Cain's Nicaraguan Ligero Tobacco

After enjoying the very able Cain Straight Ligero on Friday, I decided to conduct a geography lesson for myself. I looked up the regions the three ligero fillers came from on Google Maps as shown in the figure below.

The map above is centered on Nicaragua. Near the north (top) are three green call outs labeled A,B, and C which mark the three areas as follows: A=Jalapa, B=Condega, C=Esteli.  As you can see the tobaccos come from the northern region of Nicaragua. Below is a tiny bit of information on each of the areas and about the tobacco as described by caincigars.com.

Jalapa:

Jalapa is perhaps the smallest of the three locations with an elevation of about 2,300 feet above sea level. Jalapa provides the least amount of direct sun due to the valley the tobacco is grown in and the smoothest of the three ligero tobaccos.

Condega:

Nicaragua.com describes Condega as a tranquil area surrounded by mountains and beautiful valleys and is an important contributor to the tobacco industry. Here Cuban exiles perfected the skill of making cigars and relocated the craft to Esteli. Condega is slightly lower than Esteli and as a result a bit warmer. The Condega ligero tobacco is medium bodied with a complex richness.

Esteli:

According to Perelman's Pocket Cyclopedia of Cigars, Esteli is the location where the Cain cigars are handmade. Esteli is just over 2,600 feet above sea level in a cooler region of Nicaragua giving the town a nice and cool climate. Nicaragua.com mentions this region is a location where Cuban cigar makers sought refuge during the Cuban Revolution and could attribute to why the tobacco industry is such a large part of the area. Esteli ligero tobacco is the strongest of the three and must be used sparingly otherwise it could overpower the other tobaccos.

Clearly Cain selected areas deeply rooted with cigar history and an ideal climate for producing the full flavored and complex cigars we enjoy today.

Cain -- Straight Ligero - Robusto

Cain and VERY Able. Those guys at Oliva weren't joking when they described this cigar as "strength under cover".

Occasion:  July 1st	Gauge:  50
Cigar:  Habano Straight Ligero	Length: 5-3/4"
Price:  $6.25	Shape:  Robusto
Filler:  Ligero (Esteli, Condega, Jalapa)
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper:  Nicaragua Habano

Appearance: 
The Nicaragua Habano wrapper had a rich milk chocolaty brown color with a silky sheen. Each wrapper leaf had a prominent lighter colored vein and a small hole was present along one of the veins. Aside from the veins, the wrapper appeared flawless.

Construction:
A very firm roll with no spongy spots at all. The cap was extremely well constructed with only a minor bunch where the body's wrapper folded under. A thick vein became exposed at the middle after I punched out a hole in the cap. A v-notch punch could have had an issue but a guillotine would have cut right through. 


After about an inch of enjoyment the burn became uneven and lasted for the duration of the cigar. This did not reduce my enjoyment of the cigar and was only a cosmetic issue.


Tasting Notes:

Right from the get-go to about the halfway mark you get a nice peppery rush that fills your entire mouth. The peppery taste holds on for a bit before retreating and an earthy and then roasted flavor sets in. A very complex flavor profile with this cigar. Even though this cigar is a very full bodied smoke there was no harsh after-taste or unpleasant mouthfeel when finished. This must be attributed to the tobacco's triple fermentation process.

Draw	Burn
Start:  good	Start: even
Halfway:  good	Halfway:  uneven
Three-Quarters: good	Three-Quarters:  uneven

Recommend: Be ready for jaw dropping taste experience. While the cigar was complex and flavorful and remained smooth and consistent throughout, those triple fermented ligeros sat me down.

Other Notes: Got this at Tinder Box. What a great place with very knowledgeable and helpful staff. The guy asked many questions to learn what I enjoyed and what price range I was looking for and offered many great suggestions.