📢 Davidoff Aniversario No 1 Limited Edition Collection 2023 Double Corona 8⅝ x 48

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade

🍂 Binder: 🇪🇨 Ecuador

🍂 Filler: 🇩🇴 Dominican (Piloto visus, San Vicente visus, San Vicente Mejorado visus)

💪 Strength: Medium body

💰 Price: €56.24

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Hendrik „Henke“ Kelner, president of Tabacalera A. Fuente

🏭 Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., Santiago de los Caballeros, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

🥇 Rated 93 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2023 and 94 points by Cigar Journal in the same year.

🕵️ A bit of history: Davidoff was founded in 1911 by Zino Davidoff in Geneva, Switzerland, as a small tobacco and accessory shop. Zino Davidoff (1906–1994), a Russian-Jewish immigrant, turned the brand into a symbol of luxury and quality. In the 1940s, he began importing Cuban cigars and creating his first own blends. In 1983, Davidoff moved production from Cuba to the Dominican Republic (following disputes with the Cuban government), where Zino Davidoff worked with Hendrik Kelner to develop new lines. Today, the brand is owned by Oettinger Davidoff AG (since 1996), with a focus on premium cigars, accessories, and luxury products. Davidoff is renowned for exceptional quality, classic blends, and annual limited editions (Aniversario, Special, Limited Edition). Production has been at Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. in the Dominican Republic since the 1980s.

History of the creation of the Davidoff Aniversario No 1 Limited Edition Collection 2023 blend:

Davidoff Aniversario is a classic line created in 1986 by Hendrik Kelner as a tribute to Zino Davidoff’s 80th birthday. Aniversario No 1 is the largest and most classic vitola in the series – Double Corona 8⅝x48. Originally, the cigar contained Cuban tobaccos, but after production was moved to the Dominican Republic due to issues with Fidel Castro’s government measures, the blend changed. In 2023, Davidoff released the Limited Edition Collection 2023 version of Aniversario No 1 as part of the annual limited releases. This version features specially selected and aged tobaccos from the brand’s reserves, with slightly improved fermentation and leaf selection for even greater smoothness and complexity. The goal was to preserve the classic Aniversario profile – exceptionally creamy, woody, and elegant – but with a deeper and more mature character thanks to additional aging. Production was highly limited – only 6,500 boxes of 10 cigars worldwide (65,000 cigars total; according to official sources and reviews from Halfwheel, Cigar Coop, and others). Each box contains 10 cigars, with every tenth cigar housed in a specially crafted single cedar tube.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a very fine and elegant wrapper leaf, flawless, with a few slightly raised veins. Its color is classic Colorado with subtle rosado effects in places. The cigar is finished with a triple cap.

🧱 Construction: Dense but springy.

⚔️ I cut it with a punch.

🧖 Aroma: Fresh hay, herbs, cedar, a little pepper, and from the fillers – buttery biscuit, a touch of vanilla, and milky nut.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Distinct cedar, a bit of cinnamon, raw walnut, fresh herbs, and light raisin notes.

🔥 I lit it with a soft flame and a cedar spill.

📌⅓ First third: Started with lots of creamy notes, a little cedar, fine sweetness, and pleasant earthy notes. On the retrohale – light coconut aftertaste and a touch of vanilla.

📌⅔ Second third: Continued with the same flavor profile.

📌🏁 Final third: Ended with more cedar, creamy vanilla, a little white pepper, and light leather notes.

🔥 Burned exceptionally evenly for about 2 hours and 10 minutes ⏱️, with aromatic smoke and a firm gray-white ash that held for about 5 centimeters 📏.

📢 Lampert 1675 Edición Azul Robusto 5х50

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Habano 2000

🍂 Binder: 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan

🍂 Filler: 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan (from Jalapa & Condega) & 🇵🇪 Peruvian Pelo De Oro 5YO

💪 Strength: Medium Body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Stefan Lampert

🏭 Factory: Fábrica AGROTABACOS 🇳🇮 Nicaragua in collaboration with Indiana Ortez

🕵️ A bit of history: The story of Lampert Cigars begins with the vision of its founder, Dr. Stefan Lampert, an Austrian lawyer who found inspiration during a vacation in Thailand in 2016. While enjoying the local markets famous for custom-tailored suits, he realized that the same concept of personalization could be applied to the world of cigars. This inspired him to create a brand that would allow customers to craft their own premium handmade cigars. Thus, in 2017, Lampert Cigars was born, and the first cigar line was named “MY CIGAR LAB” – later renamed “ORO LINE.” This line was designed to let customers customize their cigars according to their individual preferences, reflecting the idea of a “bespoke suit” in the world of tobacco.

As the product line was so well received by aficionados everywhere, Stefan was determined to develop the concept further. After tasting many different tobacco blends, one particular batch stood out – one with an incredible salty flavor. The salty notes of this cigar reminded Stefan of the sea, leading him to name it OCEAN BREEZE.

Following the success of the “ORO LINE,” Dr. Lampert continued to grow the brand, turning his attention to Nicaragua – a country known for its long history in tobacco production, high-quality output, and the skill of local growers. In 2019, he began a collaboration with Indiana Ortez, the youngest of the Ortez family and daughter of Omar Ortez, a prominent figure in the tobacco industry. Together they created the “LAMPERT 1675 Edición Azul” line, which quickly gained popularity in both Europe and the United States. The success of this line led to the development of two more lines in collaboration with the Ortez family: “LAMPERT 1675 Edición Rojo” and “LAMPERT 1675 Edición Morado.”

Lampert Cigars is known not only for its cigars but also for its innovative approach toward retailers. Over the years, the brand introduced the “Golden Retailer Program,” which allows selected retailers to purchase exclusive cigars as a reward for their loyalty and high sales. This program serves as an alternative to traditional discounts and is particularly well-suited for smaller brands like Lampert Cigars. In 2022, the program was expanded from 10 to 14 retailers, reflecting the growing interest in the brand.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a slightly rustic look with a Colorado color. It is finished with a double cap.

🧱 Construction: Very tight and dense.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Milk chocolate, raisins, hay, and a sweet cognac note from the fillers.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Raisins, resinous notes, moist oak, and herbs.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌⅓ First third: Started with notes of toasted bread, raw almond, earth, and a bit of sweetness. At some point, notes of cognac barrel appeared.

📌⅔ Second third: Continued with a little pepper on the tongue, leather, the taste of wood soaked in cognac remained, along with a light caramel sweetness.

📌🏁 Final third: Ended with a bit more spiciness, dusty earthy notes, and leather.

🔥 Burned relatively evenly for about 1 hour and 15 minutes ⏱️, with pleasant smoke and a firm ash that held for about 3 centimeters 📏.

