Cusano 18 Robusto

In 1995 business took the owner of a Wall Street investment firm to the Dominican Republic. There the long-time cigar aficionado, Michael Chiusano 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. Thinking "Cusano" would be easier to say than "Chiusano" when raving about the fine sticks he makes, Michael called his company "Cusano Cigars." Take 18-year aged Dominican Oro filler tobaccos, combine them with a potent Cuban Piloto and a mouth-watering San Vicente Olor, bind it with wrapper-quality, super-smooth Connecticut Shade binder, dress the whole thing in an even smoother, silkier, golden Connecticut Shade outer wrapper and you've got a winner. Rated "91" by Cigar Aficionado, Cusano 18 Robusto 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.