Altadis
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Romeo y Julieta Reserve
$67.52 – $180.00Romeo y Julieta Reserve is yet another highly rated edition from this iconic company.
The Reserve is a successful offering appealing to a more diverse group of smokers. The addition Honduran leaves to selected Nicaraguan fillers and binder changes the body of the cigar for sure. Encasing it with a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper completes the formula. The result is a medium-full bodied taste with a flavor that’s not overpowering to your palate.
Cigar Aficionado rates this complex smoke a very respectable score of 90 points. Their description is spot on. “Initial puffs of leather and cinnamon segue into a nutty smoke of almonds and marzipan before the warm, toasty finish. Burn and draw are perfect throughout.” With this in mind, if other Romeos are too mild for you, the Reserve is what you’re looking for!
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Honduran-Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper – Nicaraguan HabanoSee all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
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Romeo y Julieta 1875 White
$71.96 – $200.59Romeo y Julieta 1875 White is one of this renowned company’s best selling cigars…..HANDS DOWN!
When this original 1875 line was launched it rapidly became one of the country’s top sellers. Over the years Altadis continued adding many more sizes and shapes while achieving consistently high ratings along the way. With attention to detail, this cigar’s blend truly achieves a sweet spot and unanimous acceptance among countless smokers.
Cigar Aficionado rates this legendary medium bodied cigar a more than respectable 92. Their description is short and sweet and still stands.”This cigar delivers big, chewy notes of nougat, pistachio and almonds fortified with leathery intonations. Rich and elegant.”
If you are one of the very few smokers that have not yet tried these universally loved cigars, what are you waiting for? From the small coronas to the enormous Exhibicion #1, any size you choose will be a top pick for sure!
Country of Origin: Dominican
Wrapper: Indonesian Sumatra
Binder: Dominican Piloto
Filler: Dominican Piloto and Olor
Blender: Grupo De MaestrosSee all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
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Primo Del Rey Original
$62.84 – $240.16There’s a reason why this brand has been around forever. They’re very good cigars! The intricate three country blend has remained eerily consistent over decades. This mellow to medium bodied stick draws well, burns perfectly and has a smooth finish. What it lacks in marketing sizzle it more than makes up for in substance and character.
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Honduran-Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper
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Henry Clay Rustic Cheroot
$25.00 – $80.00Ok, 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 -
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real
$88.21 – $237.33Romeo 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 ConnecticutSee all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
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Butera Royal Vintage
$148.05 – $226.52When this cigar was Introduced at the height of the cigar boom in 1993 it represented being the first boutique entry made to date. I remember the hoops I had to jump through to buy them for my stores. As time passed Butera got passed over by the hundreds on new brands and manufacturers since it’s introduction. This still amazing cigar combines six whole leaf tobaccos with a near perfect Connecticut Shade wrapper. The Indonesian binder adds the final magic to create a mild to medium bodied super smooth smoking experience. I heartily recommend at least a five pack of Toros. This cigars unique heritage will give you a real insight into what launched a whole industry within the cigar universe!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican
Binder – Indonesian
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Shade
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VegaFina Natural
$123.72 – $155.08The first thing I can say about this brand is that it is still one of the most underappreciated mild to mellow bodied cigars available. It’s four country blend is smooth, balanced and pleasantly tasting with a wonderful aroma from it’s large volume of smoke. They draw great and are made well to boot!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Colombian-Dominican-Honduran
Binder – Honduran
Wrapper Type – Ecuador Connecticut -
Romeo y Julieta 1875 Nicaragua
$69.30 – $180.45Romeo y Julieta 1875 Nicaragua is a great example of why this legendary brand retains its top spot in the industry.
With attention to detail, this great cigar is the creation of the Plasencia factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Arriving in 2018, it surprised a lot of smokers. For starters, unlike many Nicaraguan puros, this one is actually mild to medium bodied. The big difference is it has all the flavor and taste you’d expect from a Romeo without being overpowering.
FYI, the folks at Blind Man’s Puff rated it a 91. One reviewer describes it perfectly. ” For a mild cigar this one checked off many of the points I like from a fuller bodied and fuller flavored cigar. I feel this is a cigar for almost anyone to enjoy, and look forward to smoking one again soon!” To put it another way, if you prefer a tamer smoke but don’t want to miss out on the best of what Nicaraguan tobacco has to offer, this one is a must try!
