Diamondback

Newly released in 2011, the Diamondback cigars are made by one of the largest cigar manufacturers in the world, the Altadis Company. Altadis has been in business since 1918 and they are makers of cigars such as Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and Playboy, just to name a few. This particular cigar is blended by Omar Ortez in Nicaragua and is chocked full of Nicaraguan long-leaf filler and binder that is then encased by an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. This mild cigar is not only surprisingly aromatic, it also features a rich tobacco core with hints of coffee and cedar with a gentle sweetness. Due to its mellowness, it can be enjoyed at any time of day. We smoked ours out with friends celebrating with a glass of champagne.

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.