Ave Maria Reconquista Torpedo

Ave Maria is known for its exquisite label art and packaging and the Ave Maria Reconquista you have in your shipment is a prime example. The first thing you will notice is the box or ‘coffin’ (as it’s commonly known in the cigar industry) which is made of cedar. When you open the coffin a little piece of wood is attached to the top that raises the cigar up just enough to be able to pick it up. The cigar itself is just as stunning as the coffin it comes in with its signature and very impressive label art. Only made in the torpedo size, the Reconquista starts with a very hearty combination of very well-aged Cuban-seed, Nicaraguan-grown leaves from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa with a zesty Honduran binder. The wrapper is a thick, rich, oily, and toothy Brazilian Habano Oscuro. Once lit, this full-bodied powerhouse will have flavors of pepper, espresso, tobacco, oak, spices, and hints of cocoa that lightly dust the palate, leading to a toasty-sweet finish. Our panel recommend pairing it with a bourbon after a nice dinner.

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.