Smokeasy's top 4 memorable smokes for the month of March
Pictured clockwise: Perdomo Small Batch 2005 Maduro, Alec Bradley Tempus Nicaragua, HOYO by Hoyo de Monterrey, and EP Carrillo INCH Maduro. All images are courtesy of the respective cigar manufacturers.
Perdomo Small Batch 2005 Maduro (Tabacalera Perdomo)
This is the third and last of the Small Batch 2005 Series from Perdomo - first was the Connecticut Shade released in March 2015, followed by the Sun Grown which was released in April 2015. The Maduro was released in May 2015. Each of the Small Batch 2005 Series have been aged for 10 years, with the wrappers finished in bourbon barrels. Three thousand boxes of the Small Batch 2005 Series have been released - don't believe these will be around much longer...
Country of origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Vitolas (4): Belicoso (5" x 54); Half Corona (4" x 46); Rothschild (4½" x 50 Robusto); Toro Especial (5½" x 54)
Full-bodied | Full strength
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Tempus Nicaragua (Alec Bradley Cigars)
Released in September 2015, this is a great addition to the other two highly-rated Tempus lines (the Tempus Natural and the Tempus Maduro). Unlike its compadres, this is a Nicaraguan puro blended from tobacco from three different growing regions in Nicaragua. Think this is the best of the Tempus line - and NOT because I'm biased to Nicaraguan puros! 😉
Country of origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Nicaragua (Jalapa)
Binder: Nicaragua (double binder)
Filler: Nicaragua (viso and ligero from Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa)
Vitolas (5): Terra Nova (5" x 50); Medius 6 (6" x 52); Centuria (7" x 49) Imperator (6⅛" x 52); Magnus (6" x 60)
Medium-Full-bodied | Medium strength
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HOYO by Hoyo de Monterrey (General Cigar Company)
This is General Cigar's new version of Hoyo de Monterrey which will be released exclusively for brick and mortar retailers on April 1. I've been smoking a sample pack received from General Cigar and must say I'm extremely pleased. Smoked two already, but letting the remainder rest for some weeks to months to see what some age will do. Check out the full press release for further details on this blend here.
Country of origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Esteli Habano Shade (proprietary)
Binder: Ecuadoran Sumatra
Filler: Pennsylvania Ligero, Nicaragua (Esteli and Ometepe)
Vitolas (4): Toro (6" x 50); Robusto (5" x 54); Gigante (6" x 60); Rothschild (4½" x 50)
Medium-Full-bodied | Medium-Full strength
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INCH Maduro by E.P. Carrillo (EPC Cigar Co.)
Ernesto Perez Carrillo created this blend specifically for the large ring gauge lovers, with the smallest ring gauge of this line being 60. This blend has been around since 2012, making its debut at the annual International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR). Carrillo, who has been credited for some innovative work with La Gloria Cubana prior to starting EPC Cigar Co., intended for INCH to not be a limited release cigar, but a limited production cigar on an annual basis due to tobacco supply limitations. It's been at least two years since I last smoked this - so glad I just revisited it!
Country of origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Vitolas (4): No. 62 (5" x 62); No. 60 (5⅞" x 60); No. 64 (6⅛" x 64); No. 70 (7" x 70)
Medium-Full-bodied | Medium strength
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