Carlos Torano 1916 Cameroon

Cameroon RobustoThe 1916 was created in 2004 to commemorate the Toraño family’s entry into the tobacco business. Carlos Toraño cigars have been around for over 90 years! Their four generations of family cigar-making tradition began back in 1916, when Don Santiago Toraño emigrated from Spain to Cuba. After the Cuban revolution of 1959, his son Carlos would forever change the tobacco industry by introducing the concept of growing Cuban seed tobacco plants in the Dominican Republic. The seeds he brought from Cuba to the Dominican Republic yield tobacco that is today known as “Piloto Cubano,“ a term you may be familiar with, which we can all enjoy these days due to the instincts of this cigar maestro. Since Carlos’ untimely death, his son Carlos A.Toraño has continued the family business, expanding tobacco-growing to Nicaragua, Mexico, and Ecuador, while also bringing Carlos Sr.’s grandson into the trade. Today, the company is the only family cigar business to own and operate three cigar factories in each of the leading cigar producing countries (Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic). It is at these famed factories that they continue making classic cigars such as the Tribute, Cameroon, Select, and Signature lines, and the one we’re bringing you this month. If you love tons of smoke, this one’s for you! And the 1916 Cameroon’s smoke smells wonderfully nutty and cedary. As is typical with many cigars produced by Torano, the construction is impeccable: tightly packed and without soft spots so that the draw is firm. Note the cedar sleeve; it’s applied to each cigar to enhance the aging process. Featuring a gorgeous genuine Cameroon wrapper that has been prepped and aged for several years, the blend is a combo of Nicaraguan and Honduran long fillers. Expect the medium-bodied 1916 to start off with a fiery bang on the palate followed by a spicy flavor on the front of your tongue. The stogie mellows right away, and a deeper flavor profile emerges—with well balanced peppery and sweet spice flavors. The ash, light gray in color, is solid with some light flaking which occurs throughout the duration of the burn. The flavor tends to remain consistent to the halfway point, when the flavors become noticeably more complex. The finish is full and doesn't dissipate quickly. This is a stogie you can smoke right down to the nub. The 1916 Cameroon was named one of Cigar Aficionado’s top 50 cigars for 2004. Along with a “90” rating, this is what they had to say: "A toothy, well-crafted figurado. It has a fine draw. The medium- to full-bodied cigar has a fine balance, and flavors of nuts, spice and coconut, with an earthy and cedary finish." As a tribute to the Irish and Saint Paddy’s Day, pair this one up with an Irish whiskey such as Bushmills or Jameson. If beer is your preference, we suggest a Guinness or Murphy’s Irish stout.