📢 Cavalier Genève White Series Diplomate (Robusto Extra) 5½x56

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Habano

🍂 Binder: 🇭🇳 Honduran Connecticut Shade

🍂 Filler: 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic & 🇳🇮 Nicaragua & 🇵🇾 Paraguay

💪 Strength: Mild to Medium

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Sébastien Decoppet

🏭 Factory: Fábrica Centroamericana de Tabaco S.A. (San Judas Tadeo, Perez), 🇭🇳 Honduras

🕵️ A bit of history: The Cavalier Genève brand was founded in the 2010s by Sébastien Decoppet, a Swiss enthusiast and owner of a tobacco shop in Geneva (Tabak Rhein, acquired in 2017). Sébastien Decoppet began producing premium cigars in small batches, inspired by Swiss precision and luxury. Cavalier Genève positions itself as a boutique brand focused on elegance, complexity, and innovation (such as applications of 24K gold leaf). The brand quickly gained popularity in Europe and the US after the debut of the White Series blend in 2016 at IPCPR.

White Series is the original flagship blend of Cavalier Genève, debuting in 2016 at the IPCPR Trade Show. Sébastien Decoppet created the line as a “bridge” between Cuban and Dominican styles—mild and creamy, with a focus on complex nuances and an elegant experience. White Series became the brand’s best-selling product. The goal is to offer the company’s “ultra-refined” experience with visual appeal and aesthetics (white design, diamond-shaped gold leaf). Production is in batches but with premium attention to detail.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar is exceptionally smooth and shiny, without prominent veins. The wrapper leaf is Colorado in color. The head of the cigar is finished with a “pigtail.” The characteristic label on the cigar is a diamond (rhombus) made of thin 24-karat gold leaf.

🧱 Construction: Very tight and dense, without noticeable voids.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Cream, moist wood, aged tobacco, ripe pear, and bread crust.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Creamy cream, aromatic fresh herbs, and a bit of white pepper.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌⅓ First third: Started with lots of creamy notes, a little cedar, and an aftertaste of green tea.

📌⅔ Second third: Continued in the same way with a similar flavor profile, with raw walnut notes noticeable.

📌🏁 Final third: Ended with light caramel sweetness, rich cedar flavor, and a bit of spicy white pepper notes.

🔥 Burned exceptionally evenly for about 1 hour and 20 minutes ⏱️, with abundant and aromatic smoke and a firm gray-white ash that held for about 5 centimeters 📏.

💡 Recommendation: The cigar performs optimally when well-humidified.

📢 Explendor Premium Torpedo 4½x50

🍂 Wrapper (Capa): Undisclosed

🍂 Binder (Capote / Banda): Undisclosed

🍂 Filler (Tripa): Undisclosed

💪 Strength: Mild to Medium

🏭 Factory: Hongta or Zhongnanhai/Great Wall Corporation under the umbrella of 🇨🇳 China National Tobacco Corporation – CNTC.

🕵️ A bit of history: The history of true premium hand-rolled cigars in China (handmade, high-end, with a focus on quality and luxury) seriously begins in the last 15–20 years around 2007.

• 2007–2008 → The modern, high-tech factory of Great Wall Cigars in Shifang (Sichuan) was opened with an investment of over $100 million. Partnership with Altadis (now Imperial Brands) began for technology transfer and know-how in premium handmade production.

• 2008–2010 → Serious focus on the premium segment started. The first modern attempts at high-end lines appeared. In 2010, Huanghelou 1916 (Yellow Crane Tower) was released – the most famous Chinese premium brand from Hubei, with Cuban seeds, Cuban consultants, and processes adapted to Chinese taste (considered the beginning of the “era of luxurious Chinese cigars”).

• 2010s → The four main premium brands under the state monopoly (CNTC) developed:

◦ Great Wall (Sichuan) – the leading one, with lines like 132 Series, Dragon’s Wisdom, Spectacular, GL Reserve, limited zodiac editions (Year of the Snake, Rabbit, etc.).

◦ Huanghelou 1916 (Hubei) – the most prestigious, with the patented “Three-Pine Aging Process”.

◦ Wang Guan (Anhui) – clean, mild taste, often with South American leaves.

◦ Taishan (Shandong) – successor to the old tradition from Eastern China.

• Export began to 15–20+ countries (Germany, Switzerland, UAE, Singapore, Australia, etc.).

• 2020s → State strategy for independent premium cigars with Chinese raw materials (reducing imports). New fermentation technologies and drying developed. Great Wall produces ~1.5–2 million handmade premium cigars annually. Collaborations launched (e.g., Great Wall × San Luis) and limited editions (25th anniversary of Macau, zodiac, vintage 2020, etc.). In 2024–2025 – new launches in Hong Kong/Macau and Intertabac (6 new releases in 2025).

Today (2026) Chinese premium cigars are much better than 15 years ago – better construction, packaging, and marketing, but still perceived as a “patriotic/local luxury” product rather than a global competitor to Cuba/Dominican Republic/Nicaragua. Quality is growing rapidly, especially with Great Wall and Huanghelou 1916.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar is a short torpedo with a wrapper-wrapped “foot”. The wrapper leaf is extremely smooth and shiny. It is masterfully applied, without pronounced veins and with a milky-chocolate Colorado color.

🧱 Construction: Very dense and tight, finished with a triple cap.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Barn, mycelium, and moist cedar.

🌬️ Draw: Slightly restricted.

💨 Cold draw: Earthy notes, moist cedar, a little spicy pepper, and baking powder.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with a little white pepper, creamy notes, some cedar, and toasted bread crust. Later, herbal aroma appeared. On retrohale – cinnamon and a bit of caramel.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued in the same way, but with more caramel and a little sweetness.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with more caramel notes, leather, and a bit of pepper.

🔥 Burned unevenly for about 1 hour and 10 minutes ⏱️, with loose smoke and ash that was loose at the edges and firm in the core of the cigar, holding for about 2 centimeters 📏.

📢 PDR A. Flores 1975 Gran Reserva Premier Cru Corojo 2006 Robusto 5x52

🍂 Wrapper (Capa): 🇩🇴 Dominican Corojo 2006

🍂 Binder (Capote / Banda): 🇩🇴 Dominican Olor

🍂 Filler (Tripa): 🇩🇴 Dominican Corojo & 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan Habano

💪 Strength: Medium Body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Abe Flores

🏭 Factory: PDR Cigar factory, Tamboril, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic.

🕵️ A bit of history: PDR Cigars (Puros Dominican Republic) was founded in 2004 by Abe Flores (full name Abraham Flores) in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. Abe Flores, Dominican by origin, began his career as a roller and quickly rose to master blender. The brand was originally called Pinar del Río (inspired by the Cuban region), but was renamed PDR to emphasize its Dominican roots. PDR is a boutique producer known for high-quality hand-rolled cigars using the traditional Entubado technique for bunching the fillers. Abe Flores personally grows tobacco on his own farms and oversees every step of the process. The brand has earned numerous ratings over 90 points from Cigar Aficionado and is recognized for excellent construction and complex flavors. PDR also produces for other brands, but the A. Flores line is a personal project of Abe Flores, dedicated to family heritage and Dominican traditions.

The A. Flores 1975 Gran Reserva Corojo 2006 line was created in 2013 by Abe Flores as a tribute to himself and Dominican tradition (1975 is Abe Flores’ birth year) and was released to the market the same year as part of the line’s debut at the IPCPR Trade Show.

