CA Report: Top New Cigars (December 11, 2023)
Need a last-minute holiday gift? These Top New Cigars will please their palate!
I’ve probably written this before, but it bears repeating. No one has ever summed up the holidays either as eloquently nor accurately as Clark Griswold. “Hallelujah. Holy shit. Where’s the Tylenol?”
And with exactly two weeks to go, we’re clearly in the Holy shit part. No worries, my friends. There’s a cure for this headache that doesn’t require raiding your in-law’s ‘back pill’ stash. The cure, of course, is a cigar. But why smoke some daily stick that you’ve been puffing on for the past 10 years? Maybe it’s time to shake it up and try something with a little less mothball in its flavor.
This week, I’m covering new cigar releases from Don Pepin Garcia, Alec Bradley, Ferio Tego, and La Gloria Cubana. May they help you survive the onslaught and happy holidays!
Don Pepin Garcia Blue 20th Anniversary
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Go into any cigar-friendly place and bring up the best cigars of the past 20 years. My bet is that most of the group will wax poetic about trusty ol’ Don Pepin Garcia Blue. Blue isn’t even the cigar’s name (it’s actually called ‘Original’), but it doesn’t matter. Just say ‘Blue’ and one will find it’s way to your hand.
Garcia’s interpretation of the blend for the 2023 anniversary includes some of the company’s rarest tobaccos. While its $800 price tag certainly is balk-worthy (5-packs and singles are also available), I look at the limited-edition box as the ultimate Don Pepin fan gift—a gift that’ll get you off the giving hook for the next decade to come.
Celebrate on of this century’s most talked-about cigars and let me know what you think in the comments below!
Alec Bradley Post Embargo B15
Wrapper: Honduras Trojes Criollo
Binder: Honduras Jamastran Corojo & Trojes Criollo
Filler: Honduras Jamastran Corojo & Trojes Criollo
What’s a B15? Am I about to be bombed?
Flavor bombs for sure.
Alec Bradley’s Post Embargo release is a love letter to the cigars coming out of Honduras just after the Cuban revolution. Back before the boom brought full-bodied blends into the spotlight. I found the cigar to be spicy, sweet, and earthy—just the way you’d expect a classic Honduran profile to taste.
Does it go well with eggnog? Probably not. But that’s what your bourbon stash is for.
La Gloria Cubana 8th Street Corona Gorda (New Size)!
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
To most of us, 8th Street probably has a CVS or something on the corner. To Little Havana in Miami, 8th Street is home to one of the most storied cigar factories in the states: El Titan de Bronze. Now that you know how this La Gloria got its name, let’s talk about how it tastes.
Smooth with thick, buttery smoke that invokes nuances of coffee and baking cocoa. It’s spicy, yet understated. Probably not best for beginners but not at all unheard of for those with a little experience. Thanks to this new Corona Gorda size (basically a short Churchill at 6 ½” x 48) with a smaller ring gauge, these flavors get a little extra oomph with every puff. Smoke it slow on Christmas Eve and save the cookies for Santa.
Ferio Tego Summa
Wrapper: Ecuador Corojo
Binder: Ecuador Sumatra
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
On his unwavering path to elevate Ferio Tego to household name, Michael Herklots seems to have no plans to stop producing new cigars. His latest entry, Summa, spotlights Sumatran tobaccos—namely with its binder leaf. As Michael puts it, “The Summa blend highlights the incredible trifecta of body, flavor and intensity…and maximizes those levels with wonderful balance.”
I found the cigar to have a sweet disposition with some tangy, earthy elements and a dash of baking spices. And with a medium plus intensity level, most smokers can enjoy it without fear of their palate being overwhelmed. That’s what I call a Christmas miracle.