The “Back2Back” brand was launched by Davidoff in 2018 as a fairly priced “Meat and Potatoes” smoke. My only issue with the company was only offering them in huge boxes of 50 sticks. This dark and oily Nicaraguan puro is a smooth, flavorful medium bodied cigar. This well made stick is balanced and consistent with pleasant notes of coffee and spices. While the overall taste increases slightly in intensity as you move along, it remains balanced and enjoyable to the finish.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaragua
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Nicaraguan
The “Back2Back” brand was launched by Davidoff in 2018 as a fairly priced “Meat and Potatoes” smoke. My only issue with the company was only offering them in huge boxes of 50 sticks. In short, they’re well made mild to slightly medium-bodied cigars with a pleasant complexity. Even the enormous Gordo remains consistent with its smaller siblings yielding a slight sweetness and balanced, mellow smoothness. If you enjoy tamer tasting cigars, this is a good one to try. The Nicaraguan contents contribute a brighter character without being overpowering. Pick a size and try a five-pack.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaragua
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Ecuadorian Grown Connecticut
This is my favorite offering from Southern Draw. It’s also one of their best sellers for all the right reasons. Habano-Rosado wrappers are rarely used let alone being double fermented as these are. I feel this contributes greatly to how the sweet and spicy notes from the Cuban seeded fillers and binder remain so crisp and balanced. This solidly medium bodied stick is a joy to behold for seasoned smokers as well as newcomers.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaragua/Dominican/Panama
Binder – Ecuador
Wrapper Type – Mexican
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaragua
Binder – Nicaragua
Wrapper Type – Nicaragua
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Dominican Republic/Honduras/Nicaraguan
Binder – Honduras
Wrapper Type – San Andreas Mexican Maduro
This edition is a prime example of why this brand is so well loved. Not only are all the fillers, binder and wrapper aged four years before production, after the cigars are made they are allowed to sit for another year. Add in rarely used Panamanian leaves to the fillers and you have a truly unique stick. Falling within the medium to full bodied range this cigar is a balanced combination of natural tobacco flavors with a sweet and spicy edge that burns slowly and cool. Bravo!
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Honduras and Nicaragua
Binder – Nicaragua
Wrapper Type – San Andreas Mexican Maduro
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Oscuro
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza S.A.
Blender: E.P. Carrillo
When you have a chance, click the “Ask Richie” icon on the upper left hand side of the screen and check out the “Bundles of Joy” article. It was just a matter of time before Ernesto Carrillo joined the club of offering hand made premium cigars for around $3 that we could readily enjoy every day without guilt. This edition is just that. The difference between this value brand and many others is the Master Blender behind it. This five country blend produces a complexly balanced medium bodied stick yielding a great aroma, easy draw and wonderful taste. Thank you Ernesto for thinking about us mere mortals! Pick you favorite size and you’ll see what I mean. PS, let them age and they get even better!!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican – Ecuadorian – Mexican – Nicaraguan – United States
Binder – Ecuadorian
Wrapper Type – Ecuador Habano
This edition is a very slow burning stick that’s jammed packed with tobacco. Even though it has a combination of sweet and spicy tastes, this is a very strong cigar that gains intensity on all fronts as you move along. Buckle Up!
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Nicaraguan
This was the second Insidious entry utilizing the same blend of fillers and binder as the mild tasting Original. The addition of a San Andreas Mexican Maduro wrapper moved it’s character into the medium bodied range while retaining its smoothness.
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Honduran
Binder – Honduran
Wrapper Type – San Andres
Padron Damaso is one of this iconic company’s most popular and newer entries.
With attention to detail, this round, mild tasting, flavorful, hand crafted and limited production cigar is encased in a specially created Ecuadorian grown Connecticut wrapper. What’s more important is this cigar was blended by Jorge Padron himself. To that end, Damaso is a cigar with a unique flavor profile that is medium to full-bodied and super smooth.
So if you’re looking for all the signature characteristics of Padron cigars with tamer strength, Damaso is a perfect choice!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Seed
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Damaso (near Piloto Cigars Inc.)
Blender: Jorge Padron
Check out all the Padron Cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Foundation owner Nick Melillo traveled to the island of Jamaica in 2015 to have some fun along with searching for the country’s rarely used tobacco. He soon located one of the oldest farms growing and processing leaves utilizing traditional methods that have been employed for over a thousand years. He then put his mad scientist hat on and combined his Master Blender skills by applying what he calls “Caribbean atmospheric herbal fusion.” The short version of this is that the combination of this process with coveted Jamaican and vintage Nicaraguan leaves produced a series of cigars ranging from mild and smooth to medium-full bodied and beyond. Yes, they’re totally different and have become pleasant diversions for experienced smokers as well as newcomers.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Jamaican – Nicaraguan
Binder – Coming Soon!
Wrapper Type – Varied
It’s hard to believe it’s been a dozen years since this special cigar was launched. This solidly medium bodied cigars reputation speaks for itself with all facets of its being. The complex blend yields just enough of just about every taste characteristic in the spectrum with smoothness, strength, balance and spice to name a few. It was from this very stick’s concept that Tatuaje continued producing more editions for all our smoking enjoyment. Enjoy…BIG TIME!