See all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
Binder: Nicaragua Habano
Filler: Nicaragua Habano
Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
Blender: Grupo De Maestros -
Montecristo White
$124.78 – $469.68Montecristo White is one of this long storied company’s most popular cigars.
When this White banded edition appeared in 2017, an entirely new group of smokers discovered this brand for the first time. Many of those folks that gravitated to mild to mellow tasting cigars now had a Montecristo to call their own. The addition of tamer Nicaraguan fillers with Dominican leaves and encasing it with an Ecuadorian grown Connecticut seed wrapper yields a smooth, lighter smoke with a tiny bit of crispy spice that’s enjoyable for everyone.
There was no doubt this cigar was a hit as the accolades poured in. When Blind Man’s Puff rated it at 94, they said it best. “Excellent smoke! One of the best mild-medium smoked I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. The rich buttery and vanilla notes that were the backbone of this cigar were thoroughly enjoyable. Only smoke this cigar when you have the time to sit back, relax, and savor a truly high quality cigar. ”
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera de Garcia
Blender: Grupo de MaestroSee all the Montecristo cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
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Aging Room Solera Maduro
$119.02 – $136.30Aging Room Solera Maduro is another great addition to this hugely popular line ! Aging Room was specifically created in at the end of 2010 to produce small batch boutique blended cigars that are not for everyone. Founded by Rafael Nodal and launched in 2011, Aging Room cigars are made by Jochy Blanco of Tabacalera La Palma in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. Some Aging Room brands are also produced in Nicaragua by Nestor Plasencia Jr. and A.J. Fernandez. All three cigar makers are considered Master Blenders to say the least. The brand’s portfolio includes several high-scoring cigars across many lines
The Solera line utilizes the Solera drying process which is used in Spanish Wine making. This technique employs staggering the aging of leaves and slowly combining new leaves as the process continues. This time consuming method adds a totally enhanced taste to the tobaccos.
The Aging Room Solera Maduro is a beautifully made cigar that is incredibly smooth with sweet-smelling natural tobacco smoke.Think medium to full bodied notes of chocolate, cocoa, warm spice, leather, and toasted almonds for starters! Without a doubt, the Solera Maduro is another winner!
Wrapper: Dominican Corojo
Binder: Dominican Habano
Filler: Dominican Habano -
Saint Luis Rey Serie G Maduro
$147.16 – $188.44This 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. Over 10 years ago the Series G Natural came to market giving folks who enjoy medium bodied cigars a treat that captured the brand’s heritage of rich taste in a slow burning, smooth stick.
Soon after, the addition of pitch black Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper on this maduro edition raised the needle of the taste meter just a bit more than it’s natural counterpart.
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Connecticut Broadleaf
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf -
Romeo y Julieta Aniversario
$252.22 – $334.08Romeo y Julieta Aniversario is a very, very special cigar to say the least.
You’re definitely a serious shopper if you’re looking at this amazing cigar. In 2003, Altadis reached out to Master Blender Jose Seijas who is a veritable icon of the industry for over 40 years. With attention to detail, his skillful multi country blend of long fillers is encased in a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra seed wrapper. Without a doubt this produces an amazingly complex, smooth tasting medium bodied cigar. While this masterpiece took a while to get passed around, it’s eventual 92 rating is a testament of Seijas’ ability to give smokers a truly great experience.
Just so you know, along with the high score, Cigar Aficionado placed this great cigar in the top 25 of the year. If you want to see what has been pleasing discerning smokers for over twenty years, this Romeo has to be in your humidor today. Hands down!
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican-Nicaraguan-Peruvian
Binder – USA Connecticut Broadleaf
Wrapper – Ecuadorian SumatraSee all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
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Omar Ortez Maduro
$76.55 – $240.68More full bodied than it lighter sister and value priced as well! If you’re a fan of robust taste and want an everyday smoke that’s budget friendly….look no more! A 90 rating doesn’t hurt either!
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Nicaraguan-Panamanian
Binder – Mexican
Wrapper Type – Maduro
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Montecristo Monte by AJ Fernandez
$54.00 – $157.19Montecristo Monte by AJ Fernandez is another fantastic collaboration between Master Blender A J Fernandez and this iconic brand. This is the fourth cigar blended and rolled by Fernández for Altadis U.S.A.
With attention to detail, this creation contains vintage Dominican piloto cubano and criollo 98 fillers along with a prime Nicaraguan corojo 98 binder. And encasing all this is a 17-year-old Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. How’s that for complexity and craftsmanship! Without doubt the blend yields a balanced, smooth medium-full bodied flavor. To say the least, this dark, box pressed cigar is perfectly made with an exceptional draw.
