G.A.R. Gran Consul

G.A.R. is a medium to full-bodied, full-flavored treat from George Rico, sometimes described as a “powerhouse.” It certainly rivals his bold earlier creations, Gran Habano and the top-rated 3 Siglos. The G.A.R. uses a beautiful Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, a Connecticut binder and a robust vintage mixture of Nicaraguan long-fillers. Construction is top-notch. The first thing you’ll note about the G.A.R. is that the band is at the foot—a unique twist that adds to the eye appeal of this lovely box-pressed, rich brown stick. Heavy in the hand, the stick feels slick and silky. The wrapper has a very light semi-sweet cedar smell and the foot a very floral aroma with hints of cumin. Look for a ton of flavorful smoke from the first draw, and the sweet taste of maple. Then there are some subtle floral notes, a little spice and some hints of cedar. The finish lingers slightly with a nice subtle spice on the back of the tongue and throat. G.A.R. really pumps out the smoke with rolls of curls coming from the head and foot even while resting. The aroma is sweet and potent—one that virtually sings “cigar shop” to those of us who love our sticks. This smoke is so smooth and creamy, it’s deceptive—it doesn’t give you the impression that it’s a powerhouse. But don’t let that fool you! This is not a cigar to have in the morning or on an empty stomach. Pair it with your favorite bourbon.

Honduras has been a tobacco growing and cigar manufacturing area for hundreds of years, but it was the Communist revolution in Cuba that really put Honduras on the map. In the 1960s, many Cuban cigar makers fled their homeland and arrived in Honduras to re-establish their way of life. The immigrants took advantage of the climate, soil, and geography, which were well-suited to tobacco growing, and began producing high quality cigars. The center of the Honduran cigar industry is the city of Danli and the nearby Jamastran Valley. The majority of the world’s pure Corojo tobacco is grown here, now that Cuba has stopped production of this iconic, spicy, and rich variety in favor of Corojo hybrids. Other important areas of Honduran cigar production include the Talanga Valley, Copan, and Trojes.