La Aroma de Cuba Robusto

The La Aroma de Cuba brand goes back quite some time. Winston Churchill (who was sort of a cigar fan) described it as one of his favorites. Originally made in Cuba, this handmade is now crafted in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras, showcasing excellent construction with a dark, moist and oily Cuban-seed Honduran wrapper that complements a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan long-fillers (both Cuban-seed). The complex blend featured this month was developed over an intensive three-year period before being introduced in 2002. Authenticity was considered crucial when developing this release. Note the traditional, old-Cuban style artwork on the label; if you order a box of these beauties (see reorder info below), they come in handsome boxes with similar traditional imagery. A very flavorful smoke, expect notes of espresso and bittersweet chocolate. This medium-to-full-bodied cigar delivers thick and rich earthy flavors and finishes with a slight spiciness in the aftertaste. It is nicely complemented by a robust malbec.

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.