The blend uses rare aged Corojo tobacco from the 2006 harvest for the wrapper to offer a rich, creamy, and medium profile with emphasis on sweetness, spices, and nuts. Abe Flores combines Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos for complexity and balance. This is the first variant in the Gran Reserva series, which later expanded with other wrappers (Sun Grown, Desflorado, Maduro). The goal is to create a “symphony of flavors” – a rich yet smooth cigar suitable for connoisseurs. Production was initially limited (500 boxes per vitola), but it became a regular line.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar is smooth, with a reddish-brown wrapper in Colorado-Rosado color.

🧱 Construction: Very tight and dense.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Leather, cinnamon, and dried apricot.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Moist cedar, dried plum, aftertaste of licorice (sweet root) candy, and a bit of spicy cinnamon.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌⅓ First third: Started with intense nutty flavor, a little sweetness, moist leather, strong espresso, and a bit of earth. Over time, light spiciness appeared.

📌⅔ Second third: Continued with the same flavor profile.

📌🏁 Final third: Ended with a bit more strength and sharpness in taste. Leather, earthy notes, and more spiciness predominated.

🔥 Burned relatively evenly for about 1 hour and 30 minutes ⏱️, with abundant smoke and ash that held for about 2 centimeters 📏.

📢 La Galera The Cubes Gavillero Maduro Perfecto 6¾x38/48/38

🍂 Wrapper (Capa): 🇲🇽 Mexican San Andres

🍂 Binder (Capote / Banda): 🇩🇴 Dominican Piloto Cubano

🍂 Filler (Tripa): 🇩🇴 Dominican Piloto Cubano and Criollo 98

💪 Strength: Medium to Full

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Jose Arnaldo Blanco “Jochy”

🏭 Factory: Tabacalera Palma, La Palma, Cibao Valley, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

🥇 The Chaveta (Robusto) vitola was rated 87 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2018.

🕵️ A bit of history: In a sun-kissed Dominican tobacco field in 1936, while the world as a whole focused its eyes on the events unfolding in Berlin and Rome, José Arnaldo Blanco II officially started his family business by growing premium tobaccos and making cigars from them. He named the new factory Tabacalera Palma, which was one of the first cigar production facilities in the Dominican Republic.

The name “La Galera” means “Rolling Room”. According to Jochy, this is the room where the “miracles” happen.

The cigar was part of Jochy’s special series “The Cubes”, which combines special blends in his favorite vitolas in boxes containing 50 pieces each. Initially, only 333 boxes were produced, available only to retailers attending the IPCPR trade show in 2018. As of today, it is widely available in boxes of 15, with annual production limited to 1,000 numbered boxes. The cigar is made in a special “Gavillero” mold, from which the vitola gets its name.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a chocolate-brown wrapper with several visible veins and interesting, characteristic San Andrés shiny particles on it (mica?! 😀 or crystallized oils 🤔).

🧱 Construction: Tight with slight looseness and springiness in the middle. It’s fun when I draw and feel it slightly compress in the center as if the cigar is “breathing”.

⚔️ The cigar was pre-cut with a guillotine.

🧖 Aroma: Mature tobacco and earthy notes.

🌬️ Draw: Good.

💨 Cold draw: Good draw with fruity notes like dried plum or dried apricot.

🔥 I lit it with a matchstick.

📌⅓ First third: Started with warm cedar notes, a bit of creaminess, white pepper, and leather. On the retrohale, the dried fruit appeared, but pleasantly spiced. Once it warmed up well, sweet notes of milk caramel emerged.

📌⅔ Second third: Started with sweetness and leather. Moist cedar and earthy notes.

📌🏁 Final third: Lost the sweetness from the previous one, increased in strength, and was dominated by woody and leather notes. On the retrohale, cappuccino and something like licorice candy were noticeable.

🔥 Burned evenly for about 1 hour and 30 minutes ⏱️, with slightly spicy and thick smoke. The ash held for about 3 centimeters 📏.

📢 PDR A. Flores 1975 Gran Reserva Premier Cru Maduro Robusto 5x52

🍂 Wrapper (Capa): 🇲🇽 Mexican San Andrés Maduro

🍂 Binder (Capote / Banda): 🇩🇴 Dominican Olor

🍂 Filler (Tripa): 🇩🇴 Dominican Corojo & Habano

💪 Strength: Medium Body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Abe Flores

🏭 Factory: PDR Cigar factory, Tamboril, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

🥇 Rated 91 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2017.

🕵️ A bit of history: PDR Cigars (Puros Dominican Republic) was founded in 2004 by Abe Flores (full name Abraham Flores) in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. Abe Flores, of Dominican origin, began his career as a roller and quickly rose to become a master blender. The brand was originally called Pinar del Río (inspired by the Cuban region), but was renamed PDR to emphasize its Dominican roots. PDR is a boutique producer renowned for its high-quality, hand-rolled cigars, which utilize the traditional Entubado technique for bunching the fillers. Abe Flores personally grows tobacco on his own farms and oversees every step of the process. The brand has earned numerous ratings over 90 points from Cigar Aficionado and is recognized for excellent construction and complex flavors. PDR also produces for other brands, but the A. Flores line is a personal project of Abe Flores, dedicated to family heritage and Dominican traditions.

The A. Flores Gran Reserva line was created in 2013 by Abe Flores as a tribute to Dominican tradition and his personal heritage (A. Flores – his initials). The Maduro version was added later in 2018 to offer a richer, sweeter profile with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper. The blend is designed to be medium-bodied, balanced, and complex, with emphasis on creaminess, cocoa, and spices. Abe Flores uses aged tobaccos (gran reserva) from his own farms to achieve smoothness and depth of flavor. The Maduro variant is part of the regular portfolio but with limited production to maintain quality.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar is quite rough but with a very oily and textured wrapper full of small bumps in Maduro color.

🧱 Construction: Very tight and dense.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Damp barn, dried apricots, dark chocolate, and a bit of leather. From the fillers: fresh vanilla and a touch of cream.

🌬️ Draw: Slightly restricted, and when trying to clear it with a poker, the head split a little.

💨 Cold draw: Moist leather, oak barrel, well-aged tobacco, and dried apricot.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌⅓ First third: Started with roasted nuts, a light salty note, and clean espresso.

📌⅔ Second third: Continued with rich anise-resinous notes, some earth, raw cocoa, and pepper touches.

📌🏁 Final third: Ended with leather, a bit of pepper, and very rich cedar notes.

🔥 Burned relatively evenly for about 1 hour and 10 minutes ⏱️, with abundant smoke and firm gray-white ash that held for about 3 centimeters 📏.

