Latitude Zero Toro Gordo

Latitude Zero cigars is a fairly new boutique brand that hails from one of the largest tobacco growers in the world, which is also the creator and original grower of the Habano Ecuador wrappers: Oliva Tobacco Company. What makes this high-end brand unique is that all of their cigars are crafted using the top 1% of their tobaccos. Taking its name from Oliva’s major growing areas and the origin of the Habano Ecuador wrapper, Latitude Zero’s massive band features an old world style map with a secondary band featuring a small slit to show the real latitude zero on the map. Underneath the dual band lies a super impressive R13E grade (also known as an Angel’s Cut) Habano Ecuador wapper from 2011, a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and 2010 vintage long-fillers from Estelí, Nicaragua from a farm called “The Jewel”. This zesty blend not only has a flawless draw and razor sharp burn, it also has impressive notes of pepper, oak, nuts, cream, and caramel. Medium to full-bodied in strength, this incredibly well-balanced smoke will pair beautifully with a sipping rum.

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.