San Miguel Torpedo

The San Miguel is a gorgeous, classically-packaged, medium-bodied premium hugged by an inviting, sun-grown Sumatra-seed wrapper from Ecuador. With its silky, smooth oils and sharp box-press, it’s a looker, too. A pre-light whiff yields a raw earthiness and subtle spice on the front of the palate. Attribute that to the long-fillers beneath the hood, a rich blend from Central America’s most fertile growing regions: Esteli, Jamastran, and Ometepe. Light up, roll the smoke around a bit before exhaling and experience flavors galore—earth, tobacco, wood, and pepper. The Ometepe tobacco is responsible for both the cigar’s strength and its earthy taste, while the aged long-fillers from Esteli and Jamastran maintain the full-flavored, yet mellow bouquet. Look for abundant and creamy smoke that has a winning velvety texture that lingers after each exhale. This super-premium screams old school and old world. As one panelist said, “This is my kind of smoke! It has a flavor profile that has substance and entertains the palate.” When asked what he meant by “entertains,” he said, “It offers an eventful series of flavors that seem new to my taste buds each time I draw on it.” Sounds like true love to this writer! On a chilly March eve, sit by a fire with this cigar and a snifter of Appleton Estate Distilled 21-year-old Rum (or a similar well-aged dark rum) and be transported to Cuba.

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.