📢 Espinosa Murcielago Box-Pressed Toro 6x52

🍂 Wrapper: 🇲🇽 Mexican San Andrés Maduro (Capa Negra)

🍂 Binder: 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🍂 Filler: 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan from Estelí, Jalapa, Condega & Ometepe

💪 Strength: Medium to Full Body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Erik Espinosa

🏭 Factory: San Lotano Factory by AJ Fernandez, Ocotal, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🕵️ A bit of history: Espinosa Premium Cigars was founded in 2012 by Erik Espinosa, a Cuban immigrant who moved to Miami at 3 months old. Erik began his career in the tobacco industry in 1997, working in sales and as a broker for brands like Rocky Patel, Drew Estate, and Gurkha. In 2004, he co-created E/O Brands with Eddie Ortega, introducing successful lines like 601, Murcielago, and La Bomba, popularizing Mexican San Andrés wrappers. In 2011, Erik opened his own factory, La Zona, in Estelí, Nicaragua, and launched Espinosa Cigars with a focus on boutique, flavor-rich cigars. The brand quickly gained popularity with innovations like Laranja Reserva (94 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2015) and collaborations such as Knuckle Sandwich with Guy Fieri. Today, Espinosa is known for high-quality, limited-series cigars produced in Nicaragua, distributed in over 50 countries, with family management (including son Erik Espinosa Jr.) and an emphasis on Nicaraguan tobaccos.

Espinosa Murcielago was originally created in 2009 by Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega as a full-bodied Nicaraguan blend with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, inspired by Erik’s adventures in Mexican caves where he saw bats (*murciélago* means “bat” in Spanish). Initially produced at My Father Cigars factory by Don Pepin Garcia, the blend gained popularity for its full profile, but after the dissolution of United Tobacco in 2011, the brand disappeared. In 2015, Erik Espinosa revived it at La Zona factory, and in 2017, he collaborated with A.J. Fernandez, adding extra-aged tobaccos for greater depth and smoothness. The Box-Pressed Toro vitola has been part of the core line since 2017.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has an extremely oily and smooth wrapper with a rich dark brown to reddish hue, Maduro-Oscuro color. Finished with a double cap. The band is die-cut in the shape of a bat to emphasize the name and series recognition. The cigar is finished in a tight box-pressed shape.

🧱 Construction: Tight and dense with no voids.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Raw cocoa, smoked wood, barn, and black raisins. From the fillers: blueberry brownie and a pinch of spicy cinnamon.

🌬️ Draw: Good.

💨 Cold draw: Brownie, a bit of leather, aromatic black raisin with cognac notes, and vanilla and cedar in the nose.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with a little pepper, caramel, and apple peel. Then developed fresh raw cocoa notes.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with more leather, moist cedar, toasted almond, and rich dark chocolate.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with the same flavor profile but with a bit more pepper.

🔥 Burned extremely evenly for about 1 hour and 30 minutes ⏱️, with aromatic smoke and firm gray ash that held for about 4 centimeters 📏.

📢 Plasencia Edición Especial El Año del Caballo Gordo 7x58

🍂 Wrapper: 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan from Jalapa

🍂 Binder: 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🍂 Filler: 🇳🇮 Nicaragua & 🇭🇳 Honduras

💪 Strength: Medium

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Néstor Andrés Plasencia

🏭 Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A. – Estelí, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🕵️ A bit of history: Plasencia Cigars is a family company that began in 1865 in Cuba with tobacco cultivation. After the revolution, the family relocated to Nicaragua and Honduras, becoming the world’s largest independent tobacco producer. In 2016, Néstor Andrés Plasencia (fifth generation) launched the premium brand Plasencia Cigars to sell only cigars made from their own farms and factories. The brand has won “Cigar of the Year” six times across various magazines (Alma Fuerte, Reserva Original, Alma del Campo). Today, Plasencia owns 4 farms and 2 factories.

This is the sixth release in the Chinese Zodiac series (2026 – Year of the Horse). Néstor Andrés Plasencia wanted to honor the bronze statue “Flying Horse of Gansu” – a symbol of strength, grace, and movement. That’s why it features a hand-braided horse-tail cap: three master rollers spend 40 minutes on each cigar instead of 20. The goal is a creamy, earthy, and highly complex cigar that transitions smoothly from sweet to spicy. Only 6,000 boxes were produced worldwide.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a smooth, richly oily wrapper with a dark chocolate-brown color and a deep reddish hue. It is finished with a double cap and a long braided tobacco plait resembling a horse’s tail.

🧱 Construction: Very tight and dense, with no noticeable voids.

⚔️ I cut it with a 50-caliber punch.

🧖 Aroma: Herbs, leather, moist cedar wood, and juicy dried plum. From the fillers: chocolate brownie and buttery caramel.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Crust of toasted chocolate cake, a touch of moist tanned leather, light spicy mint notes, and buttery caramel.

🔥 I lit it with a soft flame.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started very creamy, with buttery notes, biscuit, and a little pepper. Rich cocoa aromas appeared on the retrohale.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued just as deliciously, with added aromatic raisin and cinnamon.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with more leather, cedar, a bit of spicy cinnamon in the nose, and a light caramel aftertaste.

🔥 Burned very evenly for about 2 hours ⏱️, with abundant smoke and extremely firm gray-white ash that held for about 5 centimeters 📏.

📢 La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Lancero 7½x38

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Sumatra Sun Grown

🍂 Binder: 🇩🇴 Dominican Ligero from La Canela farm

🍂 Filler: 🇩🇴 Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero & Criollo Ligero

💪 Strength: Full Body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Litto Gomez

🏭 Factory: Tabacalera La Flor S.A., Santiago (Tamboril), 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

🥇 Rated 93 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2024.

🕵️ A bit of history: La Flor Dominicana was founded in 1996 in Santiago, Dominican Republic, by Litto Gomez and his wife Ines Lorenzo-Gomez. Litto, born in Uruguay and an immigrant to the U.S., started as a jeweler in Miami but turned to the tobacco industry after a robbery in his store in 1994. Together with Ines, who handled distribution and marketing, they began producing cigars under the name Los Libertadores before renaming it La Flor Dominicana in 1996. Litto studied tobacco growing and blending, then purchased the 40-acre La Canela farm in 2006 to grow Corojo and Sumatra tobaccos and established their own factory, Tabacalera La Flor S.A. The brand became famous for innovations like the El Jocko and Chisel shapes (the first patented cigar design in 1997), a focus on ligero tobaccos, and full flavors. Today, La Flor Dominicana is a globally distributed, family-run brand (including sons Tony Gomez and Litto Gomez Jr.), known for vertical integration—from farm to finished cigar—and awards like Cigar of the Year for Andalusian Bull in 2016.

The Double Ligero blend was created in 2003 by Litto Gomez in response to demand for bolder, fuller cigars, proving Dominican tobaccos could be powerful and complex. It doubles the amount of ligero tobacco (from the top of the plant, the strongest, darkest, and spiciest due to maximum sun exposure) compared to standard blends, including their 2001 Ligero line. The goal was a “powerhouse” cigar with an intense yet balanced profile—spicy, earthy, and sweet, with notes of pepper, leather, and coffee. For the Lancero vitola (7½x38), which Litto loves for concentrating flavors, prototypes appeared as early as 2006, but the full release came in 2007. All internal tobaccos are grown on La Canela farm in a dry, hot climate that amplifies their strength. This is a flagship blend that turned the brand into a symbol of Dominican power and has landed in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 multiple times.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a rough texture with several prominent veins in the Colorado-colored wrapper. Finished with a pigtail cap.

