Grupo de Maestros

Collection

Word has spread like wildfire through the cigar industry that an upscale and notable tobacconist chain has something very special in store for the community. The company has announced that a very select few retail locations will get the pleasure of an exclusive blend from Altadis U.S.A.’s Grupo de Maestros Collection. For the most part, Altadis shines the spotlight on their famous brands and is not deemed popular by way of a big cigar persona taking the back seat with very little individual notoriety. In fact, the closest Altadis had come to wielding any star power was by way of Jose “El Hefe” Seijas, former VP and General Manager of the world’s largest individual cigar factory, Tabacalera de Garcia. Now, since his departure from the Altadis, the Grupo de Maestros team has taken center stage. Intriguing, the project is a small production batch that is truly special. What was once considered a private blend smoked in camaraderie amongst the team, it has now taken form as a limited-edition blend release marking the first instance Altadis uses the name of the group on a blend entered into the cigar market. Essentially the Grupo de Maestros team is representative of some of the company’s most accomplished and skilled cigar makers whose expertise had a hand in some of the highest profile Altadis U.S.A. releases over the years. Presently, being well versed in the industry with a combined number of years of expertise and experience of over 165 years alongside access to the highest quality offerings from Altadis and their factories in the Dominican Republic and Honduras, cigar devotees are extended a chance to smoke truly exquisite and vintage cigars. Of the special team of six, Altadis U.S.A. describes them as follows: “Alone, the cigar experience of each member is impressive. Combined, their experience is unparalleled. The group draws from their different individual backgrounds and preferences but is united by one goal: to create the world’s best premium cigars. While each member has the talent to blend their own cigars, this unique structure makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts.” Emanating through the series of three separate vintage blends formatted into one Vitola each is opulence, as the private blends and their decadent smoking experiences would otherwise only be privy to the creators or “Maestros” themselves. Offered are a Grupo de Maestros Collection Vintage 2015 6x52 Toro, Grupo de Maestros Collection Vintage 2017 5x50 Robusto Gordo and a Grupo de Maestros Collection Vintage 2012 6x54 Toro. The Vintage 2015 6x52 Toro is mellow-medium bodied unique to its well-aged blend of Nicaraguan Dominican and Peruvian long fillers all aged 9-10+ years that is then finished with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Said to have been discovered at the back of one of the largest cedar rooms in the Dominican Republic, smokers can expect peppered lemongrass, wood and sweet caramel to envelop the senses. Coming in dense and rich is the Grupo de Maestros Vintage 2017 though its aging in the cedar room of one of Nicaragua’s legends in the business has allowed a bit of tempering to the full-strength blend so the powerhouse isn’t overpowering. This profile is awarded through the composition of a dark and toothy Mexican San Andres wrapper atop carefully selected Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos as binder and filler rolled into a hefty and robust 5x50 Robusto Gordo. Irresistible are a chocolate bomb of notes hinted with char and pepper delivered from its full-bodied smoke. The third offering, Grupo de Maestros Collection Vintage 2012 is 6 inches and a 54-ring gauge delivering a captivating well-balanced flavor profile of sweet and creamy earth tones in a medium bodied smoke. Its composition, just as illustrious as its counterparts, is proclaimed to be masterfully created by the “godfather” of the Dominican Republic, sourcing from his very own private vault an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan b