HC Series Shade Grown Robusto

The HC Series Shade Grown takes the richer Nicaraguan foundation associated with the HC portfolio and gives it a decidedly gentler presentation. Handmade in Nicaragua, this 5.5 x 50 Robusto is wrapped in Connecticut Shade leaf around Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, producing a mild-to-medium profile built around sweet cream, oak, and toffee. The result is mellow enough for an earlier smoke yet flavorful enough to remain interesting, with the creamy sweetness of the wrapper balancing the earthier character of the Nicaraguan tobacco underneath. Pair it with a warm cup of chai tea. Chai's cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and creamy sweetness add aromatic spice without overpowering the cigar, while milk softens the tobacco and emphasizes its cream-and-toffee qualities. It's a cozy, aromatic combination that brings considerably more flavor than the cigar's light wrapper might initially suggest.

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.