When renowned industry reviewer Katman rated it at 95, his description of this flavor bomb is spot on. ” This may just be the maltiest blend I’ve smoked. In addition, flavors of chocolate, caramel, creaminess, red pepper, dried fruit, roasted nuts, cedar, and toasted buttered French bread make this cigar a winner.”
If you consider yourself a fan of Montecristo and AJ Fernandez, this one must be in your humidor for sure!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo 98
Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo 98, Dominican Republic Piloto Cubano
Factory: Tabacalera Fernandez S.A.
Blender: AJ FernandezSee all the Montecristo cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
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Montecristo Espada
$58.00 – $157.75Without doubt, Montecristo Espada is one of this iconic company’s best cigars ever!
The Spanish lesson for today is: Espada means sword. When the Espada appeared garnering a 92 rating and becoming one of the top 25 cigars of the year we all knew it was worth the price. What must be remembered is Espada is made in Nicaragua at Plasencia Cigars and is a collaboration between Plasencia and the Altadis blending team, Grupo de Maestros.
With attention to detail, the very rare wrapper from 2010 encases vintage Nicaraguan filler and binder tobacco from three prized growing regions. In fact, the filler and binder leaves are even older! The result is a medium bodied purebred with an interesting combination of sweetness and spice thats creamy and balanced. Cigar Aficionado describes this amazing smoke perfectly. “An exceptional smoke offering the spice of a gingersnap with touches of cinnamon that build to a sweet, spicy finish.”
It’s no surprise Espada has been pleasing cigar smokers for almost a decade and is still going strong.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano (Jalapa) Vintage 2010
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano (Jalapa) Vintage 2009
Filler: Nicaraguan Habano (Jalapa) Seco Vintage 2008, Nicaraguan Habano (Jalapa) Viso Ometepe Vintage 2008, Nicaraguan Habano (Condega) Ligero Vintage 2008 -
Juan Lopez Seleccion
$30.00 – $118.98This is probably one of the best full bodied cigars you’ve never heard of. This 90 rated stick has been flying under the radar for over six years. What sets this Nicaraguan puro aside from many others is the characteristic of its blend, Soon after lighting up it hits you with a robust burst of flavor that begins to settle down with a bit of sweetness as you move along then ramps back up again. This is a very very flavorful cigar with a great aroma.
Origin – Nicaraguan
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Nicaraguan -
Casa De Garcia Maduro Blend
$32.78 – $48.82When 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
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Saint Luis Rey Natural Broadleaf
$23.00 – $180.72This 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 -
Romeo y Julieta Vintage
$106.95 – $237.33Just 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 ShadeSee all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
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Romeo y Julieta Romeo San Andres
$181.15 – $188.05Romeo 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
$158.37 – $218.42Romeo 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 BroadleafSee all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
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H Upmann Vintage Cameroon
$117.75 – $158.26You found it! While most of us know the H. Upmann brand, few know the rarity of this 90 rated beauty. Yes, it’s medium to full bodied like most Upmanns are. What may folks don’t know is something I’ve talked about before. The Cameroon wrapper is amazing! It changes the character of this cigar to yield a smoother, tastier Upmann. Not that the others aren’t great! These Cedar wrapped beauties are unique and are even better if you let them age.Try a five pack for yourself.
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican-Nicaraguan-Peruvian
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Cameroon -
Don Diego Original
$14.00 – $256.86Don 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
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Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua
$118.32 – $232.58Founded by Rafael Nodal and launched in 2011, Aging Room cigars are made by Jochy Blanco of Tabacalera La Palma in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. Some Aging Room brands are also produced in Nicaragua by Nestor Plasencia Jr. and A.J. Fernandez. All three cigar makers are considered Master Blenders to say the least. The brand’s portfolio includes several high-scoring cigars across many lines.
There are a lot of different Aging Rooms made in different factories as you can see on our site. This stunning cigar was the ultimate vision of Rafael Nodal and was crafted by A.J. Fernandez in Nicaragua. Rated at 96 and the best cigar in 2019, leaving even the Cuban competitors in the dust. This medium-full bodied Nicaraguan purebred is astounding on all fronts. If you’re a fan of Aging Room, consider this cigar the brand’s crowning achievement. Enough said!
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Nicaraguan
