Arganese Connecticut Churchill

Made from a tasty vintage blend of Dominican long-fillers, a rarely seen Indonesian binder and a beautiful Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut shade wrapper, the Arganese Connecticut Robusto is a mild cigar chock full of crisp, nutty flavor. Note how well constructed this cigar is— the cap flows nicely with the rest of the cigar, there are minimal veins, and no evident hard or soft spots. Not surprisingly, the draw is good and the burn dead even with no touch ups needed. The wrapper brings a creamy element which complements the blend’s crisp, toasty nuances nicely. Look for notes of wood, lighter notes of leather, mild floral hints and a finish of cream and pepper. This is a good cigar for beginners and a great morning cigar for novices and aficionados alike. Enjoy it with a cup of java or fruit juice and the Sunday paper.

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.