Staff Picks

Our hard-working staff is busy smoking dozens of cigars, so you don't have to! Each week, they choose their favorite stick from the bunch.
Joaquin Ortiz
TASTE:Natural
HOBBIES:Diving, tennis, the beach, boating, music & computers
STRENGTH:Medium-Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Acid Yellow
Partagas
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Natural
Alec Bradley Tempus
La Galera 1936 Box Pressed

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Villiger TAA Exclusive 2020 Toro 6" * 54

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Villiger TAA Exclusive 2020 Toro 6 * 54
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The Villiger TAA is a box-pressed, medium strength cigar with an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder and a filler made of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The Villiger TAA marks the first time that Villiger and Ernesto Carrillo have teamed up to create a cigar. When I did a pre-light draw, it provided subtle notes of wood, earth, natural tobacco sweetness, and a citrusy / peppery twang. As the flavor profile developed, the primary flavors became a smooth natural tobacco with notes of cedar. The white pepper notes were a close secondary while the citrus notes remained in the background. By the start of the second third, I felt the citrus notes had increased joining the natural tobacco in the forefront. In the last third, the natural tobacco flavors became more earthy. There was an increase in pepper towards the end, but it did not become overwhelming. The citrus notes remained secondary. The burn line remained relatively straight from start to finish. The resulting ash was a beautiful light charcoal gray, and the burn rate and temperature were both ideal. For me, the Villiger TAA is going to be a collector’s item, cheers. Picked on 08/03/2020
Older Picks
Adam
AGE:40
TASTE:All
HOBBIES:Music, Reading, Art, Nature, Craft Beer, Slacking
STRENGTH:All

FAVORITE BRANDS
Arturo Fuente
Liga Privada No. 9
Tatuaje Black Label
Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970

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Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Maduro 5"1/2 * 50

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Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Maduro 51/2 * 50
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As odd as it may sound considering the current state of affairs in the world, I have barely had any time lately to sit down and spend some quality time alone enjoying a decent smoke. That said, when the opportunity arose, I wanted to make it count, and decided to go with something tried and true… something I knew would not let me down. Enter the Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Maduro. This particular vitola is possibly my top choice in the Padron Anniversary line up for a couple of reasons. It is not too big, yet not too small either, and usually burns for about an hour. The draw is nearly always perfect. It is smooth, but very flavorful. I also find it to be one of the best values in the Padron Anniversary series, which is always a nice benefit. Upon firing it up, I was immediately greeted with rich notes of cocoa and molasses, which persisted all of the way through the stick. The one I just burned had spent a year or more resting in my humidor, so it had barely any noticeable spice. You might notice a greater level of spice emitted from younger ones with less time in the humi, but never anything too intense on these. Smoke output was also excellent, with delicate clouds rolling away from the cherry even while at rest. The cocoa / molasses flavors seemed to be the most dominant in this stick all the way through, with hints of cherry along with macadamia nut beginning to mingle as it burned. Toward the end I was experiencing all of those flavors along with black coffee or espresso. No touch ups required all the way through. Simply put, this cigar is a classic that has endured the test of time. It is simple, yet elegant. It has no need for flashy branding or packaging, and yet, it remains a consistent best seller. If you have not done so thus far… do yourself a favor and pick a few up. Try one right off the shelf, and then leave one or two inside your humidor to put some age on them. You will be happy you did. Cheers. Picked on 07/27/2020
Older Picks
Edwin A.
TASTE:Wood , Pepper, Coffee and Earthy
HOBBIES:Working Out, Traveling and Smoking Good Cigars
STRENGTH:Medium-full , Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Perdomo Reserve Champagne Connecticut
Liga Privada T52
Tatuaje Nicaragua
Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970
Sin Compromiso

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Muestra de Saka Unstolen Valor 6" * 52

