“Not only is this an outstanding cigar, but its a landmark cigar. It will not only be talked about as one of the best cigars for 2015, but a cigar I believe many will be talking about for years to come.”

Cubanacan-HR-Sublime

Wrapper: Ecuador Habano 2000 seed Hybrid
Binder : Nicaraguan, Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan, Esteli and Jalapa
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Cubanacan Cigars Factory S.A.)
Sublime: 6 1/2 x 54
Review: Cubanacan HR Sublime
Brand Appearances on Countdown: 1 (2015)

Coming in at #4 is the Cubanacan HR Sublime. The HR is a brand that was released as a new brand in Cubanacan Cigars’ portfolio last December. The HR gained considerable attention because it was a collaboration between Cubanacan Cigars and acclaimed Cuban grower / cigar maker Hirochi Robaina. It becomes the first cigar under the Cubanacan Cigars’ portfolio to land on a Cigar Coop Countdown. The brand was positioned as an ultra-premium brand with its offerings around the $20.00 price point.

As 2015 has come to a close, there are some questions as to the future of the HR brand. Earlier this year, Robaina, and Cubanacan Cigars Master Blender Omar Gonzalez Aleman announced they were splitting ties with Cubanacan. Robaina also announced he was taking the HR brand with him (and La Palina reported earlier this year he had joined its team). With Cubanacan claiming ownership of the brand, there is some doubt on where the future of this brand is heading. The fact that the HR cigar has landed on the 2015 Countdown is simply a product of the cigar itself.

The HR features a Ecuadorian Habano Hybrid Seed wrapper over  a Jalapa binder and fillers from Esteli and Jalapa.  This cigar is the ninth cigar on this year’s Countdown to feature a Habano wrapper from Ecuador.  The Sublime is the largest vitola of the line – measuring 6 1/2 x 54.

The HR Sublime delivers a complex smoke of natural tobacco sweetness, chocolate, wood, cedar, pepper, and even a touch of almond.  This cigar is a medium strength cigar with its flavors starting out medium bodied before progressing to medium to full in the last third.

This cigar was one of only three cigars released during 2015 to earn the prestigious Oasis rating on Cigar Coop – which is our highest assessment rating. Politics aside, this is still a very special cigar and its one certainly worth having.

Box_Worthy_Thirty

For details of the 2015 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our December 2015 Editor’s Corner