Habano is a reference to Havana, the capital of Cuba. And anyone who knows cigars knows that manufacturers have tried for decades to capture the flavors that once made Cuban cigars the gold standard in the industry. In an effort to make cigars that are more Cubanesque, cigar makers have used Habano wrappers to bring the rich spice and other flavor notes that Cuban cigars are been known for.
The cigars with Habano wrappers that we sell of course are not grown in Cuba. Everything sold in the U.S. has to be grown elsewhere due to the embargo on Cuban cigars and other exports. Thus, the tobacco leaf known to us in the States as Habano is indeed grown from Cuban seeds, but raised mainly in the soil of Ecuador, Nicaragua, Connecticut, Mexico, or the Dominican Republic. You may hear this seed referred to as “Habano seed,” and you may also hear of “Habano 2000,” which is a varietal created to resist certain crop diseases that once plagued Cuban tobacco. The terms “criollo '98” and “Corojo '99” also refer to other hybrid varietals that have been developed over the years.
One of the leading growing regions for Habano wrappers is Ecuador. José “Don Pepin” Garcia (of My Father cigars fame) has said that Ecuadorian Habano tobacco grown by the Olivas may be “the best cigar wrapper in the entire world.” He’s a two-time Cigar Aficionado Cigar of the Year winner, so we take this opinion pretty seriously. It’s an opinion shared by Rocky Patel, who has said, “I think the Ecuador Habano has the most flavor of any wrapper out there.”
Popular cigars with Ecuador Habano wrappers include the 2016 Cigar Aficionado Cigar of the Year, and La Flor Dominicana’s Andalusian Bull (a 96-point smoke). There’s also the Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary (the #6 cigar of 2011 with a 93-point rating), Herrera Esteli, AJ Fernandez Last Call, Romeo by Romeo y Julieta, Espinosa Habano, JFR Lunatic, and Nat Cicco’s Anniversario 1965. All of them boast exquisite flavors and exemplify what makes Habano wrappers so popular.
Nicaraguan Habano wrappers also have been used to great effect on a number of best-selling blends. These include spicy hickory-flavored Rocky Patel The Edge Habano, the nutty 601 Red Habano, the potent Cain series, and the outstanding 94-point Oliva Serie O. While not as popular as Ecuador Habano wrappers, Nicaraguan tobacco grown from Cuban seeds can absolutely be a part of a chart-topping blend.
While Connecticut is known for broadleaf and shade-grown tobacco, there are definitely growers that cultivate Habano wrappers in Connecticut. If there’s a chance that it will make a new and interesting blend, tobacco agronomists will try it out. Want to sample the flavor? Pick up a dark, earthy, and spicy Drew Estate Liga Privada Único Serie L-40 and toast it up.
While Habano wrappers were once all about Cuban flavors, the time has since given us a variety of new Habano flavors from a variety of growers in a number of countries. Try out a few and you’ll see that “Habano tobacco” no longer refers to anyone's single flavor profile, but instead is a gateway to a wealth of tasty smoking experiences.
Please browse our selection of cigars with Habano wrappers at your leisure.
