Robusto
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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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Quorum Shade
$39.24 – $60.84You know you’ve seen Quorums everywhere. What you may not know is that the Quorum Brand is the world’s best selling cigar! Brought to us by JC Newman, makers of Julius Caesar and Diamond Crown, the fact that all three styles have received a 92 rating while maintaining a value price point is more than enough to get your worthwhile attention.
This Shade style is a more mild to medium bodied smoke given its Ecuadorian grown Connecticut Shade wrapper combined with a Sumatran Sungrown Binder. The Torpedo is definitely a top pick!
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
BINDER: Sumatra Sungrown
FILLER: Nicaraguan
FACTORY: J.C. NewmanRATINGS:
Smoke Magazine: 92 -
Odyssey Habano
$34.02 – $52.02The Odyssey line is a super value priced array of everyday cigars brought to us by Premium powerhouse General Cigar. When the makers of Macanudo, Partagas and Punch…to name a few, decided to produce a well made economical smoke for everyone’s taste, they hit the mark!
If you’re a fan of well balanced medium bodied cigars, The Habano blend is for you!
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Habano -
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La Estrella Cubana Connecticut
$61.02 – $71.82Take the band off this Connecticut 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 mild to slightly medium bodied in taste with an even burn.Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Coming Soon!
Binder – Coming Soon!
Wrapper Type – Connecticut -
Factory Smokes Maduro
$38.69 – $52.84Factory Smokes Maduro is one of four of Drew Estate’s entries into the ever growing handmade Budget-Value category for all of us to enjoy for under $2 a stick!
With attention to detail, all Factory Smokes are made by hand. The big difference is the tobacco inside is made up of mixed fillers available at the factory. To put it another way, these leaves are the same crop used in their premiums! And on top of this, Factory smokes were created by Master Blenders Willie Herrera and Jonathon Drew himself!
This darkly wrapped beauties are medium bodied in taste with hints of dark chocolate and espresso. They have a great draw like the others and burn well.
Check out the other three blends of Factory Smokes available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Indonesia
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blenders: Willy Herrera, Jonathan Drew -
Oliva Serie V Melanio
$91.00 – $161.78Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Ecuador Sumatra -
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown
$320.00 – $688.20The VSG is the Bentley of the Ashton Brand. This sometimes hard to locate 94 rated cigar takes you to a whole different level of taste. This is without question an amazing full flavored cigar that rivals many Cubans with a big difference….
It’s super smooth while being very complex. If you consider yourself a connoisseur and haven’t tried one, you’re not a connoisseur!
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra “Cloud Grown”
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican RepublicTop 10 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2013
Top 10 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2009
Top 10 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2007
Top 10 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2004
Top 25 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2020
Top 25 Cigars of the Year – Cigar Aficionado, 2010
94 Rated – Cigar Aficionado, March 2023 -
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Casa Turrent 1973 Maduro
$100.00 – $150.00Origin – Mexico
Filler – Nicaraguan and Mexico
Binder – Nicaraguan and Mexico
Wrapper Type – Mexican
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Cusano CC
$51.12 – $63.99When 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 Cuban styled full flavor smokes available for the price. It’s well made with a great draw yielding a robustly satisfying smoking experience across the board.
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican
Binder – Dominican
Wrapper Type – Sumatra
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Quorum Maduro
$42.84 – $64.44You know you’ve seen Quorums everywhere. What you may not know is that the Quorum Brand is the world’s best selling cigar! Brought to us by JC Newman, makers of Julius Caesar and Diamond Crown, the fact that all three styles have received a 92 rating while maintaining a value price point is more than enough to get your worthwhile attention.
The Maduro style’s oily dark Sumatran Sungrown wrapper combined with a Connecticut Broadleaf binder yield a medium to slightly full flavored treat.
WRAPPER: Sumatra Sungrown
BINDER: Connecticut Broadleaf
FILLER: Nicaraguan
FACTORY: J.C. NewmanRATINGS:
Smoke Magazine: 92 -
Davidoff Winston Churchill
$34.60 – $450.00The Winston Churchill line of cigars was introduced as a tribute to Sir Winston Churchill, the famous British Prime Minister. Quite frankly, here, you have a cigar in which Davidoff Master blenders have embraced and accomplished an exciting challenge by blending a cigar of complex character with a rich mixture of fine qualities by drawing on and harmonizing the tobaccos of Nicaragua, Mexico, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.
