For this selection, we wanted to highlight three brands that have shown remarkable aptitude for delivering above average results in regards to flavor, construction, and overall satisfaction. These brands not only taste great and are easy on the eye, but they’re building momentum as we speak for having some of the hottest blends on the market.
If you haven’t tried Chogui Cigars, Cornelius and Anthony, or Serino Cigars, below you’ll find our reasons for highlighting each brand and a little insight into their history. And if you have tried them, our aim is to give you a newfound appreciation for what they’ve accomplished to get here today.
Chogui Cigars
Chogui is brought to us by Victor Nicolas, a gentleman that operates out of the Top Secret Nest in the Dominican Republic. The Top Secret Nest is what Victor calls the factory, but it goes by many other names to different people. In truth, it’s about as boutique as it gets – many brands produce out of this factory under the mentorship of Chico Rivas, a master blender that is very much like a father figure to these ambitious cigar companies and their figureheads.
And Victor, seeking Chico’s tutelage, underwent years of mentorship learning how to prepare tobacco, blend tobacco, and even regularly performed such menial tasks as sweeping the floors at the end of the day. In many ways, working with Chico sounds like working with Micky Goldmill from the Rocky series. Each story relating back to him involves years of work, not just picking a house blend and throwing a new band on it.
Chogui’s first cigar released in the United States was the Dos 77 robusto, previously only available in the Dominican Republic. While this wasn’t his first cigar (Primera Edicion would claim that title, another cigar only available in small batches in the Dominican Republic) it was his first that Americans were able to buy. And buy they did! Until the last shipment came in recently, Chogui was sold out nationwide.
Each box reads, “Lost but not forgotten. We believe no good cigar should be forgotten, so we named our new line Dos 77 in honor of Chogui’s Primera Edicion – 6 x 43 box number 277, which was lost on it’s journey from the factory to the city. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.” –Victor Nicolas
Chogui Dos 77 can now be enjoyed throughout the U.S. in two vitolas, the robusto and lonsdale. Look to the robusto for more robust (pun intended) flavors, complete with leather, graham cracker, cocoa, oak, and a raisin-y sweetness. The lonsdale operates more as a Robusto-lite, coating the palate with milder, sweeter tones.
Cornelius and Anthony
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Steven Bailey, the owner of Cornelius and Anthony, can trace his tobacco roots back to 1866. And that’s where their story really begins, with Cornelius Bailey and Steven Anthony Bailey being the first tobacco workers in the family and now immortalized in the brand Cornelius and Anthony.
That sort of heritage lends itself to an appreciation and familiarity with tobacco that is rarely seen today. In fact, Steven even has a blending room in his home so that he can create and adjust round the clock. And the attention to detail that comes from knowing tobacco inside and out is evident in their current lineup.
Several years ago, Cornelius and Anthony launched with Meridian at the IPCPR tradeshow. Yet not long after, the company pulled it from the shelves and re-released it last year. Why? Because Steven felt that the blend and construction didn’t fully represent the level of craftsmanship that he wanted his family’s name on. And that’s just one story of many as to why Cornelius and Anthony has seen so much momentum recently. They’re good at what they do, take a lot of pride in their brand, and let their cigars speak for themselves.
Cornelius is produced at El Titan de Bronze in Miami Florida and is their luxury cigar in a premium lineup, producing vibrant flavors that lean towards the sweeter side of the flavor wheel.
Daddy Mac and the other cigars are presently produced at La Zona in Nicaragua. This is Steven’s favorite daily smoke, and is what he calls the Working Man’s Cigar with carefully administered doses of leather, woods, cream, and citrus.
The new Meridian might best be described as rich, delivering woodsy and cocoa notes washed down with a unique sweetness and plenty of cream.
Venganza, the latest release, is meaty, spicy, and everything a full-bodied fan could want. Translated to vengeance, this cigar is an excellent accompaniment to even the stoutest of pairings and will hold up to any challenge.
Serino Cigars
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Serino Cigars made quite the splash last year when they introduced their debut line, the Serino Royale series. They’re another company that isn’t new to tobacco, with Anthony Serino having over 20 years experience in various concentrations.
For their premium cigar venture, the Serino family partnered with the legendary Omar Gonzalez-Aleman several years ago at the La Corona factory in Nicaragua. Omar brings decades of experience from Cuba, where he was instrumental in the success of the Cuban La Corona factory as the General Floor Manager and Head Blender. You may also recognize Omar and La Corona from Hirochi Robaina’s Nicaraguan debut.
But the unveiling of the Serino Royale line wouldn’t be ready for more than two years after the cigars were rolled. Painstaking care was taken to ensure that these cigars tasted as luxurious as the packaging they came in. Their aim was to launch with four different lines spanning the spectrum of mild to full-bodied cigars. And the wait paid off! The Serino Royale Connecticut, Maduro, Maduro XX, and Medio were well received and highly praised.
In a world of overpowered Connies, the Serino Royale Connecticut seeks to deliver the iconic taste of what you’d expect from a Connecticut. Silky smooth yet interesting; rich yet mild on the palate.
The Maduro and Maduro XX offer varying degrees of body and strength that highlight different nuances of earth, chocolate, caramel, espresso, and cashew.
The Medio was designed to capture the medium-bodied market, and delivers targeted volleys of cedar, cocoa, and creamy sensations.
Carson Serino, the Vice President and face of the brand, will be unveiling his personal blend this summer at IPCPR.
Click here to view a special Brand Sampler at a discount
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