Vitola: Robusto- 5” x 52 ring gauge
- MSRP $8.60
- Purchased from Burns Tobacconist
Background
For decades the Camacho name in the cigar industry has signaled full-bodied, “bold” Honduran blends. That changed somewhat when Davidoff purchased the brand and the first thing they did was produce the Camacho Connecticut, a medium-bodied cigar that remains one of the finest Connys available still today, especially for the price. Through the last few years, they have experimented with barrel-aged cigars and boutique-inspired multi-country blends that have had varying success, but their latest blend is an addition to their core line.
Camacho Nicaragua marries the bold Honduran tobaccos the brand was built upon—this time present in binder and filler—alongside Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers and an Ecuadorian wrapper leaf. The brand is available in three sizes and despite the name is made in Honduras.
I purchased several of these from Burns Tobacconist in Chattanooga, TN. This review sample was the second one I smoked. Information about the release of this blend was taken from Cigar Aficionado’s website.
Prelight
Keeping with the rebranding theme of Camacho from several years ago, this blend is color-coded and the color here is burnt orange. Depending on how you saw the Camacho rebranding at the time it happened and how you’ve felt about it since will determine how you feel about the way this one looks. I personally have grown quite fond of the rebranded Camacho and appreciate the color-coded look to everything. Yes, the bands are quite large, especially on a Robusto, but they aren’t the biggest bands out there. And the look has been copied several times now, so it’s hard to argue that it isn’t successful.
The wrapper was a medium-dark brown and was very oily under the fingers, along with a good shine under lights. There were some decent-sized veins. I got wet earthiness and a hint of wood to the wrapper leaf. The foot I got more barnyardy earth, some hay, and a slight bread note.
The cold draw was excellent and I got some berry notes that I’ve had previously on Honduran cigars. There was also earth and a little bit of a spicy tingle on the lips.
Flavor
Once I fired up the Camacho Nicaragua I felt like I got a good amount of Nicaraguan “aggressiveness” right away, which I didn’t get the first time I smoked one. That was just from a couple extra weeks in my personal humidor. I got earth, leather, and a subtle sweetness of dark chocolate and something else. There was some softness to it, as well, with a hay note and white pepper on the palate, while the retrohale was straight-up fire, reminding me of the Camacho Corojo, with maybe a little less of a lasting burn. I found it medium-plus in body from the get-go. By the end of the first third, the sweetness came through more as dark cherry than dark chocolate, thanks to a little tartness in the mix. The pepper died down on the palate and retrohale both, while the bread came through a little more prominently.
I got more Nicaraguan influence in the second third, with earth leading the way, pepper holding out on the back of the palate, and a little more bread on the finish. There was chocolate on the retrohale, too.
The last third featured more earth and pepper, along with an undercurrent of sweetness.
Construction
I had a great draw, very even burn line, and solid ash.
Value
The prices on Camacho’s core line continue to be excellent for the value delivered.
Conclusions
This may not have been the best cigar to have first thing in the morning, but I’m a “Macho-Camacho Man” so I was able to take it. While it doesn’t have as much Nicaraguan leaf in it as one might expect from a cigar named “Nicaragua,” it does have a good amount of that country’s influence on the flavor profile, along with the bold Honduran leaf the brand is known for. I enjoyed this and would recommend it to those who like fuller-bodied sticks.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
