San Cristobal Clasico

Created in 2007, the San Cristobal brand is starting to make waves throughout the cigar industry; in fact, the main San Cristobal line (this month’s feature) has a 93 rating with Cigar Aficionado! For two years there was careful planning, crafting, blending, and perfecting before being skillfully handmade by the one and only Jose 'Don Pepin' Garcia, a Cuban-born expatriate that makes some of the world’s finest cigars. This gorgeous stogie comes chock full of a rich blend of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long-fillers that is secured by a zesty Nicaraguan binder and carefully draped with a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper before being laid down for a cedar nap. Well-aged and medium to full in body, this Nicaraguan smoke will lend complex notes of toasted wood, roasted nuts, coffee, and sweet spices. Sophisticated from foot to nub, enjoy this smoke with a Rémy Martin XO Excellence.

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.