When Altadis, the cigar giant thats brings us Monte Cristo, Romeo and Upmann….to name a few decided to create a value priced entry they didn’t take any shortcuts. These handmade sticks use Dominican tobaccos across the board with a bit of Honduran binder giving it a mild to medium bodied taste that’s smooth and mellow. The Connecticut Shade dark Maduro wrapper is a rarity in the budget friendly category. It gives this particular cigar a more robust taste without increasing its overall strength Enjoy!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican-Honduran
Binder – Connecticut Broadleaf
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf
This edition is yet another accomplishment of Casa Fernandez’s unique ability to continue crafting intricate blends appealing to every smokers desires and specific taste preferences. This Maduro is medium to full bodied and loaded with rich flavors of espresso, cocoa and light pepper. There’s also a bit of a cherry like sweetness throughout as well, if you can believe it!
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Aganorsa
Filler: Nicaraguan Aganorsa
Leaf by Oscar Barber Pole is of this company’s most unique entries.
With attention to detail, this Barber Pole utilizes a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper combined with a green candela wrapper. It’s also important to note it also uses a box-pressed format normally not found with this style of cigar. The cap is also unique in that it also features a maduro cap surrounded by a candela ring. To say this cigar is masterfully made is an understatement.
The results of this craftsmanship speak for themselves. The overall medium to full body combines with an array of flavors producing rich tasting aromatic smoke. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Halfwheel rates it @ 90, KATMAN @91, Cigar Coop @ 91 and Blind Man’s Puff @92. If you’ve never tried a Barber Pole, this is the one to get!
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés, Candela (Undisclosed Origin)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua
Factory: Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co
Blender: Oscar Valladares
See all of Oscar’s cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
La Opulencia received a 95-rating and was named the #2 Cigar of 2018. Make no mistake, this box pressed beauty is a full bodied smoke. However, it’s unusually creamy and smooth along the way without harshness.
Origin – Nicaragua
Fillers – Nicaraguan [Cuban seed tobaccos grown by the Garcia family]
Binders – Nicaraguan [one Corojo and one Criollo]
Wrapper Type – San Andres Oscuro
Tabak Especial Dulce the original coffee infused premium cigar. The underlying taste of roasted coffee beans combined with a unique blend of tobacco produces a very enjoyable medium bodied smoke. Needless to say, it’s great with a cup of espresso! Enjoy!
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf
*These items cannot be shipped to Massachusetts state addresses
Joya De Nicaragua Black is one this iconic brand’s newer amazing selections.
When Black hit the scene in 2018, not only did it get a 93 rating, it was also named one of the top 25 cigars of the year! The addition of a dark and oily San Andreas Mexican wrapper made this medium bodied, slow burning stick a huge hit at a fairly friendly price.
With this in mind, it’s no surprise why so many seasoned smokers are rediscovering this time honored brand.
Check out all the other Joya De Nicaragua cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Negro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Juan Martinez
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
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
This edition is yet another accomplishment of Casa Fernandez’s unique ability to continue crafting intricate blends appealing to every smokers desires and specific taste preferences.
This beautifully made medium to slightly full bodied cigar delivers lots of aromatic smoke and a mouthful of intense spice, espresso, and even more peppery flavors. Oddly enough, there’s a pleasant sweetness towards the finish. Like spice? This is the one!
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Aganorsa Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
This very interesting edition launched in 2018. It’s unique undertones of coffee and hazelnut yields a smooth smoking medium to full bodied taste that caught a lot of us by surprise. I recommend a five pack of Rothschilds. Origin – Nicaragua Filler – Nicaraguan Binder – Nicaraguan Wrapper Type – Nicaraguan Corojo
This Aganorsa Maduro edition contains the same vintage Nicaraguan long-filler leaves as the Corojo entry. The big difference is the triple fermented, very dark San Andres Mexican wrapper. Don’t let this stick’s top coat scare you! While medium to full bodied in overall taste, it retains a smooth flavor that’s very enjoyable. With a 93-rating and landing on the 2016 Top 25 list, what more do you need to know?
Oh, by the way, this amazing US made cigar is also known as the CASA FERNANDEZ MIAMI AGANORSA LEAF MADURO
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Aganorsa
Filler: Nicaraguan Aganorsa
It’s been said that this original edition of the series is an “acquired taste”. Yes, it was rated 93 and generally described as a very good medium bodied stick. And yes, it utilized a vintage blend of Nicaraguan long fillers and binder combined with a Corojo wrapper from 2006. While some folks felt it wasn’t strong enough, others said it was just right. As I’ve always said, taste is a personal preference.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA)
Blender: Eduardo Fernandez
Don’t be afraid of the dark! This edition is probably one of the best examples of why Ernesto Carrillo is the Master Blender he is.
