Cusano 18 Churchill

In 1995 Michael Chiusano—the owner of a Wall Street investment firm and long-time cigar aficionado—traveled to the Dominican Republic. There he discovered a local smoke that "knocked his socks off!" He thought he'd have a thousand made for clients but word spread and he soon had orders for 10,000. The rest is Cigar Street history. Deciding "Cusano" would be easier to say than "Chiusano" when raving about the fine sticks he makes, Michael called his company "Cusano Cigars." His cigars are rolled in Davidoff cigar maker Henkie Kelner's cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. The 18 is so named because it utilizes Dominican Oro filler tobaccos that have been aged 18 years. They’re then combined with a potent Cuban Piloto and a mouth-watering San Vicente Olor, and bound with a wrapper-quality, super-smooth Connecticut Shade binder. That great combo is then dressed in an even smoother, silkier, golden Connecticut Shade outer wrapper. Talk about a winner! Expect a mild-to-medium cigar with a very enjoyable rich and fresh taste. Not very complex, but a really enjoyable cigar that would be appropriate for new cigar smokers as well as more experienced smokers who like a mild but rich tasting smoke. The construction is impeccable, the draw excellent, the burn even and all panelists agreed the cigar did not require any relights or touchups—unusual for a Churchill. Rated "91" by Cigar Aficionado, Cusano 18 is probably the only Connecticut to get any significant rating in the past 10 years. The full-bodied Cusano is a rich, heavy smoke with a long, woody finish. An oaky chardonnay complements its leathery and smoky notes and brings out a whiff of creamy vanilla.