This gently box-pressed Candela wrapped edition is an “out of the box” stick that deserves your attention. I can only think of two other grass colored cigars that I’ve enjoyed. This one is my favorite. Topped with a dark brown head cap, the undisclosed fillers and binder clearly produce a powerful combination of sweetness and spice resulting in a medium to full-bodied stick that gains strength and intensity as you move along. Buckle up!!
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Candela
Warped La Hacienda and La Hacienda First Growth are two very popular blends from this amazing cigar maker.
First off, La Hacienda is a Nicaraguan puro featuring a Corojo wrapper. This blend comes in two sizes – Superiores (a 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda) and a Gran Robusto (5 1/2 x 52). Making this cigar such a hit is its appeal to such a wide range of smokers. Starting off on a mild note then soon evolving into a smooth, balanced and slightly sweet medium bodied smoking experience. Cigar Coop is quite impressed with the La Hacienda line rating it a respectable 90.
Moving on to the First Growth blend, everything amps up. Here, the aged vintage blend of Nicaraguan leaves adds more flavor, body and strength across the board. For the record, with a Cigar Dojo score of 90 , Cigar Coop at 91 and the Cigar Authority with a 92……You know its a winner as well.
Either one you choose is a top pick for sure!
La Hacienda Superiores & Gran Robusto
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (TABSA)
Blender: Kyle Gellis
La Hacienda First Growth:
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99
Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98
Factory: TABSA
Blender: Kyle Gellis
Want to see more amazing Warped Cigars available on the Cigar Thief? Click HERE
This is a strong, robust, full bodied, Cuban style cigar. Buckle Up!
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua Corojo ’99 and Criollo ’98
EP Carrillo’s Inch series was specifically designed for smokers that prefer larger ring sizes. As each edition’s blend was formulated, the level of strength and overall character changed. The Ecuadorian Colorado wrapper encasing this stick results in an earthy tasting full bodied, fairly strong smoke not found in it’s Natural and Maduro counterparts.
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Ecuador Habano
RoMa Craft Neanderthal is unquestionably one of this company’s great creations.
Neanderthal consists of 6 different filler tobaccos including an exceptionally strong variant of Double Ligero from Pennsylvania known as Green River Valley. With a mix like this, there is absolutely no question this is a very robust smoke. But don’t take our word for it. The verdict is unanimous.
Cigar Authority quickly scores it a 93. They think….”The cigar was like dining on a steak.” Noted reviewer KATMAN ups the score to 94. He loves it and thoroughly enjoys the full body yet smooth strength. Developing Palates heartily believes Neanderthal is a big win for the company. Simply Stogies rates it a 93, they describe it perfectly. “Puff by puff, this cigar is evolving into a wonderful smoke.” Cigar Dojo thinks it’s a 91 declaring this cigar makes for a unique smoking experience with great flavor transitions. Leaf Enthusiast tells us if you love a strong cigar that tastes great, too, you surely can’t go wrong with this one. Their rating of 95 backs it up for sure!
Enough said!
Wrapper: San Andres (Mexico)
Binder: Broadleaf (Connecticut)
Filler: Condega, Jalapa, Pueblo Nuevo, Estelí (Nicaragua); Olor (Dominican Republic) and Green River Valley Sucker One Double Ligero (Pennsylvania)
See all the Roma Craft cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
No one disputes that Rocky Patel is one of the few Titans of the Premium Cigar Industry. Over 20 years ago as he began his quest to get a foothold in the marketplace he actually got in his car and traveled the country visiting high volume Tobacconists unannounced! When he wound up in my store to sell his first entry, I hesitantly took a chance on him. Actually, he was such a nice and appreciative person I couldn’t resist! The rest is cigar history!
This cigar is a masterpiece. Not only did it rank #2 of the top 25 cigars in 2016, it garnered a 95 rating beating out many of its Cuban competitors! Make no mistake, this dark cigar is a very complex extra full bodied smoke. While the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper gives this box pressed stick a bit of sweetness along the way, the bold, robust taste is smooth to the finish.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Connecticut Broadleaf
La Opulencia received a 95-rating and was named the #2 Cigar of 2018. Make no mistake, this box pressed beauty is a full bodied smoke. However, it’s unusually creamy and smooth along the way without harshness.