Achieving a 92 rating and placing in the top 25 cigars of 2017 was well deserved. This super slow burning edition is jammed pack with tobacco and yields a smooth, creamy and slightly sweet medium to full bodied flavor that is balanced and can be enjoyed by everyone.
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Nicaragua
Binder – Ecuadorian
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf
You enjoy smooth and creamy, mild to medium bodied cigars and want to see why everyone loves Ernesto Carrillo. Bingo! You found it! This sticks great aroma and ample draw will allow you to experience a refined, balanced and slightly sweet tobacco taste that has become one of this Master Blenders great offerings to many smokers with taste preferences like you!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Ecuador Connecticut
Like its Original edition counterpart, this Maduro entry is another world class medium to full bodied cigar with just a bit more of a robust character while still remaining smooth to the finish.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper – Ecuadorian grown Habano Maduro
When this line was launched in 2014 it was a well received departure from the medium-full bodied blends the company was we known for. The Connecticut landed squarely in the mild to mellow zone gaining many, many new smokers into the My Father fold. The noted addition of a 15 year old Nicaraguan Corojo binder gave this stick a unique taste offering folks that enjoyed milder cigars a thoroughly enjoyable experience unlike what they were accustomed to.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo 99
Filler: Nicaraguan Habano and Criollo
Factory: My Father Cigar Factory
Blender: Jose “Pepin” Garcia and Jaime Garcia
Tabak Especial Negra is one of the original Coffee infused premium cigars. The underlying taste of roasted coffee beans combined with a unique blend of tobacco produces a very enjoyable medium bodied smoke. Negra’s darker wrapper gives this stick a bit more of robust flavor over the original Dulce. Needless to say, it’s great with a cup of espresso! Enjoy!
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Maduro Connecticut Broadleaf
Shipping Restrictions:
These items cannot be shipped to Massachusetts state addresses
Believe it or not, La Vieja Habana was Drew Estate’s first brand! This great mixed filler value priced line is affordable to everyone!
Handmade from the quality leaf left over from the manufacture of Drew Estate’s premium cigar brands, the La Vieja Habana is an exceptional smoking value. This tripa mezclado cigar consistently delivers a great flavor with an excellent draw and burn.
This Connecticut edition mixed filler cigar has a blend of Nicaraguan Tobaccos from the Jalapa Valley and Estelí and covered by a pristine Connecticut shade wrapper. It is mild and smooth with hints of coffee and a short finish that leaves with a nutty aftertaste. This creamy smoke makes for an excellent morning cigar, especially if paired with a steamy latte.
But Beware! Due to the popularity of these these cigars, they are in and out of stock frequently. So if you’re looking for an affordable, hand made smoke that can be enjoyed everyday, pick one we have and enjoy!
Check out the other styles of La Vieja Habana available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Joya De Nicaragua Red is the first of this iconic brand’s amazing newer selections.
In 2015 Joya De Nicaragua began reinventing itself by reaching out to appeal to more smokers. This highly rated Red edition showed smokers they were on the right track! While retaining the original brand’s robust character, this new blend steered towards the middle realm of the taste scale. Well made with a perfect draw, it didn’t take long for this new entry to gain major traction.
With this in mind, it’s no surprise why so many seasoned smokers are rediscovering this time honored brand. By the way, Red is also a hit with newcomers alike!
Check out all the other Joya De Nicaragua cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa) Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya De Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Undisclosed
Ambrosia by Drew Estate is another great infused hand made cigar from this iconic company.
Many smokers know the hugely successful Acid cigar line. After all, they are one of the company’s biggest sellers. The Ambrosia line is also infused but in a very focused way. The key word here is clove, and a lot of it. This is a totally unique, medium bodied slightly spicy cigar. And yes, the omnipresent aroma and taste of clove increases as you move along. It’s safe to say it’s an “acquired taste” at the very least.
However, if you’re a fan of Acid or any infused cigars and you like the stand alone taste of clove spices, Ambrosia should be in your humidor. After all, these Nicaraguan puros have been around and enjoyed by discerning smokers for over 20 years.
