Pelo de Oro was considered one of the best releases in 2006, and for good reason. Felipe Gregorio, a manufacturer responsible for creating many 90+ rated blends, produces this cigar in addition to some other popular lines, which include Power, Felipe Gregorio Dominicana, and Centenario Classic. With over 15 years of continued excellence, Felipe Gregorio cigars are top-notch with very few burn problems and seamless construction, each producing incredibly unique flavors from blend to blend.

Pelo de Oro is a rare cigar that utilizes Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos, which have been aged for at least 7 years. These tobaccos provide a complexity and flavor very similar to Cuban cigars. In fact, Pelo de Oro was blended to replicate an authentic Cuban, from the spicy and peppery flavors to its creamy characteristics. This cigar is even rolled using the same methods still employed in Cuba – each leaf is “entubado” (folded accordion style) with the ligero leaves always placed in the center of the cigar, creating a perfect burn and draw. Pelo de Oro features a rare, Cuban-seed wrapper grown in Costa Rica from first generation Cuban seeds, creating a rich and complex medium-bodied experience that offers a cool burn and an enjoyably smooth, long finish.

Q: What makes a cigar limited?

A: There are many factors to look at when determining why a cigar is "limited." Tobacco is a living plant and to produce more, it must be grown. However, certain variables alter the growing process such as weather, location, and the nutrients in the soil. With that in mind, it is an incredible feat to produce the same cigar, using the same blend, from year to year. If a cigar maker creates a cigar using tobacco from a particular crop, and the crop changes due to weather conditions, disease, or improper care, then the chances of that same blend being recreated are very slim. Secondly, the age of a cigar drastically affects how limited a blend can be. Most manufacturers tend to age their cigars for at least 1-3 months before shipping to retailers. However, some may age a blend for 5 years or more. The longer a cigar ages, the more likely it will be a limited stick.

Finally, the type of tobacco utilized affects how limited a cigar will be, in addition to its shape. Some tobacco can only be grown in specific areas of the world. Other types of tobacco may not have a high yield, in other words, the plant does not produce many leaves. There are also cigars rolled using multiple wrapper leaves in addition to having unique shapes. These blends can only be assembled by the top torcedors in a factory. If a factory only has 2 to 4 people who can create a specific look, size, or shape, then that will drastically reduce how many cigars can be produced in a given year.

Limitada is an award-winning small-batch line from the makers of 5 Vegas. In fact, the Limitada line is so delicious, it has been chosen as ‘Select Smoke’ by Robb Report Magazine.

Each year, aficionados wait in anticipation for the annual release of 5 Vegas Limitada. It is an especially exciting release since no two batches have ever been the same, but all have contained fillers that have been aged for at least 5 years. Each blend offers different nuances of flavor and strength, but from year to year, the complexities and smooth, creamy characteristics of the aged fillers remain consistent.

5 Vegas Limitada 2008 may just be the best Limitada released to date. The blend utilizes a wrapper leaf cultivated in 2002; an oily, toothy Dominican Corojo Oscuro that provides an incredibly rich flavor. The finish is sweet with underlying notes of spice and pepper. The filler for this cigar consists of 6-year-old Dominican Corojo Ligero, Nicaraguan Ligero, Brazilian tobaccos, and Dominican Piloto Cubano – all long leaves and very complex. The resulting flavors expelled from this filler include cocoa, white pepper, and earthy, leathery nuances with some hints of coffee. The blend itself is medium to full-bodied and the construction is flawless. Well balanced, complex, and smooth, 5 Vegas Limitada 2008 is a special cigar that all enthusiasts should experience.

Belicoso (6.2" x 52) Burned even from start to finish and emitted an excellent aroma. The first two inches offered earthy sensations mixed with pepper but were then masked by an underlying hint of chocolate. Although this blend has some strength, it was still surprising balanced. Burned slightly uneven at first but then corrected itself. The finish was long and left some espresso flavors lingering on the palate. Excellent. 90/100 [Buy Now]

09/30/08: Join Juan and Tim as they review some new, exciting blends. New releases from Don Pepin Garcia, General Cigar, and the highly anticipated Verdadero Organic are all discussed in this episode of Cigar.com Video. Smoke 'em if you got 'em! [Listen Now]

Gurkha Titan II - A new blend by Gurkha, Titan II utilizes well-aged fillers, is superiorly constructed, and offers a plethora of flavors that are rich and creamy with a medium-bodied core.

Verdadero Organic - Verdadero Organic is an excellent cigar consisting of 100% organically grown tobacco hailing from the virgin soils at the base of the Mambacho volcano in Granada, Nicaragua.

Don Pepin Garcia Tobacos Baez - Although a slight departure from his standard, full-bodied cigars, Don Pepin Garcia’s Tabacos Baez is an excellent blend; the only cigar he produced with a Connecticut wrapper.

Alec Bradley Tempus - Hailing from Honduras, Alec Bradley Tempus is a concoction of tobaccos cultivated since 2001, carefully selected strictly for their incredible quality and blended to create the ideal full-bodied cigar that is as smooth as it is flavorful.

If you are a new enthusiast looking for the right cigar for yourself or to give as a gift for someone else, you might find the extensive list of brands available on the market quite intimidating. Have no fear; your friends from Cigar.com are here to help. Let me start by saying the best way to get your feet wet is to work directly with someone who can help point you in the right direction, based on your tastes or on what you might have tried in the past. Cigar.com offers such help. Simply call one of our expert Cigar Consultants who are on hand to handle your every cigar question or need. However, if you prefer to try some blends before contacting our knowledgeable consultants, here are some things you may want to consider during your cigar selection process.

1. Ignore the country of origin. Many believe a cigar’s flavor can be classified by where it is physically manufactured. The truth is, a cigar’s flavor derives from the countries in which the tobacco is grown, not where the cigar is assembled.

2. Begin the selection process by determining how strong of a blend will best suit your tastes. Most novice enthusiasts prefer mild, creamy blends while more advanced aficionados look for a more robust medium to full-bodied cigar.

3. Wrapper selection is very important. Wrapper leaves attribute to the majority of the flavor in each cigar and come from a variety of seeds. Sumatra and Cameroon wrappers tend to be dry and sweet. Maduro is normally earthy and rich. Connecticut has a creamy, cedary characteristic, while Habano or Cuban-seed leaves tend to be spicy.

If you are a bit overwhelmed and need some direction, we recommend the following three brands that are popular among all cigar lovers. These brands offer a complex flavor and medium body that is universally appealing.

Cusano 18 Double Connecticut - Rich, creamy, and packed with flavor, Cusano 18’s filler is composed of Dominican Oro harvested eighteen years ago, which allows for a smooth character. A creamy Connecticut-shade binder and a second, flavorful Connecticut-shade wrapper give this blend a mild to medium body that is rich, slightly complex, and perfect for any enthusiast.

Camacho 1962 – Many enthusiasts consider this blend to be Camacho’s finest creation. Packed with Honduran grown Cuban-seed tobaccos, Camacho 1962 is rich with notes of white pepper, nuts, and earth. Although medium-bodied, this cigar still has a smooth character and creates a great experience any time of day.

Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet – Almost every aspect of Cuban cigars, from the most popular shapes and sizes to their full-bodied and spicy flavors are represented in this blend. Cuban Cabinet features a Habano-seed wrapper that allows for ample spicy flavors mixed with hints of earth and peat. Nicaraguan and Honduran Cuban-seed tobaccos create a complex, full body that is bold and flavorful. Recommended after a hearty meal.