What can definitely be said is that Winston Churchill will probably be the smoothest, creamiest and tastiest cigars you will ever smoke.
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador Rojiza
Binder: Negro San Andrés (Mexico)
Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli Seco, Condegas Seco) Dominican (Piloto Mejorado Seco, Hybrid Olor/Piloto Seco, Piloto Seco) -
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Oliva Gilberto Reserva
$113.25 – $137.52This 90 rated edition was appropriately named paying homage to Oliva’s founder. The interesting blend of tobaccos from four countries produces a mellow to medium bodied kind of crispy taste that’s unique for Oliva.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Habano
Wrapper Type – Indonesian Sumatra
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Oliva Flor De Oliva Original
$71.44 – $79.38This great brand traces its roots back to 1886 when Melanio Oliva began growing tobacco in Cuba. After the revolution, his grandson Gilberto went to Spain and then settled in Nicaragua. In 1995 Gilberto and his son Gilberto Jr. launched the company.
If you’re a fan of Oliva cigars, you’ll agree that this company delivers what you pay for. While their super premiums are priced fairly considering the great sticks they are…….they ain’t cheap! When the Flor De Oliva bundles of value-priced premiums were launched, the company made it very clear that everyone can now enjoy their brand every day for around $3 each! Even those folks that smoked long cigars with big ring sizes.
The Original edition is a medium-bodied stick that burns slowly and increases in intensity as you move along. I’ve often smoked the Churchills halfway down and thrown the rest away without any guilt!
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Dominican-Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf-Sumatra
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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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Davidoff Royal Release
$475.00 – $1,050.00Davidoff Royal Release is a very, very, very special edition from this iconic company.
According to Davidoff, there are only eight rollers who work on the Royal Release cigars, each of which has at least 15 years experience. The tobaccos come from a 2004-05 harvest that had a year of near perfect growing conditions and ideal rainfall.
When the highly critical folks at Half Wheel gave it a 91 rating, they described this Super Premium Luxury smoke best. “The cigar is a flavor-bomb, with a profile full of rich, decadent and complex notes. The construction was fantastic overall. Of course, the price tag will keep most people away. But if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed in the experience.” With attention to detail, this exclusive cigar is made for affluent connoisseurs. If you fit the bill, this very unique cigar is for you!
Wrapper: Aromatica Dominicana [Seed grown in the Dominican Republic]
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: 8 Year Aged Dominican ~ 5 Varieties: San Vincente Ligero, San Vincente Mejorado Visus, Piloto Ligero, Hybrid Olor/Piloto Ligero, Criollo Ligero.
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (TABADOM) -
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La Aurora Cameroon 1903
$103.50 – $112.50Origin – Dominican Republic Filler – Dominican and Nicaraguan Binder – Ecuadorian Sumatra Wrapper Type – Cameroon Africa
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Montesino Natural
$82.00 – $130.00It’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
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Factory Smokes Sweets
$33.45 – $45.59Factory Smokes Sweets are one of four of Drew Estate’s entries into the ever growing handmade Budget-Value category for all of us to enjoy for under $2 a stick!
With attention to detail, all Factory Smokes are made by hand. The big difference is the tobacco inside is made up of mixed fillers available at the factory. To put it another way, these leaves are the same crop used in their premiums! And on top of this, Factory smokes were created by Master Blenders Willie Herrera and Jonathon Drew himself!
This well made sweet capped cigar is medium bodied with definite hints of vanilla and coffee along with bits of gentle spices. For those who want a good tasting cigar without the associated price tag, Factory Smokes are surely the way to go!
Check out the other three Factory Smokes blends available at the Cigar Thief Here
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Indonesian Sumatra
Filler: Indonesia Sumatra
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blenders: Willy Herrera, Jonathan Drew -
La Aroma de Cuba Original
$173.75 – $212.50To 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.
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Ashton Heritage Puro Sol
$225.21 – $265.16There’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: DominicanACCOLADES
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
$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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Oliva Serie O Maduro
$109.20 – $190.10Oliva 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 -
La Estrella Cubana Habano
$61.02 – $71.82Take 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 -
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos
$231.60 – $370.00It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 20 years since this jewel came to market. The Don Carlos has won more awards and 90+ ratings than I could count. It’s probably one of this company’s finest blending achievements that has remained amazingly consistent over the decades. For me it yields a true Cuban style rich taste without any harshness. They’re hard to find in any style so get ’em while we have em’!
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera A Fuente y Cia
Blender: Carlito Fuente