Check out the whole line of top selling Acid infused cigars available at The Cigar Thief here!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican
Binder – Connecticut
Wrapper Type – Maduro
When the highly critical folks at Cigar Coop rated this complex cigar at 92, they said it best,”This cigar delivered excellent flavor and had a nice amount of complexity. I also found the medium to full strength and body of this cigar clicked with the flavors perfectly.” Combine this with Cigar Coop’s similar ranking describing it as follows,” Flavor triumphs complexity here, with big, bright, lively notes of citrus, cedar, buttered nuts, and pour-over coffee leading the charge.” And you have a winner for sure! No doubt that the soft box pressing provides an enhanced draw allowing everything this great cigar offers to envelope your palate totally.
If you haven’t tried the Camacho Ecuador Box Pressed, grab at least a five pack to taste the meaning of complexity for a truly enjoyable smoking experience.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano 2000
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Honduran Corojo | Honduran Criollo Ligero | Dominican Pelo de Oro | Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Factory: Diadema Cigars de Honduras, S.A. (Honduras)
Unlike its pale, mild to mellow flavored white boxed sister, this edition is medium to full bodied in taste.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Habana 2000
Montecristo Pilotico is a very special edition from this long storied brand.
This 2017 creation has an interesting heritage. It turns out that around 50 years ago, Jose Pepe Mendez came upon a region in the Dominican Republic that proved to be perfect for growing tobacco leaves. It was here where he planted what is known as his Pilotico seeds. As time passed he also gained a reputation for establishing many growing techniques and grading guidelines that still exist today in the industry. The master blenders of Montecristo decided to pay homage to Mendez and his seeds by creating this three country blend that yields a sweet kind of medium bodied taste.
To put in another way, Blind Man’s Puff rated this one at 90. Cigar Coop gave it a 91. Without doubt, Pilotico is a must try for aficionados everywhere!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican Pilotico, Nicaraguan
Factory: Tabacalera de Garcia
Blender: Grupo de Maestros
See all the Montecristo cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
A long time ago, a very wise and wealthy old man told me something I never forgot, ” When you learn how to do something right, do just that over and over again and you’ll eventually succeed.” This great brands original edition offered here has been satisfying discerning smokers for over 20 years. While their price has risen over the years like everything else, they remain well made, consistent and balanced medium to full bodied sticks. The pure Dominican fillers and binder are perfectly blended within a USA grown Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper create a rich flavorful cigar that has stood the test of time. I highly suggest a five pack of your preferred size to see for yourself.
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican
Binder – Dominican
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Origin – Dominican
Filler – Dominican icaraguan
Binder – Dominican Republic
Wrapper Type – Honduran
Shipping Restrictions:
These items cannot be shipped to Massachusetts addresses
Shipping Restrictions:
These items cannot be shipped to Massachusetts state addresses
Origin – Nicaragua Filler – Nicaraguan Binder – Nicaraguan Wrapper Type – Maduro
Origin – Nicaragua Filler – Nicaraguan Binder – Nicaraguan Wrapper Type – Corojo
If you have a chance, click the “Ask Richie” icon at the top of the page and check out my “Bundles of Joy” article. The short version is that many of the world’s greatest cigar companies are making value priced bundles of premiums to offer their customers good quality, affordable everyday sticks. Casa Fernandez is one of the biggest and best. New Cuba is their entry into this growing category giving you their signature taste in a $2 stick. Great humidor stuffers and dog walkers! The Connecticut version listed here is mild to slightly medium bodied in taste.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Ecuador Connecticut
This edition is yet another wonderfully balanced Nicaraguan puro. This perfectly made stick is a slow burning, super smooth and creamy medium-bodied joy to behold. It’s rare when you find such an enjoyable cigar that goes as well with a morning coffee as it does with cognac and Coke! The tiny bit of spice combined with the blend’s complex velvety taste is totally unique. I recommend a five pack of Torpedos to get the full experience.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98
Filler: Nicaraguan
Factory: Sabor Aganorsa S.A (SABOR)
Blender: Arsenio Ramos, Eduardo Fernandez, Max Fernandez
Out of all the Aganorsa editions offered, this one has the “secret sauce”! We know that the specifics of the fillers and binder are not really disclosed, it is widely known that Aganorsa only uses the finest vintage leaves. The Ecuadorian grown Connecticut seed wrapper gives this stick a unique twist. While Connecticut usually means mild to mellow in taste, this cigar’s coat combined with the inners yields an extremely flavorful, medium bodied smoke with the signature character the company is known for. This is a wonderful smoking experience in the morning as well as a satisfying nightcap.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian grown Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua (Aganorsa)
Filler: Nicaragua (Aganorsa)