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Muestra de Saka Unstolen Valor 6 * 52
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Everybody that knows me knows I am a big fan of Steve Saka and his contribution to the world of tobacco. With that said, this cigar is totally different from the rest of the premium Muestra de Saka line, by the simple fact that it Was not blended by him! Instead, he challenged master blender and General Manager of NACSA (Nicaraguan American Cigars S.A.) Raul Disla to create a couple of test blends, and Saka picking the best fitting one for a new Muestra de Saka cigar. I'm happy to say that the Unstolen Valor meets all the expectations a fanboy like me would have. It start off with a mix of black pepper and earthiness to it, with a peppery retrohale and some leather notes as well. Reaching the second part, it stayed pretty much the same, earthy with a mix of pepper and spice along with a sweet component to it. The ash is as white as they come and the construction of this cigar is A+. The third and final part of this delicious stick is burning slow and is producing a pretty good amount of smoke, the pepper notes have increased and the retrohale is now more of a mix of espresso and earth. I have to add, to enjoy the full experience of this cigar you must retrohale! Overall, I am very impressed with the Unstolen Valor, and it definitely deserves a place among the Saka lineup. Picked on 07/25/2020
Older Picks
George Perez
TASTE:All. Except soft
HOBBIES:Smoking good cigars, watching movies, Jazz music, spending time with family
STRENGTH:Medium , Medium to full, Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Oliva Serie V
La Flor Dominicana Limited Edition
Espinosa Habano
CAO Flathead
New World
Asylum 13 Ogre
La Galera Habano
CLE Prieto

Macanudo Inspirado Green Toro 6" * 50

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Macanudo Inspirado Green Toro 6 * 50
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A long known name in the biz, Macanudo has always made great cigars. But with this new blend, they have outdone themselves. Introducing the Macanudo Inspirado Green. This new cigar has a Brazilian Arapiraca Wrapper, Indonesian Binder and Dominican Filler. The dark Arapiraca wrapper is from the city of Alagoas, Brazil, also known as "The Brazilian Tobacco Capital". At first light, you are introduced to hints of pepper, along with a taste of earth and woody tones. I found the strength to be medium-full to outright full body during the second half. The draw on the Inspirado Green is truly excellent. At the halfway point, the pepper does diminish a bit, while a hint of cocoa is now introduced. The earth and wood notes are still present. As I mentioned earlier, the strength has picked up by now as well. Towards the end of the cigar, the cocoa does diminish a bit and gives way to a superb leathery note. Again, the cigar stays true to its consistency. Good flavor and balanced strength throughout. I would definitely recommend the Macanudo Inspirado Green to anyone searching for a fantastically well-rounded medium to full-bodied premium smoke at an incredible price. Picked on 07/22/2020
Older Picks
Shelly Kingsberg
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Herrera Esteli Norteno Toro Especial 6" * 50

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Herrera Esteli Norteno Toro Especial 6 * 50
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The Norteno has been a staple in my humidor for many years--big fan of all sizes. The cigar has a gorgeous rich dark San Andres maduro wrapper with a soft box pressed shape. This, against a simple cool green and cream banding, entices one even more to pick up this cigar. The Norteno hosts Nicaraguan filler and a Honduran binder along with that San Andres wrapper. Upon first light, the cigar has an enormous outpour of smoke. Many notes were upfront which gave nice complexity right off the bat--notes of espresso, black pepper, and also some nice sweetness creeps in. Into the second third, the pepper subsides and the palate is flooded with saltiness and sweetness--chocolate notes, cocoa notes and a bit of earthiness--great complexity! Into the final third, the strength definitely jumps up to full body. The notes are salty, sweet, and toasty--full strength, full body and full flavor. This smoke had no construction issues--perfect draw, burn and great smoke output. It was so delicious that you almost want to take a bite of it! This is a great cigar to smoke after a big dinner instead of a fattening desert! Definitely a must try -- enjoy! Picked on 07/22/2020
Older Picks
Rene
AGE:33
TASTE:Wood, Earth, Leather
HOBBIES:Guitar, Beer, Sarcasm
STRENGTH:Medium/Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Liga Privada No. 9
Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro
Tatuaje Miami Seleccion del Cazador
Kristoff GC Signature Series
Eiroa CBT Maduro

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Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2020 LC48 5"1/2 * 48

