Don Doroteo Cigars’ first regular production line, Salt of the Earth, is now shipping to U.S. retailers. Salt of the Earth features two different blends, Piedra Viva and Piedra Angular, and both are highlighted by the incorporation of Andullo tobacco. The line made its debut at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show earlier this year.

Don Doroteo Cigars was founded by Juan Lugo. The company name pays homage to Lugo’s grandfather, Doroteo Fermin Delgado. Back in 1936, at the age of 16, Doroteo decided to follow in his late father’s footsteps by growing tobacco in the heart of Santiago, Dominican Republic. One of the factories Doroteo grew tobacco for was La Aurora, which produces the Salt of the Earth line.

The Salt of the Earth Piedra Viva (translates to Living Stone) features an Ecuadorian Cameroon wrapper, which houses Nicaraguan binder and a mix of Dominican Andullo, Corojo, Criollo ’98 and Nicaraguan Condega Ligero and Condega Viso.

Meanwhile, the Piedra Angular (translates to Cornerstone) features a Dominican Corojo wrapper, Nicaraguan Binder, and filler composed of Dominican Andullo, Corojo, Criollo ’98, and Nicaraguan Condega Ligero, Condega Viso.

Both Salt of the Earth Piedra Viva and Piedra Angular come in one size – a 5 3/4 x 54 Toro. Each is presented in ten-count boxes. Pricing for each cigar is $16.75.

Andullo tobacco undergoes a very different curing process than traditional cigar tobacco leaves. This involves putting tobacco leaves in palm seed pods. The pods are then wrapped in rope and, in this case, fermented for two years, causing the Andullo tobacco to compress into a thick bar, almost looking like a roll of salami. Once it has hardened, it typically is carved off. This type of tobacco is usually used in pipe or snuff, but La Aurora has worked with this tobacco in the past on premium blends.

At a glance, here is a look at the Don Doroteo Salt of the Earth:

Piedra Viva

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican (Andullo, Corojo, Criollo ’98), Nicaraguan (Condega Ligero, Condega Viso)
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: La Aurora S.A.
Toro: 5 3/4 x 54

Piedra Angular

Wrapper: Dominican Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican (Andullo, Corojo, Criollo ’98), Nicaraguan (Condega Ligero, Condega Viso)
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: La Aurora S.A.
Toro: 5 3/4 x 54

Photo Credit: Don Doroteo Cigars