Boutique cigar companies have gained more popularity over the last five or so years. Because of this niche market, those that love premium cigars are not only given more options of product to enjoy, but it allows those interested in entering the business (not just big companies) the opportunity to produce cigars that appeal to the masses.
Huntersville, North Carolina based Carolina Blue Cigars is one such company. Founded in 2016 by 30-year military veteran Christopher Moore, Carolina Blue Cigars’ goal is to “create an amazing cigar experience for all levels of cigar enthusiasts while perfectly complementing all of life’s simple moments.” Enlisting the skill of Master Blender Francisco De La Cruz of the Tabacalera F. De La Cruz factory in Tambril, Dominican Republic, their current roster includes one line that sports three different wrappers; Connecticut, Habano 2000, and San Andreas. For this post, we will focus on the latter two.
| Manufacturer: | Tabacalera F. De La Cruz | ||||
| Wrapper: | Habano: Habano 2000; Maduro: Mexican San Andres | ||||
| Binder: | Ecuadorian Sumatra | ||||
| Filler: | Criollo 98, Piloto Cubano, and Nicaragua | ||||
| Vitola: | 5 3/4 x 54 | ||||
| Purchased From: | Sample | ||||
| Price: | n/a | ||||
| Notes: | Habano: I first took notice of the thin, caramel-colored Habano 2000 wrapper that has very visible veins but is still really smooth to the touch. The triple-cap wrapper is ascetically pleasing as it gives the cigar an authentic cuban look. The dry draw presents a slight nutty, citrus-like note with some pepper. The draw is a little tighter than I prefer but this doesn’t prohibit me from getting a decent draw of smoke. The first several minutes offered a “cubanesque” spice that I expect from an Habano wrapper and there was a zest that lingered on my tongue. The retrohale was spicy, much like a white pepper and floral notes dominated. Midway into the Habano, the flavors transitioned from spice to sweet and the floral notes remained. The final third had a dark fruity taste with notes of oak and the pepper returned.
Maduro: First third was a balance of spicy and sweet, much like a sweet citrus with sprinkles of red pepper. The sugar rested on my tongue while the heat lingered in my nostrils. The little pockets of oil (tooth) were clearly evident on the ash as it burned and gave me something cool to look at as the cigar transitioned into the midway point through the end and gave off notes of oak, cocoa and spice. |
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