Cigar Blog

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Cigars by Drew Estate have come a long way from their La Vieja Habana beginnings. Acid cigars aside, their Chateau Real and Liga Privada cigars have played a key role in the company's transition to the traditional cigar market, not to mention their partnership with Joya de Nicaragua.

Enter the Puros Huerfanos cigars line. Offered in two editions, the 143 Lancero and 52X line, today I want to spotlight the 52X Toro. Huerfano is Spanish for "orphan." The connection here is, the 52X line is comprised of odd size cigars made for their traditional lines. Actually, they're not all that odd, and in terms of quality and price, one of the best buys you'll ever stumble upon. Moreover, they're not seconds; they just never made it into the regular editions.

Cigars basically do one of two things: They either provide pleasure or they don't. The reasons for either may or may not have anything to do with the manufacturer or where you purchased the cigars, be it at your local B&M or a merchant that sells cigars online. Experienced cigar smokers are well aware that, in addition to the popular major or national brand labels, both B&Ms and online catalogers sell "house brands" and "exclusives."

Let's start with the latter. Although "house brands" would also be exclusive to a particular store, exclusives are more often national brand labels sold exclusively to a given merchant. A good example of this would be CAO CX2 cigars, undoubtedly a nationally known brand that is sold exclusively through Famous Smoke Shop. Another is the Carlos Torano Tribute 2008 Toro sold in a box of 10. The remaining 2008 Tribute sizes are available nationally and sold in boxes of 20. Since I'm not involved with that aspect of the company, how these deals are made is beyond my ken (and I wouldn't tell you anyway). However, if you look at the leading online cigar stores and a number of local merchants, they all carry "exclusive" lines.

Size: 5½" x 54 (Cuban box-press)
Strength: Medium - Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Cuban-seed Maduro
Filler: Nicaraguan Cuban-seed, aged 5-years
Binder: Nicaraguan
Presentation: Box of 20 cigars

When the Perdomo² (Perdomo Squared) cigars were introduced during the 90's cigar boom, I didn't pay them much heed, mainly because they were a bit on the pricey side for me. However, the current edition that was reintroduced in 2008, particularly the Epicure Maduro (yellow band), is now among my Top 5 favorite cigars of all time - maybe even my Top 3 -  and comparatively speaking, the price is a lot more realistic. I just can't get enough of them.

Due to its all-Nicaraguan-grown makeup, the Maduro is also a puro. The fillers have been aged five years, and the wrappers have a shimmering patina, yet aren't overly oily - a sign of good curing. Though listed as "full-bodied," I would classify then as more medium to full.

At 5½" x 54, the Epicure offers nice proportions, too; not too long or too wide, and the box pressing is as neat as it gets. The smoke is ultra creamy, perfectly-balanced, naturally sweet, and in along with notes of caramel and toffee, there are also light spice flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon along the way. The cigars burn evenly, too, exposing long firm ashes, and I've rarely put down an Epicure before the final inch. If you like full-flavored, complex cigars, get your hands on a box, a 5-pack, or at the very least, a single.

See pricing and offers for all Perdomo² Ltd. Edition cigars.

CAO Italia Cuban Press (4 7/8 x 50)

This past weekend, the weather cooperated, making it mild enough to smoke a couple of good cigars out on the deck. Rummaging through my humidors, I came across a CAO Italia Cuban Press (4 7/8 x 50). Whenever I'm asked, which of the CAO cigars I like best, I try to avoid committing to one specific edition, because I like so many of them. What I like about the CAO Italia selection is, it's a great example of the kind of character and complexity you can expect from CAO cigars in general. The blend isn't too mild or too strong, well-balanced, creamy, extremely flavorful, and highly aromatic. IOW, the Italia kind of has the best of everything going for it.

The CAO Italia Cuban Press cigars, which are available as singles, or in the Cuban Press sampler, are every bit as flavorful as the parejo shapes, but the pressing is crisp as a freshly starched shirt, stunning to look at, and they do seem to burn longer. Plus, box pressed cigars seem to offer a  fresh taste with every puff, which keeps them from tasting bitter in the final stages.

Cigar of the Week: Vueltabajo Toro

Size: 6" x 50
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Filler: Nicaraguan Estelí & Jalapa
Binder: Nicaraguan

Last month I posted an article about The Journey DVD, a visual history of the Toraño family and a look at how they produce their cigars. The Toraños lived in the town of San Luis in the Vueltabajo region of Pinar Del Rio Cuba until the 1959 Revolution forced them to leave the country. Following the family's exodus, they purchased farmland in The Dominican Republic where Carlos Toraño introduced the first Cuban Piloto Cubano seeds. As the company grew, they eventually built cigar factories in Honduras and Nicaragua. 

It's not hard to imagine that the Vueltabajo region has a lot of personal significance to the Toraños. So, to achieve a "fundamentally" Cuban-like smoke, Vueltabajo cigars are blended with Nicaraguan longfillers from Estelí and Jalapa rolled in Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut wrappers.

The Toro has become one of my favorite morning cigars for its creamy taste, ability to pair-up nicely with coffee, and redolent aroma. The smoke is medium in body offering a rich, earthy-woody character with notes of sweet spice and leather in the mix. They're also pretty affordable, so, considering the quality (and love) that goes into these cigars, they're a good value.

See pricing and offers for all Vueltabajo cigars.

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