Felipe Gregorio Centenario

Centenario by Felipe Gregorio is a 90-rated thriller comprised of a dark, oily 1992 Habano wrapper that’s chock full of his top shelf long-fillers from Honduras. Take a prelight whiff and enjoy its sweet tobacco smell. Light it and note how easily it draws. Each puff releases clouds of thick, heavy smoke with a lovely aroma. Look for a rich, creamy core of earth and leather that’s complemented by sweet undertones of cedar, and a zesty finish. Medium to full in body, the Centenario is not a smoke that will knock your socks off. But it’s complex and interesting. Our panelists felt these puppies were improved by resting them in the humidor a couple of weeks. Enjoy it with a chocolate stout or your favorite cup of coffee.

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.