Kentucky’s new vintage whiskey market should also excite cigar enthusiasts.
Pairings and photos Victor Sizemore
1. Monte by Montecristo
Strength: Medium-Full
Shape: Belicoso 6 x 54
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Origin: Nicaragua
Price: $11
Suggested Vintage Whiskey Pairing: Vintage 23-Year Rye
This is a Montecristo like you’ve never experienced before its debut in 2017 by AJ Fernandez, who mixed old heritage with new world spice. These cigars are beautifully packaged with a gorgeous vintage Habano wrapper. The complexity is present in every puff. Melting together flavors of espresso, dark chocolate and roasted nuts. This is one not to miss!
2. Eiroa The First 20 Years
Strength: Full
Shape: Gordo 6 x 60
Wrapper: Honduran
Origin: Honduran
Price: $12.50
Suggested Vintage Whiskey Pairing: A.H. Hirsch 20-Year Bourbon
Christian Eiroa is celebrating his 2 decades in the cigar industry with a special release, Eiroa The First 20 Years. This box-pressed Honduran puro contains a special tobacco that hasn’t been used in a cigar in over 50 years! It’s full-bodied and packed with flavors of espresso and baking spices with earthy undertones.
3. Arturo Fuente Opus X Fuente Fuente
Strength: Full
Shape: Corona Gorda 5.6 x 46
Wrapper: Dominican Estate
Origin: Dominican Republic
Price: $20
Suggested Vintage Whiskey Pairing: Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye
Any cigar smoker has heard about “Opus X” and any whiskey drinker has heard the words “Van Winkle”. Both of these brands have transcended their respective industries. Rare, without a doubt. Pricey, but well worth it. This cigar is cultivated in the volcanic soil of the Dominican Republic at Chateau de la Fuente and is home to one the finest cigar of our time.
4. AVO Syncro South America
Strength: Medium-Full
Shape: Robusto 5 x 50
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Origin: Dominican Republic
Price: $10.50
Suggested Vintage Whiskey Pairing: Old Fitzgerald 6-Year Bottled-In-Bond
This is the third cigar in the Syncro series for AVO which is quickly becoming their most popular line. It features tobaccos from every cigar country in South America. The filler blend is an astounding five ingredient cocktail of Nicaraguan, Peruvian, Brazilian, Honduran, and Dominican tobaccos. Add on the Ecuadorian wrapper and Mexican binder, and it’s clear why they named this cigar after a continent, not a country.
5. Jaime Garcia Limited Edition 2017
Strength: Full
Shape: Toro 6.5 x 52
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Origin: Nicaragua
Price: $17.00
Suggested Vintage Whiskey Pairing: Rittenhouse 25-Year Rye
The highly anticipated Jaime Garcia Limited Edition 2017 features an exclusive blend, handcrafted from Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The Toro format balances the aged Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. This stick produces creamy notes of dark chocolate and cedar with large milky smoke. The texture and full-bodied experience is perfect. Another great limited edition from the highly regarded Garcia family.
