San Cristobal Quintessence Epicure

Created in 2007, the San Cristobal brand is starting to make waves throughout the cigar industry. The San Cristobal Quintessence Epicure in your shipment today is made at the My Father Cigars factory in Estelí, Nicaragua by Don Pepin Garcia and family for Ashton Distributors, Inc. At first glance you will notice the stunning high-priming Ecuadoran Habano wrapper which secures a Nicaraguan binder and long-fillers grown on the Garcia family farm. Medium to full in body, give the foot a nice toast and find notes of leather, spice, and hints of chocolate. Complex and full of character, our panel loved this smoke and so did Cigar Aficionado who gave this top shelf offering an impressive 92 rating and a spot on their Top 25 list in 2018. With excellent construction and flavor, pair this smoke with your favorite whiskey.

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.