Meet La Habanera Churchills - the Dominican Republic's first handmade cigar brand born in 1902. This 6 7/8"×46 Churchill comes wrapped in caramel-colored Connecticut leaf, blending sun-grown and shade-grown tobaccos from El Cibao's mineral-rich valleys. At $43.42 for a box of 10, it's like a liquid summer sunset when paired with Dominican rum.
The cold draw serves hay and molasses. Initial puffs bring toasted cashews and sweet cream, with faint white pepper spice dancing on the tongue. Smoke output feels modest - about medium volume.
Cocoa powder emerges as the burn line approaches halfway. There's noticeable mineral undertone (think limestone) mixed with honey-roasted peanuts. Retrohale shows baking spices - cinnamon primarily.
Last third intensifies with black coffee bitterness, though Dominican tobacco's signature sweetness persists. Tar buildup becomes noticeable at nub, suggesting optimal smoking duration around 70-minute mark.
These handmades show slight box-press from aging. The triple cap peels cleanly with a sharp cutter. Observed construction: 8/10 (two samples needed minor touch-ups). Dominican binder leaves create slow, even burns.
Priced between mass-market Churchills and premium brands, La Habanera offers authentic Dominican character without breaking the bank. Best suited for midday smokes when you want flavor complexity without nicotine overload.
