Nestor Miranda Doppelbok

After a slew of highly rated releases, Nestor Miranda transitions to something a little easier on the wallet. But that’s the only difference – the flavor and construction are still on par with its counterparts. The Doppelbok is hand-crafted with a dark, leathery Habano wrapper that’s loaded with oils cloaking a unique blend of Nicaraguan long-fillers, making it a flavorful and interesting smoke throughout. Look for notes of nuts, cedar, and earth overlaying a rich tobacco core. This medium-bodied smoke is smooth, creamy, and mellow. Panelists were most impressed by its burn and draw. One characterized them as “amazing,” another said, “This cigar burned better than many cigars four to five times the price point.” So look for it to burn relatively straight, at an ideal rate and temperature and to require few touch-ups. As Goldilocks would say, the draw is just right, not too loose and not too tight. Enjoy this one with the Sunday paper and your favorite cup of java.

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.