of the line offerings.
Numero Uno is one of Cigar Aficionado’s highest rated cigars coming in at an astounding 95! This creamy, smooth, mild to medium bodied masterpiece is considered one of this company’s greatest achievements. If you prefer milder smokes with complex flavor notes and want to be impressed, this is the Joya to check out!
With this in mind, it’s no surprise why so many seasoned smokers and newcomers alike are rediscovering this time honored brand.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Juan Martinez, Alejandro Martinez Cuenca
Check out all the other Joya De Nicaragua cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
I’ve been asking our Web Master for the option to add a six star to use on rare occasions without success so far. This amazing cigar would most definitely be one of those instances. If you’re a mild to medium loving smoker you’ll have to pass this powerhouse by unless you want your taste buds stress tested to a very high degree. This stick was two years in the making to get the blend just right. After an inch or so after lighting up, your senses will be enveloped in a definitive array of cocoa, black coffee, spices and pure tobacco flavors that gain strength and intensity as you cautiously move forward. This is a true HE MAN stick that is a joy to behold and worth twice the price. Buckle Up….Big time!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican – Nicaraguan
Binder – Sumatra
Wrapper Type – Maduro
Oliva has been turning out amazing cigars for many years. Most of their selections offer smokers a wide array of top rated cigars ranging in taste from mild to medium.
Enter the Series O Maduro and things change dramatically! The great aspect of this 90 rated stick is that it delivers a solid full flavor with an uncanny smoothness
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Coming Soon!
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
