If you’re in search of a unique, full-bodied cigar with a smooth and earthy character, then 5 Vegas Relic won’t disappoint. One of the more recent releases in the 5 Vegas line, Relic was created from a special strand of Cuban-seed tobacco grown in the Dominican Republic exclusively for Manuel Quesada. In terms of uniqueness, you’re not going to find this special tobacco in any other blends currently on market, so expect a different, enjoyable experience from the first to the last puff.

The concoction for Relic is the product of at least three years of intense blending, as it took some time to perfect the flavor, allowing the 12-year-old Dominican fillers to marry each other, creating a balance and character so enjoyable you’ll find yourself searching for another Relic before the first one burns out. The blend is spicy, yet smooth, with earthy sensations that mask its robust undertones. Coffee and oak are noticeable in the aftertaste as the aroma is toasty with hints of cedar. Only available in a gorgeous 5.75” x 54 perfecto, Relic is one of a kind and a rare treat.

Q: I have no air conditioning in my home. How will the heat affect my cigars?

A: Cigars do enjoy heat and humidity but too much of either will only cause problems. You should always keep your humidity between 65 and 72 percent depending on the type of cigars you're storing. However, regarding heat, you should never allow your storage area to rise above 75 degrees. Obviously, too much heat will dry out your cigars, leaving you with cracked wrappers, uneven burns and a foul taste since the oils will no longer be present. To put it simply, you may have a terrible experience. In addition, too much heat mixed with too much humidity will not only create an environment perfect for growing mold, but also will allow for tobacco beetles to hatch, which can devour all of your cigars within a day. In order to avoid these problems and to guarantee you'll have a great experience everytime you reach in your humidor, try to keep your cigars in 70% humidity and at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ernesto Padilla never ceases to amaze. Almost all of the blends he has ever created have received high ratings by the industry’s top publications, most of which are higher than a 91. Well, ladies and gentlemen, Padilla Miami is no different as it earned 94 points in Cigar Aficionado this year, making it yet another “must try” for any Padilla fan. Being among the top ten blenders in the cigar business, Ernesto released some now famous blends such as Padilla Series ’68, Padilla Signature 1932, and Padilla Habano among many others. Most of his blends are relatively easy to come by, however, Padilla Miami is a limited boutique brand since the exclusive tobaccos used to create this cigar are rare, and with mounting demand due to the high rating it received, Padilla Miami is not commonly in stock at most distributors.

Easily considered one of the finest blends ever created by Ernesto, Miami contains all Cuban-seed tobaccos grown in Nicaragua and was blended to compete with the most premium Cuban cigars currently available. Each cigar is created using the same methods practiced in Cuba, including a triple cap that can easily be identified on every cigar produced. Properly aged so the complexities of the Nicaraguan tobaccos never overwhelm the palate, but in fact tantalize the taste buds, the blend has a strong and lengthy finish due to its rich, spicy Corojo wrapper. The result is a medium to full-bodied concoction of hearty, earthy sensations mixed with peppery flavors for a smooth yet eventful finish. Make no mistake, this cigar does pack quite a punch but still maintains a character fit for most enthusiasts.

Robusto (5" x 50) Burned evenly from start to finish and offered a creamy character with spicy undertones. This size receives the award for being the most well balanced blend in the line, as the complexities are enjoyable but never overwhelming. 92/100 [Buy Now]

Torpedo (6.1" x 52) This size allows for a cool burn from start to finish as peppery flavors slowly build as the cigar burns. The initial taste is light on the palate with a hint of sugar in the finish but becomes more and more robust with each puff. Great aroma. 91/100 [Buy Now]

Corona (5.5" x 42) Surprising, the small ring gauge doesn’t burn as hot as expected which really improved the performance of this blend. Spice and earth intermingle throughout but the finish still remains crisp with an enjoyable aroma. Great if looking for a 45 minute firecracker. 90/100 [Buy Now]

Salomon (5.5" x 54) Although some effort was needed to get a nice, steady burn and draw, once this sized burned for half an inch the experience become overwhelmingly enjoyable. Noticed more earthy flavors with almost no sweet nuances as light spices competed for dominance. Complex with a smooth character, this is a fun size to enjoy. 89/100 [Buy Now]

Churchill (7" x 48) Very little changed throughout the course of the smoke. It began with a bread-like feel, as the smoke is thick, leaving a peaty flavor in finish. However, the cigar only built in strength as it burned, not in flavor. If you’re looking for consistent flavor from start to finish but enjoy a hearty aftertaste with earthy sensations and a toasty character, this size is for you. 88/100 [Buy Now]

Lancero (7.5" x 42) Draw was a bit too tight to be thoroughly enjoyed and the burn extinguished itself twice. The blend also burned slightly hot but tasted great. The finish was very strong and tickled the throat as it remained on the palate for quite some time. 88/100 [Buy Now]

Carlos Torano Dominico - Carlos Torano Dominico is a quality bundled cigar produced by the world-renowned Torano Family, so expect the same in quality and consistency as you would with any other Torano cigar, but at half the price!