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Nicaraguan Corojo
If you’re a fan of the Original Havana VI, this edition will give you more of what you enjoyed across the board. This dark stick raises the needle on the flavor strength meter into the medium to full bodied range.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Habano
Since its launch in 2003, Pete Johnson’s Tatuaje cigar portfolio has grown to include more than 20 brands—both in regular and limited production and has grown from unknown status to one of the cigar industry’s highly rated and sought-after boutique cigar brands. Johnson himself has also evolved from an unknown newcomer to visionary and respected industry entrepreneur.
This edition came on the scene back in 2011 and received deservedly high ratings culminating in being awarded one of the top cigars of 2018 with 93 points. As you can see, Fausto has been a truly consistently great stick for about a decade. In short; this is a dark, strong, hearty and spicy cigar from the get go and increases in intensity and you move along with it. Buckle up!
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Habano Maduro
Don Pepin Garcia of My Fathers Cigars fame originally created this cigar over 15 years ago. As the company rocketed to fame with numerous 90+ rated, full bodied Cuban style smokes, Vegas Cubanas kind of got lost. This mellow to slightly medium bodied stick is a welcome addition to the My Father lineup. It’s very flavorful with just a bit of spice and draws perfectly. Make no mistake. This is a highly rated smoke for those of us that steer towards milder tastes.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan- Habano Rosado Claro
Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan- Cuban Seed ’99 Corojo, Criollo
This Black Label edition represents Master Blender Garcia’s strongest blend of Nicaraguan long fillers and binder since the brand’s inception. The addition of a deceivingly medium colored vintage Corojo wrapper completes the formula which yields a full flavor to ultra full flavored Cuban styled smoking experience. While this 92 rated powerhouse delivers a great array of pleasant tastes, there’s no questioning it’s outright intensity which increases along the way. Buckle up!
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Corojo
The crafting that went into making this edition in 2012 produced one of Kristoff’s best cigars ever. The four country blend of this 93 rated stick yields a most tasty and interesting smoking experience. From its pig tailed cap to its uncut foot, this dark knight is a medium to full bodied banquet of flavors that gain intensity and sweetness as you move along. Enjoy this one, BIG TIME!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican-Honduran-Nicaraguan
Binder – Honduran
Wrapper Type – Brazilian
Joya De Nicaragua Cuatro Cinco was created in 2015 to celebrate the company’s 45th anniversary.
With attention to detail, the 5 year old tobaccos are stored in oak barrels and continue to age producing a complex, medium-full bodied smoke with amazing flavors. Giving it a respectable 92 rating, Cigar Aficionado’s description is short and sweet” Box-pressed with a full draw. The cigar starts sweet with hints of molasses that segue into spicier elements and big notes of hickory.”
With this in mind, it’s no surprise why so many seasoned smokers are rediscovering this time honored brand. Cuatro Cinco stick is still one of today’s true Luxury cigars.
See all the Drew Estate brands available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua SA
Joya De Nicaragua Antano Gran Reserva is one of this iconic company’s great achievements. In fact, it could be said that when this entry came to market, many, many newcomers gave it a try and loved it.
In 2018 the expertly box pressed Gran Reserva line was rated 93 by Cigar Aficionado and placed #16 as one of the best cigars of the year! While this masterfully made cigar contains the same overall blend used in the Original, all the leaves were allowed to age a long, long time. The results are all the signature characteristics of the Original with a smoother, medium bodied taste creating a tamer, friendlier smoke that everyone can enjoy. And enjoy that have…..and still are to this day!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua Oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
Blender: Juan Martinez, Alejandro Martinez Cuenca
FYI: No matter what strength, taste and body your palate prefers, there’s a Joya blended with you in mind. Check out all the other Joya De Nicaragua cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
This masterfully crafted Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro proves yet again just how great Willy is at blending cigars. Herrera himself describes this complex cigar perfectly. “With the Brazilian Maduro, I wanted to bring the Mata Fina to the forefront of this blend. This tobacco has such a unique texture and it showcases the lush floral and earthy notes I wanted to capture in this cigar. In addition, now that the Herrera Esteli line has been repackaged blending modern simplicity with classic Cuban style, it really shines on our retailers’ shelves and brings unity to the brand.”
With Cigar Authority rating it at 91 and Stogie Press at 92, there’s no doubt that this Brazilian Maduro is another winner,
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blender:Willy Herrera
It took five countries worth of leaves and dozens of blending attempts to produce this ominously near black beauty for those smokers that want strength above all. This Camacho Triple Maduro edition will take your palate to the very edge of its taste capabilities without destroying it. The key words here are rich, robust and powerful. Definitely not for beginners. Buckle up…BIG TIME!
Origin – Honduras
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Authentic Honduran Corojo Maduro
Filler: Maduro (Honduran, Brazilian, Dominican)