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Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2020 LC48 51/2 * 48
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Every year, boutique smokers everywhere look forward to the latest iteration of Crowned Head's limited Las Calaveras blend. Pretty much since its introduction in 2014, I've been eagle-eyed while waiting for their annual arrival at Neptune, being that I am always impressed with the release. For 2020, the limited cigar sports a purple and gold band, with a gorgeous Ecuadorian Habano wrapper that encases premium Nicaraguan components. Upon removing the golden footer band, I cut my Las Calaveras and giddily began lighting it up. After a small blast of pepper in the beginning, it wasn't long before I was smack dab in the middle of Flavor Town. Creamy notes of cedar, earth, and almonds were prominent, with the spice subsiding and only showing up again periodically, albeit at the most opportune moments. Towards the end, the Las Calaveras became quite leathery, and rounded the final lap with more earthy tones and a naturally sweet finish. Overall, I would rate the strength as in-between medium and full. As always, the burn was even, no relights were necessary, and the draw was beyond excellent. It amazes me how this line consistently gets it right even after experimenting with various blends year by year - a true testament to Crowned Head's expertise. There were only 1,000 boxes of each vitola made for the entire world, so make sure you stock up on this scarily impressive offering before they're gone. I am always on the look-out for this series, and I firmly believe every smoker should be as well. Picked on 07/12/2020
Older Picks
Jose Alonso
TASTE:All
HOBBIES:Watching movies, listening to music, spending time with family, reading, writing, photography
STRENGTH:Any

FAVORITE BRANDS
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real
Davidoff 702 Series
Liga Privada Unicos

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My Father No. 1 Robusto 5"1/4 * 52

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My Father No. 1 Robusto 51/4 * 52
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From its elaborate and tastefully ornate band to its rose-tinted Ecuadorian Colorado maduro wrapper, the My Father No. 1 robusto is one eye-catching stick, that definitely got my attention. Typically, I’m not a big fan of heavily decorated bands, but this one seemed to capture the essence of old-style cigar bands without being too flashy or overdone. As for the wrapper, it could not be any more perfect even though its veins were a little visible. The construction was firm with very little give. The aroma coming off the body and foot was all tobacco with some spice. The cold draw was effortless, and the flavor coming through it was spicy. Once lit, it delivered a rich tobacco flavor with more of the spice coming through. The retro-hale had a strong peppery feel. Its long spicy finish danced on my tongue for some time. From the first to the final third, the flavor profile stayed consistent. Overall, the draw was perfect, and the burn was sharp. Strength-wise, it was a medium to full-strength cigar that did not fight the warm tobacco flavor. I’d recommend the My Father No. 1 robusto to aficionados who like a well-made stick that has a consistent flavor. Picked on 06/23/2020
Older Picks
Marianela Mena
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Kristoff San Andres Box-Pressed Toro TAA 2020 6"1/4 * 54

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Kristoff San Andres Box-Pressed Toro TAA 2020 61/4 * 54
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Being the first Kristoff San Andres box press cigar I can surely say I’m impressed with the results. Hands down I like it better than the original round vitola. Yes, this is the same blend of the Kristoff San Andres  but in a different presentation. I can attest the cigar is delicious, tasty and smooth as velvet. Don’t get me wrong, the cigar is a solid medium to medium plus at some point when the pepper reach its higher point and the flavor gets full develop but still smooth and creamy. With a mix of light pepper, earthy notes and a sweetness that to be honest caught me by surprised.  I was waiting for the wrapper to be predominant here and to apport more pepper to the mix, while this might be disappointed for other cigar smokers waiting for that San Andres to show up in full mode I found it great, both, full body and mild to medium smokers can smoke this cigar and be pleasantly satisfied. Excellent draw performance, the ash is a little too flaky to my taste but it keeps an even beautiful burning line. I would say wood, earth and mild to medium pepper are the predominant notes of this stick. The creaminess goes all the way to the end and it makes the cigar so easy to smoke and so enjoyable that I am sure you are gonna smoke more than one. A Dominican rum is perfect to pair with this cigar but let me know your ideas of pairing, I am open to try them all! Picked on 06/14/2020
Older Picks
Luz Normand
TASTE:Earthy, Pepper
HOBBIES:Cooking, Reading, Traveling
STRENGTH:Medium

FAVORITE BRANDS
Arturo Fuente
La Aurora Preferidos Cameroon Platinum
Tatuaje Black Label
Montecristo Espada
Crowned Heads Headley Grange

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CAO Session Garage 5"1/4 * 54

