The Oscar by Oscar Valladares

Not content with creating just one tobacco sensation, Oscar Valladares is once again astounding enthusiasts around the globe with the stellar The Oscar cigar. Forever seeking the perfect blend, Valladares had been creating exceptional smokes for many years before hitting the big leagues with the Leaf by Oscar, a seemingly humble bundled cigar that defied expectations. Building upon that success comes this delicious example of craftsmanship. Featuring two mouthwatering blends, first up is the Habano which comes complete with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Honduran binder, and well-aged Honduran and Nicaraguan filler. The first thing you'll notice about a The Oscar Habano is the frog-green Candela leaf that is used as an overwrap to envelop the lower half of each sturdy vitola. Removing this leaf allows the aroma of leather and aged tobacco to be released from the solidly constructed barrel, whetting the palate's appetite for what is to come next. After savoring the rich chocolate taste presented during the cold draw, your tongue will be enthralled to the flavors of black pepper, cocoa, and baking spices soon after the foot is alight. Further exploration yields rich veins of roasted nuts and citrus, while the meaty finale adds layers of coffee, nutmeg, and sourdough toast. Right on its heels comes the Maduro version, which offers an aged Honduran and Nicaraguan filler plus a Honduran binder and has secured them beneath a toothy and thick Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper to become a balanced, instant classic. The San Andres Maduro wafts an earthy, barnyard-like cold aroma while the interior teases cedar and raisin flavors during a draw test. The first third of a lit The Oscar Maduro creates thick clouds of smoke full of the tastes of café con leche and chocolate-covered peanut. The second third adds in some spices, including white pepper and cinnamon, plus oak and sweet cream. The final stages of the easy-burning cigar wrap up the experience with espresso, leather, and cherry. Priced right in that sweet spot between run-of-the-mill stogies and often overpriced ultra-premium, you'll find these tasty smokes able to compete with just about anything you'd want in your humidor. The Oscar cigars are the sticks Valladares' fanatics have been waiting for, so don't let yourself down one more day.