🧱 Construction: Medium-dense and without voids.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Cinnamon, cedar, raisins, and cognac notes.

🌬️ Draw: Good.

💨 Cold draw: Milk chocolate, moist wood, and slightly spicy cinnamon.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with a lot of strength, caramel, and leather. Plenty of cinnamon on the retrohale.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with the same flavor profile.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with more spicy seasonings, strong espresso, earth, and plenty of leather.

🔥 Burned relatively evenly for about 2 hours, going out frequently ⏱️, with abundant smoke and loose ash that held for about 1 centimeter 📏.

📢 Espinosa Laranja Azulejo Box-pressed Robusto Extra 5½x54

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Sumatra Maduro

🍂 Binder: 🇧🇷 Brazilian Arapiraca from Bahia

🍂 Filler: 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan from Estelí, Ometepe, Condega & Jalapa

💪 Strength: Medium to Full body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Erik Espinosa

🏭 Factory: San Lotano bygjeng AJ Fernandez, Ocotal, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🥇 The Robusto Grande vitola was rated 90 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2021.

🕵️ A bit of history: Espinosa Premium Cigars was founded in 2012 by Erik Espinosa, a Cuban immigrant who moved to Miami at 3 months old. Erik began his career in the tobacco industry in 1997, working in sales and as a broker for brands like Rocky Patel, Drew Estate, and Gurkha. In 2004, he co-created E/O Brands with Eddie Ortega, introducing successful lines like 601, Murcielago, and La Bomba, popularizing Mexican San Andrés wrappers. In 2011, Erik opened his own factory, La Zona, in Estelí, Nicaragua, and launched Espinosa Cigars with a focus on boutique, flavor-rich cigars. The brand quickly gained popularity with innovations like Laranja Reserva (94 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2015) and collaborations such as Knuckle Sandwich with Guy Fieri. Today, Espinosa is known for high-quality, limited-series cigars produced in Nicaragua, distributed in over 50 countries, with family management (including son Erik Espinosa Jr.) and an emphasis on Nicaraguan tobaccos.

Espinosa Laranja Azulejo is the third blend in the successful Laranja Reserva series, released in 2021 to meet demand after tobacco shortages for the original Laranja Reserva. Erik Espinosa developed the blend to create a “special cigar” between the original Laranja (medium strength) and Escuro (full strength), combining a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper for depth with a Brazilian Arapiraca binder for unique sweetness and spice. The name *Azulejo* (Portuguese for “blue glazed tiles”) continues the color theme of the series (*Laranja* means “orange,” *Escuro* – “dark”), highlighted by the blue band.

Tobaccos from Estelí bring spice and woody tones, Jalapa – creaminess and cocoa, Condega – earthy notes, Ometepe – strength and spices.

The cigar was introduced at the PCA Trade Show in July 2021.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has an exceptionally smooth and oily, deep Maduro-colored wrapper. It is finished with a precisely applied triple cap. The band is strikingly beautiful with intricate embossed details.

🧱 Construction: Dense and tight.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Raisins, cocoa, and moist cedar.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Sweet raisins, dark chocolate, and dried red fruits.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with light spicy notes on the tongue, pleasant cognac aftertaste, and some earthy notes. Very creamy on the retrohale.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with less pepper but more raisins, rich oak, and a touch of earth.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with a flavor profile similar to the second third but with more strength and leather.

🔥 Burned relatively evenly for about 1 hour and 45 minutes ⏱️, with aromatic smoke and firm gray-white ash that held for about 4 centimeters 📏.

💡 Recommendation: The cigar has potential to age for at least 6 to 12 months and will become even more flavorful and aromatic.

📢 Lampert Limitada 2023 Toro Gordo 6½x56

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Criollo ‘98

🍂 Binder: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Habano 2000

🍂 Filler: 🇩🇴 Dominican, 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan, 🇧🇷 Brazilian & 🇵🇪 Peruvian

💪 Strength: Medium to Full

🧑‍🔬 Master: Stefan Lampert

🏭 Factory: Tabacos de Costa Rica S.A., 🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🕵️ A bit of history: Lampert Limitada 2023 Toro Gordo (6½x56) is a limited edition from Lampert Cigars, released at the PCA Convention & Trade Show in March 2024.

The story of Lampert Cigars begins with the vision of its founder, Dr. Stefan Lampert, an Austrian lawyer who found inspiration during a vacation in Thailand in 2016. While enjoying the local markets famous for bespoke tailored suits, he realized the same personalization concept could apply to cigars. This prompted him to create a brand allowing customers to craft their own premium hand-rolled cigars. Thus, in 2017, Lampert Cigars was born, with the first line named “MY CIGAR LAB”—later renamed “ORO LINE.” This line was designed to let customers customize their cigars to personal preferences, reflecting the “bespoke suit” idea in the tobacco world.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a very oily and dark Maduro-colored wrapper. No bumps or thick visible veins. It is finished with a meticulously applied double cap.

🧱 Construction: Tight and dense with no voids. Slight springiness under pressure.

⚔️ I cut it with a 50-caliber punch.

🧖 Aroma: Moist, well-aged tobacco, oak wood, and raw cocoa. From the fillers: sweet black raisins, a touch of cinnamon, and toasted bread crust.

🌬️ Draw: Slightly restricted.

💨 Cold draw: Plum jam, moist cedar, and cinnamon.

🔥 I lit it with a soft flame.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with pleasant sweetness, dried plum, plenty of oak notes, and a bit of leather.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with pleasant sweetness, some pepper, rich oak barrel aroma, and toasted almond.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with rich moist oak, leather, and apple peel.

🔥 Burned not particularly evenly for about 2 hours ⏱️, with aromatic smoke and firm ash that held for about 3 centimeters 📏.

💡 Recommendation: It’s best to make a deeper V-cut because the cigar is tightly rolled, and humidity during smoking slightly reduces the draw.

📢 Gurkha Rogue Ruthless Toro 6 x 54

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Habano

🍂 Binder: 🇪🇨 Ultra-rare Ecuadorian

🍂 Filler: 3-year-aged 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan, 🇭🇳 Honduran, and 🇩🇴 Dominican Ligero

💪 Strength: Medium to Full

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Kaizad Hansotia

🏭 Factory: Tabacalera Gurkha S.A., 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

🥇 Rated 90 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2014.

🕵️ A bit of history: The Gurkha brand traces its origins to the colonial era in India, when British soldiers, impressed by the bravery of the Nepalese Gurkha warriors, began producing cigars from local tobacco—often grown in the Portuguese territory of Goa. These cigars, named Gurkha, became popular among British expatriates in the 19th century. The brand eventually faded, but in 1989, Indian-American entrepreneur Kaizad Hansotia revived it, purchasing it for $143 from a Portuguese merchant in Goa while on vacation. Coming from a family in the luxury watch trade, Hansotia initially bought the cigars as gifts for clients but soon saw potential for an ultra-premium cigar market. He transformed Gurkha into a symbol of luxury, introducing ornate packaging and high-quality tobaccos, effectively creating the ultra-premium cigar category.

