MICROCLIMATE
The combination of geography, topography, soil, sunlight, and water produces distinctive conditions for cigar tobacco farming. Variations in the tobaccos’ qualities (flavor, strength, aroma) will differ greatly from country to country, region to region, and even from neighboring farms.
For many years the Canary Islands and the Dominican Republic were known for producing very mild and pleasant cigars. Countries like Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico and Cuba were famous for fuller bodied tobaccos.
Contemporary cigar smokers know that these rigid stereotypes are no longer true. Currently, very full flavored tobaccos are being grown in the Domincan Republic, and milder cigars can come from Nicaragua.
Transcending MicroClimate
 In 1995 the Fuente family introduced the Fuente Fuente Opus X, which was the first premium cigar [for export] to use a Dominican shade-grown wrapper. Even more astounding was the cigars’ full body. Before 1995, no one believed that the Domincan Republic had the proper MicroClimate to grow wrapper, much less, significantly fuller bodied Tobaccos.
Another revolutionary twist to flavor - origin conventions comes from Nicaragua: traditionally home to earthy, one-dimensional Tobacco. In 1994 the Padrón family released the 1964 Anniversary series to commemorate their 30th year of producing cigars [outside of Cuba]. Anyone who has experienced this cigar knows that its complexity of flavor is unparalleled for a Nicaraguan Puro. Furthermore, their Padrón 1926 series [released in 2002] is a full bodied, full strength cigar with equally stunning complexity. The Padrón 1964 Anniversary series ushered in a new era of experimentation and open-mindedness toward Nicaraguan and Central American Cigar Tobaccos.
Great Tobacco farmers and cigar makers have learned to transcend the “limits” of their microclimate and use it to their advantage. In that process, they are opening up new levels of discovery for cigar lovers. Fortunately for us, genius and passion will challenge “the norm”, ignore what “can’t be”, and occasionally produce something so delicious, it was once unimaginable.
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Certified R&D Tobacconists: United States |
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David McCammon, CRTMayan Import Company
New Orleans, LA - United States
(504) 269-9000
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Thomas Brown, CRTStag Tobacconist (Stag of Colorado Ltd.)
Colorado Springs, CO - United States
(719) 633-0669
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Michael Jackson, CRTOld Virginia Tobacco Co.
Woodbridge, VA - United States
(703) 492-2260
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