Origin – Nicaragua
Fillers – Nicaraguan [Cuban seed tobaccos grown by the Garcia family]
Binders – Nicaraguan [one Corojo and one Criollo]
Wrapper Type – San Andres Oscuro
This Nicaraguan puro JJ edition is a collaboration of Garcia and his son. In order to make them exactly the way they wanted, production is tightly supervised at their Miami facility. The vintage Corojo and Criollo tobaccos yield a full body flavored cigar with a distinct mix of sweet and spicy tastes.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua (Corojo & Criollo)
Everyone knows that if you occasionally enjoy a full bodied Cuban style smoke, Macanudo isn’t your first choice. That was then and Red is now! Macanudo Inspirado Red is another of the company’s hugely successful boutique entries.
For the record, Macanudo claims this Inspirado is the boldest of the line. With attention to detail, this box pressed Red blend uses an Ecuadoran Habano ligero wrapper blended with Nicaraguan fillers including twelve-year aged Nicaraguan Ometepe, ten-year aged Honduran Jamastran and five-year-aged Nicaraguan Esteli, and a Jalapa binder. To say this is a very complex blend is an understatement!
Cigar Coop rates the Red a respectable 90. The description is spot on on all fronts. “This was an excellent offering. While it’s not a cigar that will knock you down with strength, it is a cigar that delivers on a fuller-bodied experience. I found the flavor profile to be quite enjoyable and things worked nicely in the box-press format. While it is fuller, it’s a great cigar for a novice to graduate to something fuller – and will appeal to the more seasoned cigar enthusiast.”
Needless to say, this four country blend will gently push you back in your seat! If your a fan of robust and flavorful cigars, look no further. This box pressed beauty will satisfy every full bodied smoker’s palate.
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Honduras/Olancho San Agustin
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Dominican, Honduran, Nicaraguan
Factory: HATSA
Blender: Jhonys Diaz
Looking for more Macanudo products available on The Cigar Thief? Click HERE
Macanudo Cafe
Origin – Dominican Republic
Filler – Dominican-Mexican
Binder – Dominican-Mexican
Wrapper Type – Connecticut
You know the name. When this Nicaraguan Cohiba came to market it received a 91 rating for starters. When Cuban Cohiba smokers tried it they did a double take! When I was given a small corona to try, I couldn’t believe the robust yet smooth full bodied taste of this little guy! If you’re a mild to medium guy, move away from this one unless you’re game for an eye opening experience and introduction to a whole new level of taste. Buckle Up!
Wrapper: Honduran Sun Grown Colorado Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaraguan (Esteli & Jalapa)
CAO Classic: Pilon continues to be one of this company’s best sellers for almost a decade.
Pilon gets its name from the fermentation technique that goes back to 1800s Cuba. Skilled workers called piloneros used a slow, 18-month fermentation technique using smaller round pilons instead of today’s huge square ones. The result is an enjoyable smoke producing a complex medium to full bodied flavor with a great blend of sweetness and spice. In fact, when Blind Man’s Puff recently revisited this cigar, their rating went from 91 to 93!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: STG Estelí
Blender: Rick Rodriguez
See all the CAO Cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Ok. So you found yourself looking at Julius Caesar cigars. You’ve heard about them being very, very good and being somewhat expensive. You heard right! Truth is they’re better than very, very good and kind of pricey. Granted, they’re priced better at our site than in your local store. J C Newman is a well renowned name not only in making terrific cigars like Diamond Crown, Brick House and Quorum, the company is the exclusive arm of distributing Arturo Fuente throughout the United States.
The key word about Julius Caesar is SMOOTH. It’s rich taste is a pleasure to your palate. Many, many folks that smoke only mild cigars have tried them and become converts! No matter what your preference, if you’ve never tried one, pick your favorite size and you’ll be back for more. If I could give Julius Caesar another start I would! Enjoy!
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Havana Seed
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Central American Tobaccos, Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
RATINGS:
Cigar Aficionado: Top 25 Cigars of 2011 and 2014
Cigar & Spirits: Cigar of the Year 2017
Cigar Insider: 93
Cigar Journal: 94
Cigar Snob: 92
Smoke Magazine: 93
The first thing you have to know about the Brick House brand is that its brought to us from JC Newman, The purveyors of the Julius Caesar and Diamond Crown Super Premiums. When the medium bodied Brick House Classic Original came onto the scene in 2010 it was listed as one of the top 25 cigars of the year. Six years later when it was reviewed again it received a 93 rating. It’s safe to say that 10 years later, every savvy tobacconist’s humidor has Brick House available.
This spectacular Brick House Maduro appeared in 2017 to rave reviews and a 91 rating. This full flavored, rich tasting aromatic stick is so smooth you’ll never want it to end.
WRAPPER: Brazilian Arapiraca BINDER: Nicaraguan FILLER: Nicaraguan FACTORY: J.C. Newman
RATINGS:
Cigar Aficionado: 91
Cigar & Spirits: 93
Cigar Journal: 90
Smoke Magazine: 90
Check out the Brick House Classic!
