As a testament to the quality of Cuban cigars of decades past, the term cubanesque is woefully misused throughout the cigar industry since it's often seen as the hallmark of a good cigar. Most Cuban cigars in today’s market taste different, smoke different, and require a different mindset in terms of storage than cigars from other countries. We’ll get into the specifics at a later date, but right now we want to highlight the key features that a brand would want to imitate when pursuing a cubanesque cigar.
Body: Cuban cigars are enjoyed throughout the world for being gentle flavor bombs. There’s a certain level of sophistication that’s experienced when you can fully taste a cigar without overtaxing the palate, and Cuban marcas are the champions of milder smokes. To present a cubanesque cigar, it would have to be in the mild-medium category for the American palate.
Aroma: Cuban cigars are renowned for having a wonderful aroma – that smell of a burning cigar that your spouse may compliment you on from time to time. In addition to being quite pleasant to smoke, Cuban cigars are also quite pleasant to be around. The cubanesque cigars below can’t drive your friends away, they’ll have to exhibit the same qualities.
Flavor Progression: As you can imagine with Cuban cigars being puros, it’s harder to create very complex blends that transition several times throughout the experience. Of course they do demonstrate differences between thirds or halves, but it isn’t as pronounced as their Nicaraguan or Dominican cousins. Ideally, the cigars below would also have a more linear flavor progression to mimic the cubanesque experience, but that’s easier said than done when picking world class cigars. We’ll have to be satisified that, like their Cuban counterparts, these all pair exceptionally well with coffee.
Cuban Twang: You may have heard of the infamous Cuban twang by now, and it’s perceived differently by different people. Some describe it as sourdough bread flavors, others as citrus notes, and I’ve even heard musty as a descriptor. We’ll let you decide if the cigars below hit some of those tasting notes for your palate, but it likely won’t be as prominent.
Let’s face it: The Maestros that left Cuba to start their own brands in other countries still claim that Cuban tobacco is the best in the world. Without getting into the factory shortcuts that make the end result less desirable to many these days, we won’t shortchange you by claiming that these cigars taste just like what you can purchase from a La Casa del Habano shop. But rest assured, you could slip these cigars into a Cuban Aficionado’s hands and they’d thoroughly enjoy themselves!
Best Cubanesque Cigars: HR Claro 109
The HR Claro 109 comes to us from the minds of Hirochi Robaina and Omar Gonzalez-Aleman. Hirochi can trace his pedigree in Cuban tobacco back to the 1800s, and still runs his family’s farm called Cuchillas de Barbacoa. Likewise, Omar oversaw production at La Corona in Cuba where many of the world’s most distinguished Cuban brands were crafted.
After the success of their first release, Hirochi wanted to create a more affordable product in the HR Claro to allow everyone to sample the Nicaraguan brand that was created to honor his family. The 109 size particularly shines, delivering a mild-medium, flavorful experience with a wonderful aroma. We should also mention that the 109 cap is only recently being used outside of Cuban cigars.
Best Cubanesque Cigars: Herrera Esteli Lonsdale Deluxe
Herrera Esteli was the first cigar blended to bear the namesake of Willie Herrera, the Master Blender of Drew Estate and formerly of El Titan de Bronze in Miami. And you can taste the El Titan influence in Herrera Esteli, as three out of our five picks for cubanesque cigars are still being produced in Miami, Florida.
The Herrera Esteli Lonsdale Deluxe is a lush blend that emphasizes the perfect balance of body and strength, pushing the envelope without crossing the line. It’s a timeless classic that is sure to start your day off with a bang.
Best Cubanesque Cigars: Cornelius & Anthony Cornelius
The Cornelius cigar was created by Steven Bailey of Cornelius & Anthony to honor his great, great Grandfather Cornelius Bailey. The Bailey family has been growing tobacco in Virginia since the 1800s, giving Steven a unique perspective on cigars. Cornelius is also produced at El Titan de Bronze in Miami.
Cornelius is everything you’d expect from El Titan and Steven Bailey, showcasing the amazing talent of Level 9 rollers from Cuba and an exquisite flavor profile with as many tasting notes as high scores from reviewers.
Best Cubanesque Cigars: La Palina Family Series Babe
Named for Bill Paley’s mother, La Palina’s Miami Babe also hails from El Titan de Bronze. Bill Paley revived the La Palina brand after his grandfather retired it in 1926, creating several blends that pay homage to his family.
While many would consider the La Palina Goldie to be the flagship cubanesque offering from La Palina, Babe is a close second and shows just how skilled the La Palina brand is at creating timeless blends that taste as good as they look.
Best Cubanesque Cigars: Warped Don Reynaldo
If we’ve had two themes today, the second would be honoring a family or namesake. Don Reynaldo was created to honor Kyle Gellis’ father by Warped Cigars and is also produced at the esteemed El Titan de Bronze factory in Miami.
As you’d expect, Don Reynaldo is a masterpiece that illustrates exactly why many consider Warped to be the most cubanesque brand on the market today. The aroma, complexity, attention to detail, and flavor profile of Don Reynaldo all come together to form a cigar that you won’t soon forget.
Leave your comment