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