Gurkha Rogue Ruthless is the third release under Gurkha’s East India Trading Company line. The name *Rogue* (Rebel) reflects its unconventional approach—using an ultra-rare Ecuadorian binder and 3-year-aged ligero fillers from three countries for an intense yet balanced profile. *Ruthless* refers to the Toro vitola, emphasizing its power and endurance. The blend is part of Gurkha’s portfolio focused on limited series and was launched as an underground favorite among aficionados, with an emphasis on rare tobaccos that Kaizad Hansotia sources globally.

Gurkha Rogue Ruthless Toro 6 x 54 was introduced in 2013 as part of the full Rogue line launch at the IPCPR Trade Show. The vitola became available in stores from the summer of 2013, in box-pressed form with an unfinished foot from the start.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar is very tightly and elegantly rolled, with a shiny, oily wrapper showing a few veins and characteristic “micro warts.” The color is reddish-brown Colorado-Maduro. The foot is closed with a piece of the wrapper leaf, adding extra aroma upon lighting. The thick band with fringed edges and rough texture stands out, as if torn from paper.

🧱 Construction: Dense, with slight springiness and a minor soft spot in the middle around the second third.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Spicy cinnamon, hot espresso, and very juicy citrus notes from the fillers.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Dried plums, green tea, and a touch of marzipan.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with a bit of white pepper, toasted bread crust, and toffee sweetness. A slight acidity appeared on the tongue. Sweet vanilla was noticeable on the retrohale.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with some sweetness, plenty of leather, light but pleasant spiciness, and cinnamon.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with spiciness, plenty of leather and earthy notes, with a touch of cedar on the retrohale.

🔥 Burned evenly for about 2 hours ⏱️, with pleasant smoke and loose ash that held for about 3 centimeters 📏. The final third frequently went out on its own.

📢 Padilla 88 Aniversario Soft Box-Pressed Figurado 6x60

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Corojo Maduro

🍂 Double Binder: 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan Criollo & Corojo

🍂 Filler: 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan Corojo, Criollo & Pelo d’Oro (from Jalapa & Estelí)

*Pelo de Oro from Jalapa & Ligero from Estelí*

💪 Strength: Medium to Full Body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Ernesto Padilla

🏭 Factory: Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A., Estelí, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🥇 Rated 91 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2023.

🕵️ A bit of history: Padilla Cigars was founded in 2003 by Ernesto Padilla and his brother Carlos Padilla in Miami, Florida, after Ernesto worked for Perdomo Cigars and drew inspiration from his family’s tobacco industry tradition. The Padilla family hails from Cuba, where Ernesto’s father, Heberto Padilla, was a renowned poet and critic imprisoned in 1971 for criticizing Castro’s government (known as “The Padilla Affair”), and the owners of the El Colmenar tobacco farm in Pinar del Río. Ernesto began crafting cigars focused on rare Cuban varieties, initially collaborating with José “Don Pepin” García. The brand gained recognition with high ratings in Cigar Aficionado (including three Top 25 placements), emphasizing boutique blends inspired by Cuban heritage, produced in Honduras and Nicaragua.

The Padilla 88 Aniversario blend was created to honor Heberto Padilla’s 88th birthday (1932–2000), which would have been in 2020, although it was delayed due to the pandemic. Ernesto Padilla aimed to craft a cigar that revives the Cuban spirit, inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s time in Havana, with a balanced medium profile and rare tobaccos like Pelo d’Oro. The blend is part of the Padilla 1932 series (named after Heberto’s birth year) and was developed in collaboration with A.J. Fernandez, who provided Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigars were released in limited quantities, focusing on three vitolas, and come in boxes featuring a black-and-white photo of Heberto Padilla and Ernest Hemingway from 1959.

The Padilla 88 Aniversario Figurado was released to the market in March 2021 as part of the full line launch (following a soft launch with the robusto in January 2021). The planned 2020 release was postponed due to the pandemic, but the vitola became available in retail outlets in spring 2021.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a very dark, oil-rich wrapper with a Maduro color. As this specific box has aged an additional 2 years, the cellophane has taken on a dark caramel hue.

🧱 Construction: Medium-dense and springy.

⚔️ I cut it with a guillotine.

🧖 Aroma: Dark chocolate, red fruits, and caramel sweetness.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Juicy notes of deeply aged tobacco, dried herbs, and chocolate brownie.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with slight pepperiness, earthy notes, caramel, and leather. On the retrohale, dried herbs. Over time, oily notes appeared on the tongue.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with plenty of cedar, slight spiciness on the tongue, and cinnamon.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with considerable strength, lots of leather, earth, and cedar.

🔥 Burned relatively evenly for about 1 hour and 40 minutes ⏱️, with abundant smoke and firm gray-white ash that held for about 4 centimeters 📏.

📢 PDR 1878 Recordando a Santiago Capa Madura Robusto 5x52

🍂 Wrapper: 🇲🇽 Mexican San Andrés Maduro

🍂 Binder: 🇩🇴 Dominican Criollo 98

🍂 Filler: 🇩🇴 Dominican Criollo 98, Seco & Ligero

💪 Strength: Medium to Full Body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Abraham (Abe) Flores

🏭 Factory: PDR Cigar Factory, Tamboril, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

🕵️ A bit of history: PDR Cigars, originally known as Pinar del Río, was founded by Abraham Flores in 2004 in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. The brand was named after the renowned Cuban tobacco-growing region Pinar del Río but was later renamed Puros Dominican Republic to emphasize its roots in the Dominican Republic and dedication to local cigar-making traditions.

The PDR 1878 Capa Madura is part of the PDR 1878 Recordando a Santiago series, which pays tribute to the city of Santiago in the Dominican Republic, a hub of the tobacco industry.

The name “Recordando a Santiago” (“Remembering Santiago”) reflects the connection to Dominican traditions, with the cigar designed to be smoked during special moments.

Only about 5,000 boxes of the series are produced annually.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a very smooth and oily wrapper with a Maduro color. It is finished with a single cap featuring a “pigtail” and is wrapped with an additional wrapper leaf at the foot.

🧱 Construction: Very tight and dense, with no voids.

⚔️ I cut it with a guillotine.

🧖 Aroma: Juicy red fruits, dried herbs, and moist cedar.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Fresh herbs, dried apricot, and cedar.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with a rich green tea aroma, some creamy notes, and milk chocolate. On the retrohale, vanilla and slightly spicy oak notes.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with the same delicious profile.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with roasted nuts, a bit of pepper on the tongue, and gingerbread biscuit. On the retrohale, moist leather and plenty of cedar.

🔥 Burned relatively evenly for about 1 hour and 10 minutes ⏱️, with abundant smoke and firm ash that held for about 3 centimeters 📏.

