Not to go all Peter Griffin on you—but “you know what really grinds my gears?” Skipping over Halloween and Thanksgiving. What do I mean? Well, last week, I went to a certain big box hardware store, and I’m ambushed by a Christmas display. I got a little uneasy—like the jitters after smoking a Padron on an empty stomach. Why? Because I have not yet begun to indulge in all my favorite fall foods. And believe me, I’m going to take full advantage of the twilight of beautiful outdoor cigar smoking weather—at least for 2021—with some primetime premiums. So, fire up the firepit and a great stick and dig into this edition of Top New Cigars featuring La Aroma de Cuba, Warped, and La Gloria Cubana.
Have you enjoyed a new cigar that you think should be on our must-smoke list? We’d love to hear from you! Please give us the details in the comments below!
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Shade Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
I knew Pasion—the latest offering from La Aroma de Cuba—was going to be a treat even before I tried it. Most cigars blended by father-and-son team Don Pepin and Jaime Garcia hit the sweet spot for me and La Aroma de Cuba Pasion didn’t disappoint. With premium aged tobaccos from three of the Garcia family’s cherished estates, Pasion is a medium bodied Nicaraguan puro with a rich flavor profile. You’ll find immediate notes of spice, before flavors progress to cedar, cashews, leather, and a molasses sweetness. Try La Aroma de Cuba Pasion if you want to try the next Pepin Garcia masterpiece or are looking for the new standard in Nicaraguan puros.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano 2000
Binder: Dominican HVA
Filler: Dominican Republic
“Chinchalle” is Cuban slang for a very small factory—and decidedly not the furry, bunny-like creature I first envisioned. Warped cigars are an established boutique darling and with Chinchalle they’ve enlisted a very small factory indeed—Tabacalera La Isla in the Dominican Republic (owned by a nephew of Manuel Quesada). Chinchalle is not only the first cigar from this factory, but the first Warped blend made in the Dominican. This medium to full-bodied premium cigar comes dressed in an inviting Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper covering a Dominican HVA binder and long-filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic. You’ll be greeted with a blend displaying finesse that elegantly balances notes of cream, spice, leather, roasted nuts, and coffee. Chinchalle is a great introduction to boutique cigars and a must try for fans of Warped cigars.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Dominican Habano
Filler: Dominican Republic and Nicaraguan
We all loved La Gloria Cubana Serie R when they hit the scene. What then is RF? The “F” stands for Famous—as in fantastic and back for a return engagement at Famous Smoke Shop. Serie RF features a dark brown—like a Hershey Bar—wrapper and a specially selected blend of La Gloria’s finest tobaccos to deliver a medium plus strength profile—closer to full than medium. You’ll notice, right off the bat, convincing notes of spicy pepper and leather before the flavors transition to notes of coffee, dry sweetness, earthiness, and wood with a molasses undercurrent noticeable throughout. The LGC Serie RF is a great everyday cigar for the enthusiast who needs a little spice in their life.
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Paul first fell in love with the leaf back in college, where he majored in Philosophy (yes, seriously). Upon graduating, Paul stared into the abyss and unemployment stared back. He responded by founding the ‘Pounding Fathers,’ a traveling Beer Pong team with the other Philosophy grad at UMass. Aspiring to subsist on more than Ramen Noodles and Natural Ice, Paul put down his ping pong balls and picked up a pen - and a cigar - and began working in the premium cigar industry in 2013.
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