Featured Cigars - August 2024

Bearing the last name of the famous South American liberator from Spanish rule, Simon Bolivar, this cigar brand has a rich history dating back to 1901. The Bolivar Cofradia was created by drawing inspiration from Simon Bolivar’s bold and authoritative battle strategies. Handcrafted in Honduras by the legendary Estelo Padron, this stick features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan...

By offering plenty of power tempered by a notable smoothness, the Obsidian sets a new standard for premium handmades. The dark, meaty blend consists of Cuban-seed long-fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. They deliver a wealth of dense tobacco flavor. Look at the foot of the cigar and you’ll note a combination of dark tobaccos (ligeros) in the core of the cigar, with a portion of lighter-colored tobacco (visos and secos) bunched...

The Don Rafael, sometimes referred to as “Everyman’s everyday premium,” is rolled by Jose Dominguez in the same Dominican Republic boutique cigar factory that makes Victor Sinclair. This mild to medium-bodied smoke is well-constructed, using all-Dominican long filler leaves. The binder is Dominican and the wrapper is a Connecticut-seed grown in Ecuador. According to Smoke magazine: “…panelists agree: this is a cigar for everyone. Its...

General Cigar has been delivering high-quality cigars since 1848, including such greats as Bolivar, Cifuentes, Cohiba, Partagas, Punch, and Macanudo, which is what you have received today. Macanudo is one of the top selling cigars in the world due to their consistently mild and pleasant character and exceptional construction. Macanudo is also a brand that doesn’t do gimmicks, ploys, stories, or anything with crazy marketing; they have stayed...

The 5 Vegas brand (read “cinco vegas”) is one of our favorite top shelf premiums. Delivering consistently superior construction and blends, 5 Vegas always delivers big in the flavor department. Hailing from the rich soils of Nicaragua, the 5 Vegas Nicaragua features a blend of Nicaraguan fillers and binder that is hugged by a stunning Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Toast the foot and enjoy medium bodied, palate pleasing notes of caramel and...

Legendary brands often come with unrealistic expectations but this one shouldn’t disappoint on any level. Note the stout, solid construction and tight fitting cap. It’s not particularly soft, nor is it overly firm. As Goldilocks might say, the craftsmanship is “just right.” The Cameroon wrapper smells sweet and wonderful and secures a Indonesian binder and Dominican Piloto Cubano fillers. Expect this medium-bodied stick to light easily and...

Debuting at the IPCPR (International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers) in 2011, this masterpiece is blended by none other than Alan Rubin, the founder of Alec Bradley cigars. If you don’t know where the name Alec Bradley came from, look no farther than Alan’s two sons, Alec and Bradley, who are now partnering with their father in the family business. Alan Rubin has been blending and producing cigars since 1997 that have garnered many 90+ ratings...

Hailing from AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano Factory in Ocotál, Nicaragua, the Espinosa Laranja Reserva Azulejo is another blend that has earned a well-deserved rating of 95 from Cigar Aficionado. Starting from the outside in, this stunning smoke features a dark chocolate Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper that hugs a Brazilian Arapiraca binder and finishes with Nicaraguan and African fillers. Medium to full in body, once lit you will find notes mocha...

The Macanudo Cru Royale is not your typical Macanudo. Released in 2010 at the IPCPR (International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association), this cigar was masterfully blended under the watchful eye of the one and only Benji Menendez from General Cigar in the Dominican Republic. His team included some of the best cigar masters in the world including the general manager of General Cigar, Francisco Rodriguez. This team blended viso leaves...