Amati Torpedo

Amati may be known for some of the best stringed instruments out there but now they will soon be known for some of the best everyday, anytime, anywhere, not to mention delicious smokes that are on market. The Amati Torpedo starts with mélange of Dominican long-fillers and binder, and is secured with an extremely handsome Connecticut wrapper. Mild enough for beginners but still complex enough for the veteran smoker this mild smoke will deliver smooth and creamy flavors with a razor sharp burn. Our panel recommended pairing it with a vodka, lime, and soda.

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.