Colonel E.H. Taylor San Andrés

The Colonel E.H. Taylor San Andrés cigar is a collaboration inspired by the renowned bourbon brand from Buffalo Trace Distillery, designed to pair seamlessly with its namesake spirit. Handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, this cigar features a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over a Criollo binder and Nicaraguan fillers, creating a rich and balanced medium-bodied profile. The flavor profile is bold yet approachable, opening with notes of cocoa, baking spices, and leather. As the cigar develops, layers of roasted nuts and earthy tobacco come forward, complemented by a subtle sweetness and a touch of spice. The San Andrés wrapper contributes depth and richness, while the Nicaraguan fillers provide structure and complexity. The smoke remains smooth and consistent throughout, with a clean burn and satisfying draw. Designed with pairing in mind, this cigar is an ideal match for E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Bourbon, whose intensity and caramelized notes enhance the cigar’s richness. With a strong panel rating of 96, the San Andrés stands out as a well-crafted, flavorful cigar that bridges the worlds of premium tobacco and fine bourbon, offering a cohesive and elevated experience.

Though tobacco is indigenous to Hispaniola, the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic existed in the shadow of Cuba’s dominance through the 1960s. When the exodus of Cuban cigar makers began in the wake of the revolution, many decided the Dominican Republic would be ideal for the resumption of their livelihoods. Unrest in Nicaragua in the 1980s fueled the Dominican cigar industry further. The country now makes more than half of the premium cigars imported into the U.S.

The Cibao Valley and the nearby city of Santiago are the center of cigar production in the Dominican Republic. Three main varieties are grown here: the mild and native Olor Dominicano; the intense Piloto Cubano, brought from the Vuelta Abajo of Cuba; and San Vicente, a milder and more acidic Piloto hybrid. Dominican puros were once unheard of as it was widely thought impossible to grow quality wrapper leaf on the island, but new growing techniques are now allowing some exceptional puros to be produced.