The Darling House
The Cigar Hierarchy
♦ ♦ ♦
Three tiers defined by a single standard: flavor, consistency, construction, and character from first draw to last.
I
First Tier
The Exceptional
Premium quality tobacco, immaculate construction, incredible flavor
Plasencia Alma Fuerte
Nicaraguan wrapper, binder, filler · Plasencia Cigars · Nicaragua
Dark chocolate, plum, cinnamon, graham cracker, oak, molasses.
Midday / Evening
Plasencia Alma del Cielo
Nicaraguan wrapper, binder, filler · Plasencia Cigars · Nicaragua
Cedar, cream, white pepper, honey, leather, cocoa.
Anytime
Plasencia Reserva Original
Nicaraguan wrapper, binder, filler · Plasencia Cigars · Nicaragua
Nuts, fruits, caramel, marzipan, cedar, cinnamon, cashew.
Morning / Midday
Davidoff Signature Series
Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, Dominican filler · Davidoff · Dominican Republic
Cream, almond, cedar, white pepper, honey.
Morning / Midday
Cuban Partagás
Cuban wrapper, binder, filler · Partagás (Habanos S.A.) · Cuba
Grassy, sweet, complex.
Midday / Eve
Davidoff Winston Churchill
Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Mexican binder, Dominican/Nicaraguan filler · Davidoff · Dominican Republic
Spice, black coffee, cream.
Midday
Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour
Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder, Dominican/Nicaraguan filler · Davidoff · Dominican Republic
Black pepper, leather, cocoa, coffee, scotch oak, citrus.
Evening
· · ·
II
Second Tier
The Reliable
Genuine quality, good construction, delicious flavor
Davidoff Colorado Claro
Ecuadorian Connecticut Sun Grown wrapper, Dominican binder, Dominican filler · Davidoff · Dominican Republic
Nut, leather, wood, cedar, cream.
Midday / Evening
Avo Fogata
Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder, Dominican/Nicaraguan filler · Davidoff (Avo) · Dominican Republic
Coffee, leather, black pepper, cinnamon, cedar, dark wood.
Midday / Evening
EPC Encore
Nicaraguan wrapper, binder, filler · Tabacalera La Alianza (E.P. Carrillo) · Dominican Republic
Cedar, cocoa, baking spice, roasted nuts, cream, floral.
Evening
Oliva Serie V
Ecuadorian Sun Grown Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, Nicaraguan filler · Oliva · Nicaragua
Dark chocolate, coffee, black pepper, cedar, leather, cinnamon.
Evening
EPC Pledge Prequel
USA Connecticut Habano wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, Nicaraguan filler · Tabacalera La Alianza (E.P. Carrillo) · Dominican Republic
Cedar, pepper, baking spices, leather, espresso, caramel.
Evening
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua
Nicaraguan wrapper, binder, filler · Tabacalera Fernandez (AJ Fernandez) · Nicaragua
Cedar, leather, white pepper, coffee bean, cinnamon, salted caramel.
Evening
H. Upmann Nicaragua by AJ Fernandez
Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, Nicaraguan filler · AJ Fernandez · Nicaragua
Coffee bean, dark chocolate, cinnamon, nougat, leather, hazelnut.
Evening
Romeo y Julieta Perlado
Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Dominican binder, Colombian/Nicaraguan/Dominican filler · Altadis · Dominican Republic
Cream, coffee, black pepper, graham cracker, hay, cedar.
Morning
Romeo y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua
Nicaraguan Connecticut wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, Nicaraguan filler · Plasencia · Nicaragua
Cream, cedar, vanilla, cashew, cinnamon, citrus.
Morning
H. Upmann Perlado Churchill
Indonesian Sumatra Java wrapper, Dominican binder, American/Dominican filler · Altadis · Dominican Republic
Cream, earth, leather, wood, baking spices.
Morning / Midday
Macanudo Café
Connecticut Shade wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder, Dominican/Mexican filler · General Cigar · Dominican Republic
Citrus, gentle spice, effortless.
Morning
Ashton Classic
Connecticut Shade wrapper, Dominican binder, Dominican filler · Tabacalera A. Fuente · Dominican Republic
Cream, toasted almond, cedar, coffee bean, honey, white pepper.
Morning
AVO Classic
Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, Dominican binder, Dominican filler · Davidoff (Avo) · Dominican Republic
Cream, sweet tea, graham cracker, smooth.
Midday
Partagás Cortado
Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Indonesian binder, Honduran/Mexican/Nicaraguan filler · STG Estelí · Nicaragua
Sweet cream, buttered toast, almond, chocolate, pepper, cedar.
Midday
Vegas Cubanas
Nicaraguan Corojo Rosado wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, Nicaraguan filler · My Father Cigars · Nicaragua
Cocoa, espresso, cedar, black pepper, earth, cream.
Midday
Camacho Ecuador
Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Brazilian Mata Fina binder, Honduran/Dominican filler · Camacho · Honduras
Pepper, cedar, honey, coffee, caramel, citrus.
Evening
Ashton Cabinet
Connecticut Shade wrapper, Dominican binder, Dominican filler · Tabacalera A. Fuente · Dominican Republic
Cashew, almond, coffee bean, vanilla, nougat, white pepper.
Midday
Don Pepin Garcia Original
Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper, binder, filler · My Father Cigars · Nicaragua
Cayenne, espresso, cedar, cocoa, earth, leather.
Midday / Eve
Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur
Connecticut wrapper, Connecticut binder, Dominican/Honduran/Nicaraguan filler · General Cigar · Honduras
Cedar, espresso, leather, dark chocolate, earth, caramel.
Morning / Mid
Punch Grand Cru
Connecticut Shade wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder, Dominican/Honduran/Nicaraguan filler · General Cigar · Honduras
Leather, nuts, cedar, coffee bean, cocoa, bittersweet, floral.
Midday
Oliva Connecticut Reserve
Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, Nicaraguan filler · Oliva · Nicaragua
Cream, vanilla, cedar, white pepper, almond, cinnamon.
Morning
Oliva Serie G
African Cameroon wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, Nicaraguan filler · Oliva · Nicaragua
Cedar, leather, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, black pepper.
Evening
AJ Fernandez New World Connecticut
Connecticut Shade wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder, Nicaraguan/Brazilian filler · AJ Fernandez · Nicaragua
Buttered toast, almond, vanilla, cream, white pepper, graham cracker.
Morning / Mid
Davidoff Primeros
Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Dominican San Vicente binder, Dominican filler · Davidoff · Dominican Republic
Cocoa, coffee, baking spices, cedar, sweetwood.
Anytime
Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real
Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, Nicaraguan/Dominican filler · Altadis · Dominican Republic
Cedar, white pepper, nuts, cream, hay, chocolate.
Evening
· · ·
III
Third Tier
The Occasional
Good quality, nice construction, enjoyable flavor
Romeo y Julieta Reserve
Nicaraguan wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, Nicaraguan/Honduran filler · Altadis · Honduras
Dark chocolate, coffee, cedar, cinnamon, leather, almond.
Midday / Evening
Romeo y Julieta 1875
Indonesian wrapper, Dominican binder, Dominican filler · Tabacalera de Garcia (Altadis) · Dominican Republic
Cedar, leather, cream, earth, nuts, black pepper.
Midday
Ashton VSG
Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Dominican binder, Dominican filler · Tabacalera A. Fuente · Dominican Republic
Cedar, espresso, earth, black pepper, leather, chocolate.
Evening
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