Featured Cigars - January 2023

Originating in Cuba in 1935 as a new brand from Menendez, Garcia y Cia., then the owners of the H. Upmann brand, the Montecristo name is reported to have been inspired by Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel Le Comte de Monte Cristo. The Dominican version of Cuba’s most widely smoked brand has met with tremendous success. Comprised of Dominican and Nicaraguan long fillers and a Nicaraguan binder wrapped in a flavorful, golden-brown, Connecticut-seed...

The Gurkha legend originates with colonial soldiers who, at the height of British rule in India, started making their own cigars from local tobacco, some of which was produced in the Portuguese territory of Goa. Expatriates from Britain who were still living in India continued smoking the cigars, but eventually the cigars began to wane into history and legend, as did the rajas’ rule. Today the Gurkha brand stays true to the original essence...

The Graycliff G2 line has legions of die-hard fans and some of those fans had some requests. Turns out, Graycliff was listening and added a new extension to the G2 cigars; so, without further ado, let us introduce you to the Graycliff G2 Habano. The G2 Habano features the same Dominican and Nicaraguan long-filler insides as its older counterpart, as well as a feisty Nicaraguan binder, but this bad-boy upped the ante by sporting a beautiful...

Nica Libre’s goal is simple: produce traditional and complex blends that can be enjoyed by everyone at affordable prices. While their core line has somewhat of a cult following, one of their newest and most coveted blends, the Nica Libre Silver 25th Anniversary Torpedo, may just be the best yet. This flawless boxed-pressed wonder features a bevy of Nicaraguan vintage long-fillers hugged by a super refined Nicaraguan binder. Finishing this full...

Hoyo de Monterrey is a highly sought after brand that originally began in Cuba in 1960 and was founded and produced by Jose Gener. His family farmed in the Vuelta Abajo region for many years during the late 1800s, a very fertile area in Southwest Cuba renowned for its tobaccos. Hoyo de Monterrey’s Hoyo de Tradición line is typically made at the Villazon factory in Honduras, but the club exclusive 6.0 x 50 Toro version we bring you this month...

Debuting at the IPCPR (International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers) in 2011, this masterpiece is blended by none other than Alan Rubin, the founder of Alec Bradley cigars, who has been blending and producing cigars since 1997 that have 90+ ratings from Cigar Aficionado, Cigar Insider, and Cigar Journal, just to name a few. This bad boy is no exception with a 94 rating from Cigar Aficionadoand the #6 spot on their Top 25 Cigars of 2022. The...

Alan Rubin, the founder of Alec Bradley cigars, has been blending and producing cigars since 1997 that have 90+ ratings from Cigar Aficionado, Cigar Insider, and Cigar Journal, just to name a few. His cigars also consistently make Cigar Aficionado’s annual Top 25 list, making his cigars some of the most sought out in the industry. If you don’t know where the name Alec Bradley came from, look no farther than Alan’s two sons, Alec and Bradley...

Technically, this is not a 100% ligero cigar. It’s more like 82% because a straight ligero cigar would have major burn issues. Your Cain Maduro won’t—the blend and construction are near perfect. Light it and you will find notes of dark chocolate, black pepper, espresso beans, and hickory. For a full-bodied cigar, the smoking experience is surprisingly smooth—trust you won’t be overwhelmed. Nonetheless, this stogie is for the seasoned cigar...

Hailing from Nicaragua, this limited production smoke has a blend consisting of four different varietals – Dominican Piloto Cubano, Nicaraguan Criollo 98, Nicaraguan Habano 92, and Nicaraguan Corojo 99 – that is secured by a Nicaraguan Habano 2000 binder and a wrapper from Besuki, Indonesia. The burn is smooth and complex with great depth and will lend notes of nutmeg, toasted clove, cinnamon, pepper and cedar with hints of cream and herbal...