Carlos Toraño Vault D-042 Toro

Carlos Toraño makes classics! In fact, the Toraño family is one of the unsung stars of the cigar industry. They are folks with a storied heritage who consistently make quality premium blends, although they remain largely behind the scenes and under the radar. Each Toraño cigar represents four generations of family tradition which began in 1916, shortly after Don Santiago Toraño arrived in Cuba from his native Spain. In the mid 1960s, his son Carlos made a significant contribution to the industry when he introduced the concept of growing Cuban-seed tobacco plants in the Dominican Republic. Today, Don Santiago's grandson and great-grandson continue his family heritage with this handcrafted toro of unmistakable Toraño quality.

Starting in 1982, Carlos Toraño Sr. started writing down all of his family’s blends in a ‘blend book,’ thus capturing every blend the Toraño family ever created. The book also contains future concepts that may or may not ever see the light of day. The newest creation from the book is in your shipment today – Vault D-042. Using a blend of Central American tobaccos, this Nicaraguan handmade employs a stunning, flawless Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf long-fillers. Full-bodied, this once concept cigar will feature sweet and spicy notes of coffee and tobacco that pair wonderfully with a Belgian pale ale. This is definitely one for the books!

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.