ACID Shorty

ACID cigars have been gaining legions of fans for well over a decade. If you’re not familiar with ACID cigars, they are uniquely infused and handmade at the legendary Drew Estate factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Unlike other infused cigars that use scraps of tobacco from other cigars, making them overly sweet and quick burning, ACID uses premium, top quality, long-fillers making every cigar smooth, cool, and delicious. The ACID Shorty was named after Animal Planet’s Pit Boss star and cigar aficionado Shorty Rossi. This unique smoke comes cloaked in a Sumatra wrapper that hold a core of Nicargauan long-fillers and binder, and features a pigtail top. This smoke may be small but it is mighty with mild to medium flavors of sugarcane, toasty tobacco, and hints of honey. Try pairing it with something on the sweeter side like an off-dry or sweet mead (honey wine).

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.