Ready to vote? No, no, not for Biden or Trump – I’m talking about your picks for the best new cigars here at Famous Smoke Shop. This week, we’ve got three candidates: one from Crowned Heads, one from Aganorsa Leaf, and the third from Drew Estate. It looks like it’s going to be a tight race, so get ready to pick which one you think is best-suited for your humidor.
Cast your ballot for the winner of this week’s Top New Cigars now!
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
I’ve always loved when Crowned Heads works with Carrillo Cigar Company. Ernesto, Jon Huber, and Mike Condor always make great things happen. Great things like Four Kicks Capa Especial. The blend is one of the original samples that preceded Four Kicks’ debut in 2011, and now it’s been topped with an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper. Equal parts tangy and spicy, these sticks have a wide appeal with secondary flavors like nuts, peppers, and cocoa. That’s worth a checkmark in the box to me!
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Shade/Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Looking for a more moderate cigar? One that doesn’t choose a side and sits in the center aisle? Check out Lunatic Hysteria Barberpole. With dual Ecuador Connecticut and Mexican San Andres wrappers, you get the best of the Natural and Maduro worlds with a creamy swath of cocoa, spices, cedar, peppers, and vanilla. Medium plus is the name of this barberpole’s game, so it’s easy on your palate without boring your taste buds. And let’s be real for a second, eh? It’s a hell of a lot more enjoyable than watching two fossils debate each other.
Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
You could call Herrera Esteli the incumbent in this race – the brand’s been around the longest, and it’s the only one of the trio that enjoys a national brand like Drew Estate backing it. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking that Willy Herrera’s gotten complacent, though, because he’s cooked up some phenomenal flavors in this special Broadleaf Lancero. Coffee, lush berry flavors, with sweet wood and spices are perfectly balanced by a savoriness that kicks your taste buds into high gear. It’s a full-bodied powerhouse that should be on any seasoned smoker’s short list.
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 Inside: Diners Drive-Ins and Draws: Guy Fieri and Espinosa release a fresh Knuckle Sandwich, plus new cigars from West Tampa Tobacco and a sequel to an award-winning Montecristo…see it all inside this edition of Top New Cigars!
Reading Time: 3 minutes The holiday season is upon us but there’s still time to order a few good smokes to enjoy over your extended holiday vacation. See the latest cigars from E.P. Carrillo, Southern Draw, and Rojas that’ll complement the milk and cookies the kids leave you—err—Santa on Christmas Eve!
Reading Time: 3 minutes In this special Halloween edition of Top New Cigars, we reveal Alec Bradley’s Double Broadleaf, a Caldwell favorite that supports the troops, and a Foundation Cigars blend that pays tribute to the origins of tobacco cultivation in the Americas. See them all now!
Reading Time: 3 minutes The boutique cigar brand took social media by storm – Viva La Vida – has now arrived at Famous, along with fresh blends from Romeo y Julieta and Villiger. Check them out now!
