Victor Sinclair Triple Corojo

The Triple Corojo is pure, 100% Corojo—wrapper, binder, and fillers—grown only from Cuban seed tobaccos. Every leaf in this cigar is Corojo. One might think this would lead to a one dimensional smoke built strictly on power, but upon lighting, it’s easy to see just how good Jose Dominguez is at blending tobaccos. You’re in for a treat—a full-bodied, feisty, firecracker of a smoke booming with chewy, rich, hearty flavors. The wrapper is thick and toothy, with some heavy veins; the cigar is rolled solid from head to toe. Look for the first few smoked-filled puffs to be a bit dry with a charcoal-like finish. Then a dash of pepper hits the back of the palate and strong spices dominate the nose. Shortly, the dryness disappears in favor of a chewy, oaky core which has a slight (and surprising) sweetness on the tongue. By an inch in, you’ll have some respect for the strength of this stick so take your time and enjoy the flavors. The cigar offers a hearty spice throughout that never overwhelms the palate and ample earthy undertones during the final half. The aroma is robust and fills the room with the scents of toasted wood and charcoal. The ash burns dark and firm for a good inch each time. Despite the strength and spiciness of the cigar, it remains smooth down to the final inch, a feisty finale filled with pepper and earth. Pair it with a stiff Cognac or rich Sherry that's big and bold enough to match up to this beauty.

Though tobacco is indigenous to Hispaniola, the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic existed in the shadow of Cuba’s dominance through the 1960s. When the exodus of Cuban cigar makers began in the wake of the revolution, many decided the Dominican Republic would be ideal for the resumption of their livelihoods. Unrest in Nicaragua in the 1980s fueled the Dominican cigar industry further. The country now makes more than half of the premium cigars imported into the U.S. The Cibao Valley and the nearby city of Santiago are the center of cigar production in the Dominican Republic. Three main varieties are grown here: the mild and native Olor Dominicano; the intense Piloto Cubano, brought from the Vuelta Abajo of Cuba; and San Vicente, a milder and more acidic Piloto hybrid. Dominican puros were once unheard of as it was widely thought impossible to grow quality wrapper leaf on the island, but new growing techniques are now allowing some exceptional puros to be produced.