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CAO Session Garage 51/4 * 54
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Smoked the CAO Session Garage while listening to Rick Rodriguez, cigar blender for CAO, talking about how he calls meetings to smoke new blends and calls them "Sessions". So that is where the name comes from for this new CAO offering, the CAO Session Garage. Perfect visual of a few people smoking stogies in Rick's garage. The cigar itself is visually appealing with a bright orange and blue band and dark chocolate Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper. In these times where there is a shortage of Broadleaf, it is a great opportunity to pick up a CAO Session if your regular maduros are out of stock. I rarely smoke maduros. They take more time to get the burn going, and sometimes I find them too sweet. The CAO Session is well balanced in that regard. It is sweet, and you feel it as soon as you take the first puff, but not too sweet. It did take a bit to get going in terms of burn, but once it was lit it burned beautifully and evenly with a nice white ash. The construction of this cigar was 5 stars. This is definitely a medium to full bodied cigar, not for the mild cigar smoker and if you are looking for medium, be prepared for some extra nicotine. Overall, this cigar Session was very enjoyable with pleasant and complex flavors that were earthy, chocolaty, woody, and peppery. Get ready to sit, smoke, and chill with this one, it's a great pick! Picked on 06/01/2020
Older Picks
RJ Clyne
TASTE:Creamy, chocolate, cinnamon
HOBBIES:Making money and writing poetry
STRENGTH:Mild to medium

FAVORITE BRANDS
Ashton Symmetry
Arturo Fuente Magnum R
The Oscar Maduro
H. Upmann by AJ Fernandez

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Deadwood Crazy Alice Robusto 4"1/2 * 52

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Deadwood Crazy Alice Robusto 41/2 * 52
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At a first glance I see exactly how this cigar got its name, Deadwood Crazy Alice. It has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper which is usually an indicator of a full-bodied cigar, but of course this petite corona is mild to medium. I did not notice the aroma, because of the overwhelming taste of honey from the few puffs. The blend is an array of sweetness mixed with subtle undertones of spice, a dash of pepper, and coffee beans. This smoke makes for a very unique Connecticut Broadleaf that comes equipped with a strong whiteish grey ash. It is easy to smoke and is not too heavy on nicotine. This corona, standing a little over 4inches, is the epitome of short and sweet. With an even burn all the way through towards the end, the acidity of the flavors increases, but does not overwhelm the pallet as the sweetness is consistent throughout. In the last third, the flavors neutralize, yet the honey spreads like a wildfire to finish the cigar. A very enjoyable smoke for an amateur, the wife as well as for a big cigar aficionado looking to break the monotony of the traditional every day blend. Picked on 03/02/2020
Older Picks
Curtis Yap
TASTE:Spice, Sweetness, Oak, Roasted nut, Coffee
HOBBIES:Smoking excellent cigars, Cooking, Going to new restaurants and bars, Playing badminton, Muay Thai, Always enjoy a good whiskey, scotch or tequila
STRENGTH:All

FAVORITE BRANDS
Arturo Fuente Fuente Opus X
Illusione "Original Documents"
Illusione Maduro
Davidoff Nicaragua
El Gueguense
Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour

Warzone Toro 6" * 52

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Warzone Toro 6 * 52
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When I heard General Cigars and Espinosa were teaming up to create a cigar, utilizing their own unique styles, to say I was excited would be an understatement. I couldn't wait to get my hands on one. The cigar is constructed nicely, and I appreciate the thought process that went into designing the band, and the Warzone has a beautiful one. The cigar has a Cameroon wrapper, with a Honduran binder and a filler from Colombia and Nicaragua. The Warzone is a medium to full-bodied cigar with notes of white pepper, cedar and cocoa. On the cold draw you will pick up on the cocoa and cedar. As the cigar is toasted, you can smell the cedar. The first third lends itself to the cedar. As it transitions into the second third, the cocoa and white pepper become more prevalent especially on the retro hale. On the final third, the white pepper stands out a bit more but not to overwhelm your senses. The Warzone pairs well with a dark rum. It’s a good cigar to end your day. Picked on 01/03/2020
Older Picks
Michael Diaz-Silveira
AGE:25
TASTE:Wood, Leather, Nut, Maple
HOBBIES:Guitar, Investing, Travel
STRENGTH:Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
Herrera Esteli Habano
Eiroa CBT Maduro
Liga Privada No. 9
Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Connecticut
CAO Amazon Basin


BONUS
Adrenaline Junkie!

