Tobacco Cultivation Regions: Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic was one of the first countries in which Nicotiana tabacum (commonly known as tobacco) was cultivated by Europeans. It is home to some of the richest and most fertile soils in the world - in particular, the Cibao Valley which follows along the Yaque river of north west Santiago.

The Piloto Cubano is a sun grown plant which is used for filler with leaves culled for binders. It is regarded by most as Dominicans best black tobacco and is prized for its rich, intense flavour as well as its sweet aroma. It serves as a key component in many of the world's handmade cigar blends.

Popular manufacturers using Dominican Tobacco:

Caldwell - Caldwell cigars was created in 2014 by Robert Caldwell. He had a very simple agenda: to create incredible cigars using well aged and rare tobaccos as well as to enjoy what they do. They are a business built on friendship and fun with their goals always being: Creation, innovation and ambition - All three can be seen in their cigars. One of their most popular cigar ranges is the Eastern Standard - It has a blend of rare and aged Grade A tobaccos, making them flavourful, creamy, and smooth flavour profile with subtle notes of pepper and spice.

La Flor Dominicana -.Founded in 1996 in Santiago, Dominican Republic, their commitment to quality, consistency and customer service has placed the brand among the most prestigious premium cigar brands in the world! Over the years that have followed they have developed a portfolio of quality blends, different shapes and sizes which fulfil the ever changing needs of today's cigar smoker. The Chisel use a blend of Dominican tobaccos for the filler and binder withhe wrapper leaf is Nicaraguan taken from the top of the tobacco plant gives these cigars a very rich, full bodied smoke.

Davidoff - Zino Davidoff ran a tobacco shop in Switzerland and in 1946 acquired a licence to create his own cigars. By 1967 Cubatabaco approached him to create a range of cigars, with the Davidoff name all made in the El Laguito factory (which is known for creating Fidel Castro's personal cigars known as Cohiba). After numerous disputes over quality and ownership rights, Zino and Cubatabaco ended their relationship in 1989, during this time it is believed that Zino had burned over one hundred thousand cigars that he deemed low quality and unfit to sell. In 1990 Davidoff started producing cigars in the Dominican Republic, after numerous attempts Zino found a partner in Hendrik Kelner - The rest is history! One of their most famous and popular ranges is the Winston Churchills which are a complex blend like the man himself. It's ample, even draw leaves grassy impressions that take on a sweet-and-spicy gingersnap quality. They burn evenly with a picture- perfect ash. 

Written by Oliver Partington