Don Rafael Signature Corona

The Don Rafael, sometimes referred to as “Everyman’s everyday premium,” is rolled by Jose Dominguez in the same Dominican Republic boutique cigar factory that makes Victor Sinclair. This mild to medium-bodied smoke is well-constructed, using all-Dominican long filler leaves, a Dominican binder, and a handsome Connecticut leaf wrapper. Our panelists were impressed by its excellent construction, easy draw and nice burn. They also felt these puppies were improved by resting them in the humidor a couple of weeks. In brief, Don Rafael is a very consistent smoke sure to appeal to novice and veteran cigar smokers alike. Perfect for any time of day, try it with a morning cup of blonde roast.

Though tobacco is indigenous to Hispaniola, the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic existed in the shadow of Cuba’s dominance through the 1960s. When the exodus of Cuban cigar makers began in the wake of the revolution, many decided the Dominican Republic would be ideal for the resumption of their livelihoods. Unrest in Nicaragua in the 1980s fueled the Dominican cigar industry further. The country now makes more than half of the premium cigars imported into the U.S.

The Cibao Valley and the nearby city of Santiago are the center of cigar production in the Dominican Republic. Three main varieties are grown here: the mild and native Olor Dominicano; the intense Piloto Cubano, brought from the Vuelta Abajo of Cuba; and San Vicente, a milder and more acidic Piloto hybrid. Dominican puros were once unheard of as it was widely thought impossible to grow quality wrapper leaf on the island, but new growing techniques are now allowing some exceptional puros to be produced.