CA Report: Top New Cigars (Feb. 4 2019)
Football season is over, the heart of winter is upon us, and there just isn’t much to do aside from watch the sidewalk you just shoveled get covered in snow again. Time to head down to your local cigar lounge (if you’re near eastern PA, check out the beautiful lounge at Famous Smoke Shop) and forget about life’s troubles. This week’s picks are a mix of new cigars and a few sticks that have been flown under the radar since their debut in late 2018…but no matter, as they have earned their time in the warm glow of the Cigar Advisor spotlight. So follow along as we introduce you to five sub-$10 cigars, straight off the rolling table, that are sure to satisfy no matter what Punxsutawney Phil saw – or didn’t.
Diesel Whiskey Row
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano Binder: Bourbon Barrel-aged Mexican San Andres Filler: Nicaragua
When temperatures dip way below the freezing mark, nothing warms you up quite like whiskey. If your favorite bottle has run dry, we can do you one better – Diesel Whiskey Row. With the influence of a painstakingly bourbon-barrel-aged Mexican San Andres binder, treat your senses to rich notes of oak and earth with a spicy and sweet aroma that brings hints of bourbon. When you factor in that it’s less than $8 a cigar, you’ll be able to replace your empty bottle, too!
Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Binder: Aganorsa Nicaragua Filler: Aganorsa Nicaragua
You’re up early, the wife and kids are still asleep, and for the first time in a few millennia, your house is quiet. It’s time to make the most of it, so brew up a pot of your favorite coffee and tip-toe into your den to light up an Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut. You’ll be eased into your day by creamy notes of cedar, cocoa and a trace of spices. With prices south of $8/smoke, you can even give the old lady the receipt this time!
CAO Signature Series
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras
After tearing through a sizable chunk of your check on some Valentine’s Day jewelry that’s sure to sit in a box untouched, you open your humidor to grab a cigar and tears well as you realize it’s empty. The good news is that CAO Signature Series can fill it right back up. Blended to please, woody, smoky, and slightly fruity notes are only topped by the fact that these CAO cigars are less than $7 a stick. With prices this low, you won’t have to live off Ramen until payday.
H. Upmann Legacy Nicaragua
Wrapper: Corojo Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua
If you wake up every day and repeat the same things over and over again, it’s probably not because you’re Bill Murray. The real problem is that your humidor is filled with safe-bet cigars that get the job done, but no longer deliver the excitement they once did. It’s time for a change of scenery – and H. Upmann Legacy Nicaragua can help you break the cycle. Offering nuances of roasted nuts, cedar, leather, and spice that are sure get you out of the rut, these smokes are nothing short of a treat. When you factor in that you can get these sticks for less than a two-dollar bill and a quarter, there’s nothing left to wonder except how many Upmanns will fit in your stash.
Iron Horse by AJ Fernandez
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua
The warm sun is shining brightly as you sip your favorite drink by the pool and then – you wake up. It might not be a record low today, but after that dream, it certainly feels like it. Why sulk when you can burn an Iron Horse from A.J. Fernandez? Dishing out toasty notes of pepper, raisins, and chocolate, these are guaranteed to thaw your blues. If Maduro isn’t quite your forte, there’s a Connecticut-wrapped option (shown right) that will hit the spot. With both seated comfortably at $8 and under, the February Freeze will need to make way for a heat wave.
Had any of our new picks? Tell us about it with a comment – and watch this space for our next update of Top New Cigars!