Camacho cigars are well-known for their incredible complexity and strength, most being full-bodied. Camacho Coyolar Puro is no different; however, it is one of the more unique cigars currently on the market due to its wrapper, binder and filler – all hailing from the same farm in Danli, Honduras. The Coyolar farm is located in a remote region of Honduras, one known for its mineral-rich soils that are perfectly ideal for growing some of the best tobacco in Central America. Utilizing the tobaccos from this farm, Camacho developed a puro that is more robust then the rest of their cigar line extenstions due to the amount of ligero used to create the blend. Camacho Coyolar Puro showcases very dry, earthy flavors on top of its rich and spicy core, creating a full-bodied, complex and robust cigar that can easily compete with the strongest blends currently on the market.

Q: All of the cigars I buy say "Hecho a Mano" (made by hand). Do the rollers use any tools or just their hands?

A: Cigar rolling is an art form and as artists use brushes to paint a masterpiece, cigar rollers do use some tools to assist in the process of creation. Specifically, the chaveta is a tool utilized to cut and shape each tobacco leaf into a perfectly sized wrapper or binder. The tool is about 3 to 4 inches long (about the length of your fist) and has a sharp, rounded blade that is rolled over each leaf, creating a perfect cut, without damaging the tobacco. A chaveta is also used to cut any excess tobacco from the cigar during the final stages of the process. Another tool commonly used is a punch cutter. Not to be confused with standard punch cutters, cigar rollers use this tool to create the caps for each cigar. These tools cut a small, circular piece of tobacco out of each leaf, which is then attached to the head of each cigar to provide a cap for the tobacco and also to improve the construction of each stick. There are many different punch cutters available for use, all utilizing a different ring gauge. Rollers also use a glue-like substance known as pectin and normally have a small jar or dish of water within arms reach. After a cigar is rolled, pectin is applied to the head of each stick, which keeps the wrapper in place and also aids in attaching the cap. Of course, the most commonly used tool and most preferred by all cigar rollers are their hands.

Cigar.com Brazilian Label - Rolled by Tabacalera Fernandez, Cigar.com Brazilian Label uses a rich and dark Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper for a robust and sweet cigar that emanates chocolatey flavors on the palate.

Costa Rican Primeros - Costa Rican Primeros combine a rich and sweet Costa Rican maduro wrapper with select Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers to make a cigar that is as tasty as it is affordable.

Nub - Considered one of the most innovative cigar concepts, Nub is a line of short and stout smokes blended to capture the perfect essence of a cigar.

Padilla Habano - Hailing from Tabacalera Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua, Padilla Habano is the perfect choice for enthusiasts looking for a complex cigar that still offers a smooth flavor and is well balanced.
Rocky Patel I-Press – A limited blend from Rocky Patel, I-Press is a must try, especially for die-hard Patel fans. Wrapped with a maduro leaf, I-Press is a box-pressed cigar that provides a richer flavor and slow burn.

Sol Cubano Series B - Sol Cubano Series B is a value driven bundle line manufactured at one of Nicaragua's top factories.

Montecristo is one of the most popular and well-known brands available today. The brand came to light in Cuba before the second World War and has been a contender against all other labels ever since. Montecristo Serie C is slightly different than most other Montecristo cigars. This blend consists of the finest Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian tobacco available, all wrapped with a toothy but gorgeous looking Cameroon leaf. The result is a complex, medium-bodied cigar that produces some cedar nuances in the aftertaste with some slight, small earthy undertones also noticeable on the palate. Montecristo Serie C also offers a peppery flavor masked with an underlying sweetness that is very satisfying. Produced in the Dominican Republic, it is guaranteed that these cigars will not only be flavorful, but also well constructed and consistent from box to box.

Belicoso (6.1" x 52) Perfect draw and burn that produces some hints of chocolate after about 2 inches. Spice is very easily detected, offering notes of pepper that settles in the back of the throat. Seemed a bit more complex than other sizes and the wrapper had an oily sheen. Preferred size. 89/100 [Buy Now]

Robusto (5" x 52) Rich flavors of cedar are experienced throughout the entire length of the cigar. The smoke produced is creamy and there is some sweetness noticeable in the aftertaste. Very well constructed. 87/100 [Buy Now]

Corona (5.5" x 44) Slightly more robust than the other sizes. The draw is surprisingly loose and the cigar burned even for the most part. The smoke is a bit hot on the palate. 87/100 [Buy Now]

Toro (6" x 54) Very easy draw but this size burned slightly uneven down the left side. The smoke was also thick and offered many complexities that were very enjoyable. Noticed a lot more spice upon lighting and towards the finish. 86/100 [Buy Now]

4/11/08: The Nub Show - A special edition "Nub Rollout" show, Tim and Donny talk about all things Nub. From "Nub Theory, to sizes and blends, and of course, the cigars. [Listen Now]

When I received my invitation to see Ometepe this past February, I was ecstatic. I have been writing about brands that use tobacco grown on this mysterious island for years and have always dreamed of visiting to see its lush soils for a first hand look. Opportunities to visit Ometepe don't come along very often. Not only is this tobacco a closely guarded secret (you need special permission to visit the farms), but Ometepe is so isolated – it's an island in the middle of the country's massive Lake Nicaragua – that it takes two full days of travel in planes, boats and cars just to reach Ometepe's beautiful shores from the United States.