Eiroa Dark Natural 5" * 50

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Eiroa Dark Natural 5 * 50
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The Eiroa Dark Natural is one of the newer releases from Christian Eiroa. This cigar caught my attention 1st being an Eiroa, Eiroa makes some of the most exquisite cigars on the market today, and 2nd its presentation. The cigar has an elegant wrapper that was just screaming my name. I began by torching the foot of the cigar till it was completely charred black. At first puff I was taken to paradise. The cigar is creamy, it’s nutty, and has a small amount of spice. The cigars ash burned evenly and the draw was perfect. I would say to pair this cigar up with a woody whiskey, or a dark coffee. Another great addition to the Eiroa line be sure to pick one up and try it. Picked on 09/01/2019
Older Picks
michael Perez
TASTE:ALL
HOBBIES:Motocross, fishing , cooking, smoking a good cigar
STRENGTH:Mild to Full

FAVORITE BRANDS
CAO Flathead
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Natural
Padron 1964 Anniversary Natural
Rocky Patel Vintage 2006

La Galera Habano El Lector Toro 6" * 54

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La Galera Habano El Lector Toro 6 * 54
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The Galera Habano El Lector is a great cigar made by Jochy Blanco a 4th generation cigar maker. This Cigar has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and has a Corojo binder and Dominican Filler. This cigar has a beautiful golden wrapper with minimal veins. This is a great medium body cigar that is packed with so much flavor. Once I lit the cigar I got notes of wood with some sweetness in the back ground with a mild hint of cinnamon. The second third was very creamy with some sweetness and spice towards the end. The final third of this cigar gave me hints of wood and chocolate notes with a hint of black pepper. This is a great cigar to enjoy that is made by a cigar maker who has a passion for growing tobacco. I strongly recommend this cigar. Enjoy and keep smoking Picked on 04/11/2019
Older Picks
Leonardo Segura
TASTE:Cedar, Dark Chocolate, Coffee, Hydrating/Refreshing, Oaky, Earthy, Creamy
HOBBIES:Golf, Long walks on the beach, Smoking cigars, Traveling, Learning
STRENGTH:Mostly Full, Some Medium

FAVORITE BRANDS
Ambos Mundos Habano
Brick House
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero
Casa Fernandez Aganorsa Leaf
San Lotano Habano
La Galera Habano

Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli Robusto 5" * 52

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Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli Robusto 5 * 52
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If you’re looking for a cigar that you can enjoy without scrutiny, look no further than the Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli. This robusto is unapologetically consistent in flavor all throughout. While this lack of complexity might traditionally discourage a cigar connoisseur from picking this stick up, it is not a detrimental quality. This is a valuable characteristic for the smoker looking for a cigar that they can pay little mind to as they relax on a poolside. Furthermore, this stogie also has a peculiar feature in its smoke. The smoke one draws is heavy and lingers on one’s tongue until it is all expelled. This lets one enjoy the rich grassy and earthy flavors this cigar carries to its fullest extent. This is a stick to pick up on your way to an all-inclusive beach resort vacation, where you might want to smoke a cigar with simple good flavors rather than nuanced notes. The Alec Bradley Black Market Esteli Robusto: a cigar for someone with a drink in their hand, on a beach, without a care in the world. Picked on 04/04/2019
Older Picks
Emmanuel Bermudez
TASTE:Earth, cedar, woody, Spicy
HOBBIES:Photography, Music Production, Sampling Wine/Whiskey, Cooking, Art, Nature, Sunbathing, Reading, Meditation
STRENGTH:Mild To Medium

FAVORITE BRANDS
Ambos Mundos No. 1 Habano
Rocky Patel Olde World Corojo
Brick House
Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Connecticut
My Father

Ambos Mundos No. 1 Toro Habano 6" * 50

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Ambos Mundos No. 1 Toro Habano 6 * 50
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After building my palate with milder, Connecticut-wrapped cigars, I wanted to expand and develop it further with the next natural step - a Habano wrapper. The Ambos Mundos No. 1 Toro Habano is from Nicaragua, and has a smooth Ecuadorian Habano wrapper along with Nicaraguan binder and filler. After lighting and getting a couple of puffs in, I immediately noticed the aroma... burnt cedar and cinnamon. This complimented the earthy, spicy notes found from the get-go extremely well. Midway through the cigar, the taste took a turn towards the cedar side, while still maintaining the earth and spice throughout, adding some nice complexity. I also have to mention that the draw was perfect, the burn was even from beginning to end, and no relights were needed. I highly recommend this cigar to both new smokers trying to broaden their horizons, and experienced smokers who enjoy a flavorful Habano wrapper. Picked on 11/28/2018