Yes, my friends, these are trying times indeed.  We are in the midst of one of the strangest times in modern history,  Yet, we need to keep moving forward and try to have kept some semblance of normalcy.  That is why we are continuing on schedule with our weekly Top 5 list.

This week, I am looking at some of my favorite under the radar smokes.  These are cigars that were either limited releases or brand new, so the chances that everyone has had the chance to try them is slim.  However, I am hoping to change all that.  Don’t forget, we are still offering a limied sampler for this Top 5 right here.

The Cabanas is one of the oldest brands in existence, and we have brought it back. Rolled by hand at Don Pepin’s My Father factory in the heart of Esteli, Nicaragua,  it uses a blend of aged Nicaraguan tobaccos for the filler, followed by a double binder from Jalapa and Esteli.  The truly eye-catching piece, is the exquisite Habano Rosado wrapper, the same used on the original My Father line.  It is oily, with a slight reddish hue to it.

This combination of tobaccos gives the medium to full bodied cigar a rich and complex profile.   Notes of spice, coffee, and molasses are combined effortlessly to give you a flavorful yet smooth experience. The Cabanas is available in four traditional sizes: a robusto, a toro gordo, a torpedo and my personal favorite, the Churchill.  Its combination of rich flavors, near-perfect construction, and unique backstory makes Cabanas one of the most exciting releases of the year.

The folks over at Esteban Carreras have really begun to expand their operation over the past few years.  While many cigar smokers were familiar with some of their earlier releases, such as the Chupacabra and Hellcat, it was the Mr. Brownstone that really launched the company portfolio forward.  It is also my personal favorite from the line.

Named for a Guns ‘n Roses song, the Mr. Brownstone is a full bodied and full flavored powerhouse.  Its Nicaraguan filler offers a spicy and slightly sweet center, while its Habano wrapper gives off touches of pepper.  IT is the Broadleaf wrapper that really sets this cigar apart, with rich notes of coffee, earth and a slightly cocoa sweetness.

Fratello might be relatively new, but the impact the brand has had and will continue to have is remarkable.  Omar Frias is quickly making a name for himself as one of the bigger, cigar personalities, both literally and figuratively.   While his original releases and even subsequent brands such as Navetta have gained notoriety, it is this limited release that really caught my eye.

The DMV line is a limited project that is released almost exclusively in the DC, Maryland and Virginia areas.  However, we were able to procure a few boxes.  This toro uses a complex blend of tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and the USA.  Its reddish Ecuadorian wrapper offers up a touch of spice, cream, and almonds.

Illusione is making its way into my regular rotation.  Dion Giolito might not have the huge notoriety like a Jonathan Drew, but to the cigar community, he is one of the most well-known and respected blenders.  His more recent releases, such as the OneOff have really shaken up the industry, but even some of his older releases are still highly prized by aficionados.

The Original documents is a classic for a cigar nerd like me, and the Holy Lance Maduro is, in my mind, a collectible.  This delicious llanero uses aged Nicaraguan tobaccos, including an oily maduro wrapper.  Notes of nuts, leather, and a slight floral touch make this a nuanced and complex smoke.

What started out as a limited release turned into a national brand, but now one size has found its way back to the limited category.  The Juarez is a top-notch everyday smoke from Crowned Heads that saw its big release earlier this year.  However, just a few weeks ago, Jon Huber and his team released a brand new, smaller size that really brings the flavor.

The XX Shots uses the same blend as the other sizes, including Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers and a dark Mexican San Andres wrapper.  In this new, 4X50 size, the flavor is even more intense, offering up a different and more rich experience.