My bags were packed and I started my trek from Chicago through Miami before arriving in Managua, Nicaragua. I was already exhausted and my travels had only begun. I met my driver and we started the long, grueling drive to San Jorge. His frequent accelerating and decelerating over the rough road made me feel like I was in the back seat of a Chicago cab driving through a minefield. I had a few hours to kill in San Jorge before my boat pulled anchor for the island, so I took in the sights of the town and the beautiful views of Lake Nicaragua, the largest fresh water lake in Central America. The ecology of the lake is fascinating. Since it was once easily accessible by the ocean, the fresh water lake that is now land locked is the only place in the world where tuna, marlin, crocodiles and even sharks flourish in fresh water. Due to the scary stories I heard from some of the locals, swimming in this lake was definitely not on my agenda. Eventually, the ferry pulled off from shore and the boat made its way through the rough water. On the ferry, I was joined by a group of backpackers who had set off on their own adventure to conquer the great volcanoes that actually make up the island. As the boat pulled into port, I was happily greeted by the sound of howler monkeys; the island's natural inhabitants.

Two sizable volcanoes make up Ometepe: Concepcion and Maderas, which are joined by a small land mass. When the boat arrived in Concepcion, I was met by Armando Robaina, the nephew of world-renowned tobacco grower Alejandro Robania. Armando manages the farms and would be my guide for the next few days. As he drove me to my hostel in Maderas, I immediately began asking him the list of questions I had prepared prior to my trip. There are 31 farms on Ometepe; all operated exclusively by Nestor Plasencia, the largest grower of Cuban-seed tobacco in Central America. In turn, the leaf is sold only to General Cigar for use in their Bolivar, Partagas Decadas and a small number of other brands. Before I could delve into my list, we were already at camp and I retired to my room after a beautiful sunset, anxious to meet with Armando again the next day to continue my tour.

The next day began early after a breakfast of rice and beans. I accompanied Armando as he made his daily stops to all of the farms. The secret to Ometepe's tobacco rests in its soil and climate. The volcanic soil is rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium, all key elements in growing premium tobacco. This soil, in conjunction with a natural and ever-present moisture and perfect cloud cover, grows tobacco stalks as high as 6 feet. Most of the farms are located on the outskirts of the island, and I was in awe of the beautiful tobacco that was pitched in the foreground of breathtaking vistas of the lake and volcanoes. I have never seen such lush tobacco in my life. It is easy to see why tobacco agronomists compare the conditions on Ometepe to those of Vuelta Abajo, where the finest Cuban tobacco is grown.

Armando offered a wealth of knowledge, which he did not hesitate to share with me. Picking up a clump of soil in his hand, he proudly showed off its perfect color, which was a bit darker than that found in the Jalapa region, but lighter than the black soil of Esteli. He stated they water the fields every week without fail at the same interval and have workers caring for each plant by hand in the same intervals. Armando then went on to say that having the right conditions for growing is only half of the secret to Ometepe's tobacco. The other half is the expertise of the engineers and workers that care for the farms. These employees are hand picked from farms in other regions and charged with the task of ensuring successful harvests in Nicaragua's most coveted Tierra. The day flew by as I passed time with Armando and took photos at every farm, each seemingly more beautiful than the last. As Armando pulled back into the hostel, I thanked him repeatedly for his hospitality and quickly retired to my room to take notes while the details of the day's events were fresh in my head.

From the seedbeds, to the fields and finally to the curing barns, the tobacco remains in Ometepe for six months before it is transported to Esteli for fermentation. There, Nestor Plasencia's fermentation specialists keep a watchful eye on the bails. The fermentation facility is visited frequently by General Cigar's buyers, as well as Daniel Nunez; who monitors the tobacco's process carefully. Before its final fermentation, the tobacco is moved to General Cigar's fermentation and aging facilities in the Dominican Republic, where they are fermented one final time. Afterward, the secret finishing touches are added and the tobacco leaves undergo several years of aging, before finding their way into the rich filler of Bolivar cigars, among others.

I was grateful for the opportunity to visit Ometepe, and I can safely say the bar has been raised in tobacco cultivation after visiting many of the 31 farms. The tobacco I saw, touched and tasted was unlike anything I have ever seen in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua or any other growing region in the world. It is not surprising that those involved in all aspects of caring for this tobacco are so secretive. In an industry as competitive as this, having access to tobacco of this caliber gives Nestor Plascencia a big leg up on the competition. I just hope that I will be invited back again soon to follow the success of this tobacco in the years to come.