Black Ops Connecticut Torpedo

The Black Ops Connecticut is from a name you might not be able to say three times fast, but the name Kaizad Hansotia has rapidly swept through the cigar industry. Known as the master blender behind the Gurkha brand, he's admired for his mastery of fine tobacco blending and creativity in developing attractive packaging for his cigars. To go a step farther, for the Black Ops, Hansotia has paired with the legendary Abdel “A.J.” Fernandez and his esteemed factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, Tabacalera Fernandez, which produces premium lines for Rocky Patel, Padilla, and Man O’ War, just to name a few.

We are thrilled about this cigar especially since it’s brand spanking new; it was released just a month or two ago! The Black Ops Connecticut may have an ominous name but don’t let that fool you; it’s actually a mild cigar that can be enjoyed day or night that has a tame demeanor but is big on flavor. It starts with a mellow blend of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos, a Honduran binder, and a silky-smooth Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper. On a quick side note, if you put the cigar under a black light the skull on the band will glow! After tracking down a black light, once lit, this mellow combination will lead to flavors of oak, cream, pepper, vanilla, cashews, and cocoa. One of the best mild cigars we have had in a while, we enjoyed ours with a refreshing cola.

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.