CA Report: Top New Cigars (December 26, 2022)
Boxing Day? You Mean New Cigar Box Day?! See Our Top Cigar Releases!
If you’re reading this, congratulations! You survived the holidays. Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to destress. What better way to do it than with a brand-new cigar? This week, I’ve got three you should know about. First, a Famous exclusive from Foundation that completely blew our minds. And then, fresh additions to popular lines from CAO and AJ Fernandez. I’ll review each one so you can decide whether it’s deserving of a spot in your prized humidor. Sit down, relax, take a load off. I’ve got your back.
Foundation El Gueguense Famous Exclusivo
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Nicaragua
Hard to say. Easy to love. Pronounced, ‘El Whey-When-Say’ Güegüense means “The Wise Man” and it’s won an endless list of high ratings and awards, including the #3 Cigar of the Year from Cigar Aficionado. That’s why we were elated when Foundation’s Nick Melillo unveiled a new El Gueguense as a Famous Smoke Shop exclusive cigar.
“We were pleased to work with such a respected tobacconist as Famous Smoke Shop to craft this beautiful Box Press Toro. It is a special complement to our El Güegüense line,” said Foundation founder, Nicholas Melillo.
We unearthed notes of cedar, sweet spices, caramel, and a perfect dose of pepper in every medium-bodied puff. This limited edition is already moving fast. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!
CAO Amazon Basin Extra Anejo Limited Edition
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Brazil Braganca & Nicaragua
The secret behind CAO Amazon Basin is its prized Braganca filler leaf, grown in the heart of the Amazonian rainforest and only harvested once every three years. For Amazon Basin Extra Añejo, they’ve gone the extra mile with aging. In fact, Extra Añejo itself means old in Spanish. This process gives the cigar a richer swath of its exotic, spicy flavors.
“When we launched Amazon Basin,” said senior CAO brand manager, Ed Lahmann, “we were the first in the world to use tobacco from the Amazon. Today, CAO Amazon Basin still stands out as one of the most important blends we have ever developed.”
Maybe it’s time your taste buds get a tropical vacation of their own. Let me know what you think if you give Extra Añejo a go!
AJ Fernandez New World Dorado
Wrapper: Nicaragua Sun Grown Criollo ‘98
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
El Dorado—the mythical Golden City. It was never found, though many explorers died searching. But some say that AJ Fernandez found his own treasure. In 2017, AJ broke ground on a new farm and immediately noticed the soil had a distinct golden hue. As such, he named the farm (and this cigar) El Dorado. This latest New World blend was crafted with pristine tobaccos from El Dorado’s inaugural harvest. On the palate, New World El Dorado is sweet, aromatic, earthy, and pleasantly dead center in terms of body and strength. AJ might be known for his powerhouse creations, but he’s proved once again that he’s anything but a one-trick pony.