Bahia Maduro No. 2

Tony Borhani, founder of Bahia cigars, takes his business seriously. In a personal quest for stogie knowledge, he spent three years exploring cigar territory in Central and South America. He met growers, rollers and master blenders, studying their methods and styles. To this day, he constantly combines his knowledge of traditional production techniques with new ideas and secret methods that extend the art of processing, curing, aging and rolling our favorite aromatic leaf. Tobacco used for all Bahia cigars is grown at the best plantations in Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Ecuador and processed under the control, supervision and demanding methods of Tony Borhani and Don Douglas.

Current production of the Bahia Maduro is limited to 300,000 cigars a year. With its dark, slightly oily maduro wrapper, you’re in for a full-bodied experience and a real treat. The finest Connecticut Shade broadleaf wrapper marries beautifully with both the Cuban-seed Nicaraguan fillers and a three-year old Nicaraguan Habano binder. Whenever it is rated, this cigar earns the highest reviews. Look for an even burn and easy draw. We picked up strong earthy tones and some cedar in this robust cigar. Each panel member smoked this gem either to the band or the nub. Overall, it may not be a Cuban, but in our book, it comes close to that Habano satisfaction we all crave. This is another one we know you’re gonna love! A Spiced rum will pair well with this smoke.

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.