Just in case you didn’t know, Undercrown is made in the image of the coveted limited production Liga Privada line from Drew Estate. The company describes it as follows. “Incorporating many of the same rare tobaccos of different vintages and primings, this cigar is no mere replacement.”
Those smokers that felt the Undercrown maduro was a bit too strong will absolutely love this Shade edition. The most compelling evidence is the great reviews. Halfwheel @ 90. Blind Man’s Puff @ 93 and Stogie Press @ an astounding 95! And this is just a few! One taster says it best.“Want a smoke that’ll blow your pants off with delicious medium bodied notes of vanilla wafers and pancakes, pick this one up now!” What more would you like to know? This Undercrown is another winner for sure.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Binder: Sumatra
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blender: Willy Herrera
The Maduro and Sun Grown versions offer more medium to full bodied flavor and are equally wonderful!
La Vieja Habana Corojo is another one of Drew Estate’s masterpieces that are totally affordable for everyone to enjoy!
Believe it or not, La Vieja Habana was Drew Estate’s first brand! Handmade from the quality leaf left over from the manufacture of Drew Estate’s premium cigar brands, the La Vieja Habana is an exceptional smoking value. This tripa mezclado cigar consistently delivers a great flavor with an excellent draw and burn.
This cigar combines a beautiful Cuban Corojo wrapper with filler tobaccos from Estelí and the Jalapa Valley in Nicaragua. Like the other styles, it is a mixed filler cigar with a premium wrapper. Medium bodied with lots of flavors, it has an earthy taste with hints of spice and a pleasant aroma.
But Beware! Due to the popularity of these these cigars, they are in and out of stock frequently. So if you’re looking for an affordable, hand made smoke that can be enjoyed everyday, pick one we have and enjoy!
Check out the other styles of La Vieja Habana available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – Cuban Corojo Seed
Factory Smokes Sungrown 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!
A point often overlooked is that bundled cigars are rarely review and rated. But it’s no surprise that many critics were duly impressed. With this in mind, here’s what some had to say about Factory Smokes Sungrown:
Smooth burn/Clean finish/Notes of cedar and spice/Good draw/No sour or bitter tastes/Great taste/
Notes of cream, natural tobacco, and sweet woodsy nuances
You be the judge. But without a doubt, these cigars are worth more than their price for sure!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Habano Sungrown
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Indonesia
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blenders: Willy Herrera, Jonathan Drew
Factory Smokes Shade 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! Jonathan Drew’s creation of Drew Estate started a revolution of amazing cigars. From Acid to Liga Privada , Undercrown and beyond. No matter which Premium or Super Premium brand he produced we knew one thing, we got what we paid for.
This Shade entry offers those of us that enjoy smooth tasting mild to medium bodied cigars an everyday choice. Blind Man’s Puff gave this cigar a 90 rating! And on top of this, Factory smokes were created by Master Blenders Willie Herrera and Jonathon Drew himself! What more do you need to know?
Check out the other three blends on Factory Smoke available on The Cigar Thief HERE
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Indonesia
Factory: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate
Blenders: Willy Herrera, Jonathan Drew
What we don’t know about this interesting edition is the blend with the exception of the wrapper. What we do know is that it’s terrific! This brand launched in 2016 on a very limited edition basis in only its corona size. As with most of Caldwell’s entries, it was well received, pricey and quickly sold out. It’s now generally available in a variety of popular sizes. This cigar stays firmly in the medium bodied range and has a slightly sweet and pepper like complexity that isn’t overpowering. This cigar is incredibly rich, complex, well-balanced, smooth and enjoyable any time of day.
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Caldwell Cigar Factory
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since this 90+ rated highly acclaimed edition came to market. Since then, Mi Amor has remained a consistent favorite for all the right reasons. This medium to full bodied stick is absolutely stuffed with tobacco yielding a great draw and slow burn. The selected blend of Nicaraguan inners combined with the dark, vintage San Andreas Mexican wrapper yields a totally enjoyable cigar for a more than fair price. The balance of sweetness and slight spice combined with hints of chocolate and espresso are wonderful. Try a five pack and you’ll see what we mean.
Origin – Nicaragua
Filler – Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Wrapper Type – San Andres
This 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 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.
Origin – Honduras
Filler – Honduran-Nicaraguan
Binder – Habano
Wrapper Type – Habano
Just 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 Shade
See all the Romeo y Julieta cigars available at The Cigar Thief HERE
More 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
Montecristo 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 Maestro
See all the Montecristo cigars available on The Cigar Thief HERE
