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Featured Selections
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Nicaragua
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7" x 52
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Rolled by Kiki Berger in Esteli, Nicaragua, Black Diamond is a delicious medium to full-bodied long-filler premium, offering a gorgeous dark brown
Nicaraguan Oscuro wrapper and all Nicaraguan long-filler leaves, and slow, even-burning character.
For those who don’t know Kiki, he is the mastermind who blended Cupido and 5 Vegas cigars.
A legend in Esteli after less than five years there, Kiki is one of those unique personalities that always seem to know and be liked by everyone.
Born in Cuba, he moved to the U.S. as a child and got involved in politics in Miami.
It was, in fact, the president of Nicaragua that convinced Kiki to open his factory there!
For those who like a maduro or Colorado maduro wrapper, you’ll love this cigar.
A spicy, yet sweet taste is ever-present in this medium to full-bodied beauty.
The panel was very impressed by the silkiness of the wrapper and even burn of this cigar and agreed that it is worthy of the purchase of a box or two.
Strenth: 7
Panel Rating: 90
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5 Pack:
$21.00
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Box of 25:
$78.50
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Dominican Republic
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5" x 50
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Considered the pinnacle of Cuban cigars, Cohiba is now also rolled in the Domincan Republic.
The Cuban version was initially developed as a medium-bodied protocol cigar for presentation only by officials of the Cuban government. In 1982, however, Cohiba began widely marketing the brand.
The initial sizes were the Lancero, the Corona Especiale and the Panetela, with the Esplendido, Robusto and Exquisito added in 1989. The Cohiba series was initially made in the El Laguito factory in Havana, but is now also produced at the Fernando Perez German factory. Quite a few myths surround the Cohiba brand including one that relates directly to its name that was said to be the aboriginal Taino Indian word for "tobacco," but is now understood to have meant "cigar."
While the Cuban and Dominican versions are certainly different (besides the fact that one is legal and one is not), any lover of the leaf will enjoy both.
A medium bodied cigar with a nice dark wrapper, everyone was eager to light up and puff away.
Spicy, but not terribly, and sweet, but not too sweet, made this a well-balanced smoke that provided all the happiness a quality smoke should.
Strenth: 5
Panel Rating: 91
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5 Pack:
$27.00
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Box of 25:
$110.50
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Now run by Gilberto Oliva, Tabacalera Oliva is a family business that has passed through five generations.
Gilberto was born in Cuba (across the street from the Hoya de Monterrey plantation no less), so you can bet he knows a thing or two about tobacco.
Once Castro came into power, the family moved to Nicaragua, where they were once again forced to move in 1979 because of the revolution.
Six years ago he moved back to Nicaragua and is producing some of the best lines around.
The Joya del Jefe Centennial Reserve is one line from Gilberto that we fell in love with.
Yummy, yummy, yummy.
At first we all wanted to eat this cigar since it looks like a cigar shaped chocolate, but when we all realized it was actually made from tobacco and not chocolate, the drool started running down our chins.
A box-pressed gem with a beautiful Cameroon wrapper and all Nicaraguan long filler, the wrapper is a joy to touch and the flavors from each puff scream espresso bean and cocoa.
Smoke this one with a porter or stout.
Strenth: 7
Panel Rating: 92
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5 Pack:
$20.00
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Box of 25:
$72.50
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Dominican Republic
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6.6" x 42
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Originating in Cuba in 1935 as a new brand from Menendez, Garcia y Cia., then the owners of the H. Upmann brand, the name is reported to have been inspired by Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel Le Comte de Monte Cristo. The cigars are all hand made and are medium in strength. The Dominican version of Cuba’s most widely smoked brand uses Dominican grown Cubano Piloto and Olor for the filler. The binder is Dominican grown Cubano Piloto. The natural wrapper is U.S. grown Connecticut Shade. The result is a medium to full-bodied cigar with a sweet aroma. Consolidated’s Tabacalera de Garcia factory in La Romana, Dominican Republic manufactured the Montecristo.
Just looking at the cigar you can see that it was rolled by expert hands.
No soft spots, no hard spots, no glue on the wrapper, just a perfect looking cigar.
An easy draw brings in earthy smoke with a slight creaminess to it.
Some members of panel have burns on their fingers from smokin’ this one a little too close to the nub.
Strenth: 3
Panel Rating: 90
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5 Pack:
$31.00
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Box of 15:
$78.50
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Dominican Republic
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7" x 50
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This brand originated in Cuba and today's Dominican manufactured cigar was introduced in 1992 with the Cabinet Selection. The Yellow Series (which is what you have received) and Cabinet Selection utilize a Connecticut Shade wrapper with Dominican binders and fillers, while the Blue Series offers a Habana 2000 wrapper grown in Nicaragua with a Dominican binder and Brazilian, Dominican and Connecticut Broadleaf fillers.
Without a doubt, this cigar has the softest wrapper we have ever felt.
Absolutely beautiful to hold and even better to smoke, we can see why so many people swear by this one.
A medium-bodied cigar with a nutty character and dry finish, this will go well with a Cabernet or Merlot. As smooth a cigar as you will find, make sure you have plenty of time to smoke this since we guarantee we aren’t going to want to put this out.
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5 Pack:
$24.00
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Box of 25:
$95.50
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Tobacco Bits
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ALMOST READY TO ROLL
- Leaves to be used for binder and filler are taken through the de-stemming process, and the left and right sides of the plant are separated and sorted by size, color, and quality of leaf.
Leaf used for long-filler cigars (all those in the premium and ultra-premium category) is usually de-stemmed before fermentation, but only a small part of the stem is removed, so the leaf does not fall apart during fermentation.
These leaves are again sorted, graded, and finally categorized as leaves suitable for filler, wrapper, or binder.
STILL BREWING
- While the bales of tobacco are being aged, a mellower, less volatile fermentation takes place.
To control this process, bales are regularly inspected, unpacked, and remoistened.
This is called casing.
This process ensures that the leaves do not completely dry out, making them unsuitable for rolling.
When the aging process has been determined to be of sufficient length, the bales are re-moisturized once again, and allowed to drip dry.
DRYING BUT NOT DRIED
- During the curing process it is important that the tobacco leaves do not become dry and brittle, or they will be ruined.
If the sun beating down on the curing barn is too hot, the farmer will water the ground in the barn to increase the humidity.
If the weather is too rainy and humid, the farmer will light fires under the leaves so they don't become so wet that they begin to decompose.
Careful attention to the leaves during this period produces a leaf that is light brown, slightly oily, and pliable enough to handle with care.
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