We’re on the cusp of those long, hot, dog days of summer. Sweltering heat that can only be remedied by a pop-up canopy, a cooler brimming with icy brews, and plenty of smooth cigars. With many of us clamoring to fill our propane tanks and hit the butcher shops ahead of Independence Day, I’ll remind you that there’s still time to grab some delicious sticks for you and your stogie-loving friends and fam. The question: what to get?
After smoking a myriad of new cigar arrivals, I’ve narrowed it down to three winners: A blend celebrating HVC’s 10th anniversary, Cohiba’s latest super premium, and a resurrected Cuban brand that’s making some serious waves.
Which one will you be smoking at the cookout? Let me know in the comments below!
Wrapper: Nicaragua Jalapa Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua Criollo & Corojo
Hard to believe that Reinier Lorenzo’s HVC Cigars has a decade in the books. Even harder to believe that the milestone anniversary—and original release of HVC 10th—was two years ago already.
With the company well on their way to a second decade, HVC added a fresh size to their Anniversary blend in 2023; a shorter, yet chunkier 5” x 54. Expect to be rewarded with the same punchy Corojo sweetness that the OG 10th mustered with two caveats: a quicker smoke and a more affordable price tag. Should be music to your eyes considering all that dough you’re shelling out on burgers, hot dogs, and beers!
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras (Jamastran & La Entrada) and Nicaragua (Condega & Esteli)
If your 4th of July jamboree is less backyard barbeque and more Catalina Wine Mixer, Cohiba Riviera is the company’s latest high-brow super premium. The blend evokes notes of cocoa and coffee via a San Andres Maduro wrapper. Additionally, Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos imbue Riviera with a bold earthiness that’s loaded with floral notes on the finish and a hint of vanilla throughout. Sure, it’s a little bourgie in the price tag department, but this Cohiba’s worth picking up one or two to enjoy after all the guests have gone home.
Wrapper: Honduras Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican Republic
After reviewing the limited-edition Cuba Aliados Cabinet a few months back, I’m overdue to unwrap the production blend. Oliva Cigars resurrected the brand once run by the late cigarmaking legend, Rolando Reyes and was one of his crown jewels. And as those of us who’ve been in the game long enough know, it was as popular in the shops in its heyday as any other staple cigar you can think of. Indulge in a medium-bodied medley of flavors like oak, cinnamon, sweet tobacco, cedar, and nutmeg with an earthy-floral finish. In my opinion, Aliados brings big, bold flavors that will shine through the heartiest grilled feast without burning out your palate.
Features Editor, Jared Gulick, is a Certified Tobacconist, nerd of all things science, musician and serial abuser of the Oxford comma. He made his way to the Famous Smoke Shop retail store in 2018 and joined the Advisors when it was discovered that he could locate the shift key. Prior to his work in the cigar industry, he was a recording studio engineer, songwriter, and a journalism major at Northampton Community College.
Show all Jared Gulick's Articles
Reading Time: 3 minutes Summer sure is heating up with an onslaught of new cigar releases. Check out the latest sticks from Drew Estate, Diesel, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and read these quick reviews to see just how humidor-worthy they are!
Reading Time: 3 minutes Metallica’s James Hetfield, Halloween eve fires in Detroit, and a 70th birthday…sounds more like a newspaper than Top New Cigars. Trust me, it’s all related. Click to see more!
Reading Time: 4 minutes For their Double Broadleaf-Experimental Series, Alec Bradley Cigars have introduced their proprietary Connecticut-seed Broadleaf tobacco which they developed in Honduras. It’s the wrapper and one of the binders. So how well does it work for this Toro? Watch Gary’s review now.
Reading Time: 9 minutes It’s the 2019 Cigar Journal Cigar Trophy Awards: Read our take on the winners for “Best Brand,” “Best Cigar,” “Best Value” and more, along with a few reasons why each cigar earned its trophy.