📢 Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edicion Limitada Perfecto 5½x54

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Habano Sun Grown

🍂 Binder: 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🍂 Filler: 🇳🇮 Nicaraguan Ligero from Jalapa Valley

💪 Strength: Medium to Full Body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Gilberto Oliva Jr. and team

🏭 Factory: Tabacalera Oliva de Nicaragua S.A. (TABOLISA), Estelí, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🥇 Rated 91 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2022.

🕵️ A bit of history: The Oliva Cigars brand began its journey in 1886 when Melanio Oliva started growing tobacco in Pinar del Río, Cuba—the same year the Statue of Liberty was unveiled in New York. The Oliva family continued this tradition through generations, but after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, they were forced to leave the country. In 1964, Gilberto Oliva Sr., Melanio’s grandson, emigrated to the U.S. and began working in the tobacco industry. In 1969, the family established a farm in Nicaragua, where they started cultivating high-quality tobacco. In 1995, Oliva Cigar Co. was founded by Gilberto Oliva Sr. and his son Gilberto Oliva Jr., initially producing cigars at Nestor Plasencia’s factory in Nicaragua. The brand was originally called Gilberto Oliva but was soon shortened to Oliva. During the 1997 tobacco boom, Oliva survived thanks to its own stock of Nicaraguan tobacco, allowing them to focus on producing “puros” (cigars made with 100% tobacco from one country). In 2006, the Oliva Serie V was launched, becoming a flagship product and earning numerous awards. Today, Oliva is the second-largest tobacco-growing farm in Nicaragua, producing over 13 million cigars annually, and has been owned by J. Cortès Cigars N.V. since 2016 while maintaining its family-oriented character with the involvement of the third generation of Olivas.

The Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edicion Limitada blend is a special release commemorating the 135th anniversary of the Oliva family’s tobacco-growing tradition, starting in 1886 with Melanio Oliva in Cuba. This is not an anniversary of the company’s founding (1995) but of the family’s historical beginnings as tobacco producers. The blend is based on the classic Serie V, launched in 2006 as a full-bodied Nicaraguan puro with a focus on specially fermented Jalapa Valley ligero for strength and smoothness. For this limited edition, Oliva retained the original blend but presented it in a unique perfecto shape with a rounded head and tapered foot to highlight its historical significance and offer a new flavor experience. The goal was to honor Melanio Oliva and create a cigar that combines richness, strength, and balance, suitable for aficionados. Production is limited to 15,000 boxes of 12 cigars each (180,000 cigars total), emphasizing the exclusivity and anniversary nature of the release.

The Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edicion Limitada Perfecto 5½x54 was released to the market in October 2021, following its debut at the PCA Trade Show in July 2021. The release was planned for the third quarter of 2021, with full distribution in stores by late October.

The box is gorgeous, crafted entirely from Spanish cedar with a dark red piano lacquer finish and gold lettering. The cigars inside are elegantly arranged in a fan shape.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar is smooth and well-rolled, with no thick veins on the wrapper, which has a Colorado-Maduro color. It is finished with a triple cap.

🧱 Construction: Firm and dense, with slight looseness and springiness in the final third.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Coffee, cedar, and dried apricot.

🌬️ Draw: Good.

💨 Cold draw: Dried apricot, slight citrus acidity, cedar, and cinnamon.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with creamy smoke, vanilla, walnut, distinct sweetness, and cedar. As it warmed up, more sweetness and a pleasant spicy black pepper emerged.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with leather, spicy cinnamon, and roasted nuts.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with strongly roasted coffee, plenty of leather, and a touch of cinnamon.

🔥 Burned relatively evenly for about 2 hours ⏱️, with thick, aromatic smoke and gray-black ash that held for about 4 centimeters 📏.

📢 La Galera Imperial Jade Toro 6x52

🍂 Wrapper: 🇨🇲 African Cameroon

🍂 Binder: 🇩🇴 Dominican Criollo 98 from Jacagua Farm

🍂 Filler: 🇩🇴 Dominican Piloto Cubano from Jacagua Farm & Criollo 98 from La Canela Farm

💪 Strength: Medium Body

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: José “Jochy” Blanco

🏭 Factory: Tabacalera Palma, Tamboril, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

🥇 Rated 90 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2022.

🕵️ A bit of history: La Galera is part of Tabacalera Palma, one of the oldest cigar factories in the Dominican Republic, founded in 1936 by José Arnaldo Blanco II, father of José “Jochy” Blanco. Jochy Blanco, heir to a centuries-old tobacco-growing tradition (his great-grandfather Manuel Blanco Lozada immigrated from Spain in the mid-19th century), took over management in the 1980s and transformed the factory from a local producer into a global exporter. He developed Tabacalera Palma, which produces cigars for brands like La Flor Dominicana, Aging Room, Kristoff, and Matilde, while also growing tobacco on its own farms in Jacagua, Gurabo, La Canela, and Mao. La Galera, as a proprietary brand, was launched in 2015–2016, inspired by the “galera” – the rolling room in the factory. Jochy Blanco aimed to honor the workers and the region, starting with Habano and Connecticut blends, and quickly expanded the portfolio with innovations like San Andres Maduro and Anemoi. Today, the brand is managed by Jochy Blanco and his sons Daniel (CFO) and José Manuel (COO and blender), with distribution in over 50 countries, emphasizing quality, tradition, and family legacy.

The La Galera Imperial Jade blend was created in 2021 by José “Jochy” Blanco to revive the rare and prized Cameroon wrapper, likened to semi-precious imperial jade – “seductive, alluring, smooth to the touch, and irresistible to look at.” The name reflects the color and value of the tobacco, grown in Cameroon and challenging to process due to disease, low yield, thin texture, and a lack of experienced growers. Despite these challenges, Jochy Blanco insisted on using it to craft a unique medium-bodied profile. The blend was introduced at the PCA Convention & Trade Show in July 2021 as a regular line with five vitolas, marking La Galera’s first major project with an African wrapper, highlighting Jochy Blanco’s innovation in combining rare tobaccos with Dominican roots.

The La Galera Imperial Jade Toro 6x52 was released to the market in October 2021, following its debut at the PCA Convention & Trade Show in July 2021. It experienced a slight delay due to logistics but became available in stores by the end of 2021.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a dark, smooth wrapper with a Maduro color. It is finished with a single cap.

🧱 Construction: Medium-dense with one void in the first third.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Rich, with dominant notes of cinnamon, moist wood, mycelium, cinnamon biscuit, and a hint of black raisins from the filler.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Notes of dried apricot, caramel, and cedar.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with light caramel sweetness, plenty of cedar, a touch of pepper on the tongue, and milk chocolate.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with slight bitterness like strong espresso, a rich toasted bread flavor, and a bit of cinnamon on the retrohale.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with cinnamon notes, cedar, and slight pepperiness.

🔥 Burned evenly for just under 2 hours ⏱️, with pleasant smoke and firm ash that held for about 3 centimeters 📏.

