A relatively new contender to the global market of Cuban cigars, Vegueros, named in honour of the Cuban tobacco farmers and their key contributions to the cigar industry, may not have the longest history compared to other Cuban brands but that does not stop this little power house from the Pinar del Rio region making a unique impression on any who get the delight to enjoy these cigars.

Like I previously mentioned, Vegueros has its roots in the Pinar del Rio region (approx. 116 miles or 187km from Havana) in the western part of Cuba. For those Cuban aficionados among you, you may note that this is rather uncommon for Cuban cigars, with the majority of them being made in and around Havana. Going even more against the grain, Vegueros cigars are rolled in the historic Francisco Donatien Factory, a refurbished former prison in the heart of Pinar del Rio with operations starting in 1961 supplying their cigars to Cuba's domestic market. It wasn't until 1996 that the original brand of Vegueros started reaching shelves internationally. Then in 2013 Vegueros rebranded, updating their packaging, a new range of vitolas and changing the strength from full bodied cigars to medium to full but still maintained the core essence of "the farmer's cigar" and "Tripa larga, totalmente a mano" (long filler, totally handmade).

So with that brief introduction into the history of Vegueros, the question remains: what are the cigars actually like? Thankfully, I recently had the joy of sampling one of these cigars myself in the form of the Vegueros Mananitas and in my honest opinion, it's a great little cigar! With a solid construction, an easy and smooth draw, and a well-balanced flavour profile consisting of a distinctive blend of oak and cedar, this cigar delivers an earthy and woody profile with a hint of sweetness accompanied by gentle pepper notes. The flavours intensify in tandem with the woody tones, with a strength that starts medium and progresses to medium-full bodied toward the end.

The Mananitas is a perfectly constructed cigar that delivers on premium quality while still maintaining its rustic roots. Whether you're a veteran of the Cuban cigar world or a newcomer, this cigar deserves a place in everyone's humidor. With an accessible price point that rivals many other Cuban cigars, having a few of these little “pocket rockets" on hand for summer days out cannot go amiss. Thankfully, you can get both packs of 4 and tins of 16 for all of Vegueros' range - if this vitola is not your desired type, you still have: