Featured Cigars - Sept 2023

A worldwide favorite, this venerable brand has been around, in many guises, for decades. First manufactured in Cuba, then the Dominican Republic, Saint Luis Rey is now hand-rolled in Danlí, Honduras. Using a hefty blend of Nicaraguan, Peruvian and Honduran long-fillers, this "re-mastered" version of the cigar maintains the rich, full-bodied smoking experience of its predecessors. Over the blend of fillers is a Nicaraguan binder which is topped with a dark...

Unlike most medium-bodied Punch cigars, the Bareknuckle has kicked it up a notch and is a smooth full-bodied powerhouse. This baby is jam-packed with Honduran and Nicaraguan long-fillers laced with ample ligeros, tightly bound with a Honduran long-leaf, and draped with an oily, dark Ecuadorian Habano Sun-Grown wrapper. As you light ‘er up, flavors of pepper, earth, sweet cedar, and espresso are met with lots of smoke and a razor-sharp burn...

The REO Torpedo is a beautifully crafted stick. The cigar's dark Costa Rican maduro wrapper is an evenly colored deep chocolate brown, smooth, with minimal veins and a somewhat oily feel. The cigar lights easily and burns evenly with a firm gray ash. The blend is a mixture of aged Honduran and Nicaraguan long-fillers with a Nicaraguan binder, delivering complex flavors ranging from sweet nuts to mild, mellow maduro flavors, to chocolate...

We love a good puro, especially a Nicaraguan puro! And, when we get ‘em, you can bet they’re a big hit with those on our review panel who prefer the big-bodied ka-pow of strong cigars. The Joya Copper is no exception. Launched at the end of 2019, the Joya Copper is the newest in Joya de Nicaragua’s “Joya” series which currently consists of Red, Black, Cabinetta, and Silver in addition to the Copper. Representing a considerably bolder profile than the others...

Someone once said, "Arganese is not a household name, probably not even in the Arganese household", and it's apt. But this toothy cigar is so good and sells at such a reasonable price, "Arganese" may just become a well-known name in your household. It could also become your go-to everyday stick. The blend is an all-Nicaraguan mix of aged Cuban-seed tobaccos secured by a three year old Habano binder from Nicaragua and cloaked in a dark and oily Connecticut...

Ten years in the making, the Partagas Heritage was created by all the blenders that have worked with Partagas throughout Central America. The result is sophisticated, subtle, and simply elegant. Inside, this cigar is packed with long-fillers consisting of Honduran Jamastran, Dominican Piloto Cubano, and Mexican San Andres leaves that are then secured with a Connecticut Broadleaf binder. On top is a proprietary Honduran Olancho San Agustin wrapper...

The HC Series Blue Barber Pole is not only a winner in our book but it’s a truly stunning cigar. On the inside is a blend of premium Nicaraguan long-fillers and a Nicaraguan binder leaf. On the outside there are two wrapper leaves, Connecticut and Maduro, wrapped in a barber pole style to create not only a stunning look but a stunning flavor profile. Medium in body, this smoke will lend notes of pepper and espresso with occasional hints of that classic...

Of all the cigars expertly made in his own factory – ITC (Indian Tabac) 10th Anniversary and Rocky Patel's Fusion, among them – AJ Fernandez considers the Man O' War his best creation. The Damnation may be one of his best yet. Handmade in Nicaragua, this lip-smacker features a luscious and oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and a feisty Nicaraguan binder, and is brimming with Nicaraguan long-fillers. Even though this cigar packs a punch with notes of oak...

Ave Maria is known for its exquisite label art and packaging, and the Ave Maria Reconquista you have in your shipment is a prime example with its signature and very impressive label art. Only made in one vitola (shape), a torpedo, the Reconquista starts with a very hearty combination of very well-aged Cuban-seed, Nicaraguan-grown leaves from Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa, which is hugged by a zesty Honduran binder. The wrapper is a thick, rich, oily, and...