📢 Espinosa The 601 Blue Label Maduro Soft Box Pressed Prominente (Toro) 5½x56

🍂 Wrapper: 🇺🇸 USA Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro

🍂 Binder: 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🍂 Filler: 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

💪 Strength: Medium to Full

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Originally blended by Don Jose “Pepin” Garcia, with contributions from Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega; now under Erik Espinosa’s full control.

🏭 Factory: Initially produced at My Father Cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua. Production later moved to La Zona Cigar Factory in Estelí, owned by Erik Espinosa, and since August 2016, to the San Lotano Factory by AJ Fernandez in Ocotal, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua.

🥇 The Torpedo vitola was rated 93 points by Cigar Aficionado in 2021.

🕵️ A bit of history: Espinosa Premium Cigars was founded in 2012 by Erik Espinosa and his son Erik Espinosa Jr. in Miami, Florida. Erik Espinosa, born in Cuba, is a tobacco industry veteran with over 20 years of experience before starting his own brand. Prior to creating Espinosa Cigars, he worked with other notable companies, including as a co-founder of EO Brands, which produced cigars like 601 and Murcielago. That brand achieved significant success, but in 2011, Erik decided to branch out and establish his own company to pursue his personal vision for premium cigars.

*La Zona Cigar Factory*: In the same year Espinosa Cigars was founded, Erik opened La Zona Cigar Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua—a production hub that became the heart of the brand.

The name “601” in Espinosa Cigars’ series comes from the date of Erik Espinosa’s first trip to Nicaragua, which was June 1 (6/01). This trip marked a significant moment in his career, inspiring him to name one of his most famous cigar lines after it. The 601 series, including Blue Label and the highly acclaimed La Bomba line, is crafted with blends featuring selections of the boldest and most flavorful Nicaraguan tobacco varieties.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar is free of visible veins, very oily, and covered with bumps. It is finished with a triple cap.

🧱 Construction: Tight and dense.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Raisins, cedar, and dark chocolate.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Raisins, chocolate, and cognac barrel.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with sweet raisin, a bit of creamy vanilla, and cedar.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with creamy notes, espresso, a touch of sweetness, and juicy raisin. Mid-way through, leather and oak emerged.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with plenty of cedar, a bit of pepper, strongly roasted coffee, and a touch of caramel sweetness.

🔥 Burned evenly for about 1 hour and 40 minutes ⏱️, with dense, rich smoke and firm gray-white ash that held for about 5 centimeters 📏.

📢 Lampert Ocean Breeze Robusto Grande 5x54

🍂 Wrapper: 🇪🇨 Ecuadorian Habano 2000 Criollo

🍂 Binder: Undisclosed (🇪🇨 Ecuador?)

🍂 Filler: Undisclosed (🇳🇮 Nicaragua & 🇵🇪 Peru)

💪 Strength: Medium to Full

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Dr. Stefan Lampert

🏭 Factory: Tabacos de Costa Rica S.A., 🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🥇 Rated 90 points by Cigar Journal.

🕵️ A bit of history: The story of Lampert Cigars begins with the vision of its founder, Dr. Stefan Lampert, an Austrian lawyer who found inspiration during a vacation in Thailand in 2016. While enjoying local markets known for custom-tailored suits, he realized that the same concept of personalization could be applied to the world of cigars. This led him to create a brand that offers customers the ability to craft their own premium, handmade cigars. Thus, in 2017, Lampert Cigars was born, with its first line named “MY CIGAR LAB,” later rebranded as “ORO LINE.” This line was designed to allow customers to customize their cigars based on personal preferences, embodying the idea of a “tailor-made suit” in the tobacco world.

Due to the enthusiastic reception of the line by aficionados worldwide, Stefan was determined to further develop the concept. After tasting various tobacco blends, one particular batch stood out with an incredibly salty flavor. These salty notes reminded Stefan of the sea, prompting him to name it OCEAN BREEZE. The cigar was first launched at the end of 2022.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar is smooth with a milk chocolate-Colorado color. It is finished with a double cap.

🧱 Construction: Tight and very dense, with no voids.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Slightly citrusy and acidic, with well-aged tobacco. The filler carries notes of pastry and creamy vanilla.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Moist aged tobacco, slight spicy notes, and herbs.

🔥 I lit it with a soft flame.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with moist cedar, fresh sea notes, white pepper, and slight sweetness.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued similarly, but the pepper faded, and the sea-like flavor intensified.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with caramel on the tongue, leather, and roasted coffee beans.

🔥 Burned relatively evenly for about 1 hour and 50 minutes ⏱️, with dense smoke and medium-firm gray-white ash that held for about 3 centimeters 📏.

💡 Recommendation: The cigar benefits from aging at higher humidity for at least a month to fully reveal its flavor potential.

📢 Gurkha Beast Toro 6x50

🍂 Wrapper: 🇨🇷 Costa Rican Maduro 8YO

🍂 Binder: 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🍂 Filler: 🇭🇳 Honduras & 🇳🇮 Nicaragua & 🇨🇴 Colombia

💪 Strength: Medium to Full

🧑‍🔬 Master Blender: Kaizad Hansotia

🏭 Factory: 🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🕵️ A bit of history: The Gurkha brand traces its origins to the colonial period in India, when British soldiers, impressed by the bravery of Nepalese Gurkha warriors, began producing cigars from local tobacco, often grown in the Portuguese territory of Goa. These cigars, named Gurkha, became popular among British expatriates in the 19th century. The brand eventually faded, but in 1989, Kaizad Hansotia, an Indian-American entrepreneur, revived it after purchasing the brand for $143 (or $149, according to some sources) from a Portuguese merchant in Goa, India, while on vacation. Coming from a family involved in trading luxury watches, Kaizad initially bought the cigars as gifts for his clients. Still, he soon saw the potential to create a market for ultra-premium cigars. He transformed the Gurkha brand into a symbol of luxury, introducing ornate packaging and high-quality tobaccos, thereby establishing the category of ultra-premium cigars.

Only 1,000 boxes of 20 cigars each are produced for the global market.

🪩 Appearance: The cigar has a striking marbled effect on the wrapper, which is Maduro in color.

🧱 Construction: Medium-dense and springy.

⚔️ I cut it with a V-Cutter.

🧖 Aroma: Moist barn, pepper, earthy notes, and leather. The filler carries scents of sweet and juicy raisin, cocoa pastry, and a hint of cinnamon.

🌬️ Draw: Excellent.

💨 Cold draw: Leather, sweet raisin, raw nuts, and cinnamon.

🔥 I lit it with a torch.

📌 ⅓ First third: Started with cappuccino, milky nuts, sweet caramel, and a strong spicy kick. On the retrohale, green tea and vanilla.

📌 ⅔ Second third: Continued with leather, roasted nuts, green tea, a bit of cream, and slight spiciness in the throat.

📌 🏁 Final third: Ended with plenty of leather, a touch of sweetness, and pepper.

🔥 Burned unevenly for about 1 hour and 40 minutes ⏱️, with abundant, thick smoke and loose ash that held for about 3 centimeters 📏. It frequently went out on its own and burned with symptoms of improperly constructed seco, volado, and ligero leaves during rolling.