Bucanero Red - A Nicaraguan handmade featuring a light spicy flavor, Bucanero Red is a great choice for the price, as it is well-constructed and non-offensive.

5 Vegas Limitada 2009 - Limitada 2009 is easily the strongest Limitada blend ever created, sporting a Dominican Corojo wrapper with hearty Dominican fillers for a palate tantalizing experience.

Rocky Patel Royal Vintage - Royal Vintage is the most recent concoction Rocky has released. It features many long aged tobaccos including a dark, oily seven-year-old wrapper that conceals a tasty blend of long fillers from Central America and the Caribbean.

The flight from Chicago to Managua, Nicaragua has become a familiar one, but on this trip I was going to see an old a friend, José Olivas (not to be confused with Jose Oliva of Oliva Cigars). José is the manager and son of the owner of Latin Cigar, the factory that makes cigars for CAO and Toraño primarily, but also for such clients as Gurkha, 5 Vegas and Alec Bradley. Earlier this year, Scandanavian Tobacco, owners of the CAO brand in the United States, purchased Latin Cigar which has factories in both Nicaragua and Honduras. I had not seen José since the acquisition so I was eager to see what changes had taken place under the new ownership and what things are on the horizon for this extremely important maker of premium cigars in Central America.

My flight touched down an hour late in Managua as usual. While I had a driver scheduled to meet me, I found a familiar face, Jaime García (son of Pepín García) on my flight who offered to give me a ride into town. Jaime and I departed the flight only to encounter increased security measures due to the swine flu scare. Between filling out extra forms and standing in front of a thermal imaging camera, we finally got a clean bill of health to pass through immigration. Before we knew it, we were on the road to Estelí trying to beat some inclement weather. I thanked Jaime for the lift and picked up my car to head over to the factory.

Latin Cigar has perhaps the best plot of land in Estelí. Positioned on the southern side of town off the Pan American highway, the factory is built at one of the highest elevations in the area, providing panoramic views of the town and the surrounding mountain ranges. José greeted me with his usually friendly smile as I walked into his office. He was also joined by Rob Zwarts, the Executive Vice President of S.T., who happened to be visiting the factory for the week. Before I could even ask for a cigar, José began filling my hands with many of the new samples his factory had been making in anticipation of this year's annual cigar tradeshow. Immediately upon lighting my first sample, my palate was coated in an earthy spiciness that has long been a trademark for cigars made at the Latin Factory. I smiled at José and told him, "I was happy to see the cigars were as good as ever", a statement that conjured up a chuckle as he went on to tell me how much opportunity the new owners have brought to the their factory.

He went on to explain that with their resources and capital, they have been able to invest substantially in new materials, purchasing from both new and old regions throughout Central America. Actually, worldwide, S.T. is one of the largest buyers of tobacco and José went on to proudly show off his new inventories of exotic leaves and some interesting tobacco from a new growing region in Nicaragua called Pueblo Nuevo. While he would not tell me much about his new projects, he did tell me that many of the interesting blends he has been working on lately have used this new Pueble Nuevo tobacco, which imparts a unique sweetness during blending. I asked him pointedly about the new Toraño and CAO blends for 2009, but it became immediately clear that all details concerning the new releases were under a tight lock and key.

My tour continued from the fermentation facility and tobacco storage to the rolling factorym, which looked exactly as it had a year prior. The floor was so clean you could eat off it, and everything was organized with a mass of draw testing machines and supervisors in every row. Of all the factories I spend time at, Latin Cigar is the best when it comes to quality control. As we wrapped up our tour thanked José for his time, he shared with me his plans to begin construction on new facilities with the ultimate goal of building one of the largest and most beautiful factories in all of Estelí. It was easy to grasp his vision as I took in the breathtaking views outside of his office. As I took it all in, José smiled and said, "For us, it has always been about trying to be the best. To make the best cigars, grow the best tobacco, buy the best materials and have the best employees." His face truly said it all. It was like watching someone realize a dream. José and I spent the day enjoying cigars and catching up before I drove back to town. I can safely say that the future of Latin Cigar is strong, and the releases coming out this August from the likes of Gurkha, CAO and Toraño are destined to be some of the best new releases in 2009. Keep your eyes peeled for more information on exciting new projects from these brands in our next issue.