Tobacco Business

[ 44 ] TOBACCO BUSINESS [ JULY / AUGUST | 21 ] This year’s Honduran Cigar of the Year is the Camacho Corojo, a cigar made with 100 percent genuine pure-strain Corojo leaves grown from vintage Cuban seed that was taken from the island and then slowly aged like fine rum. The Camacho Corojo made its debut back in 2000, marketed and released to be a disruptor at the time when the cigar market was dominated by mild to medium-bodied cigars. The team at Camacho Cigars wanted to give the U.S. cigar smoker a much holder and flavorful smoke, a goal it was able to achieve with the use of Corojo tobacco and the nuances it brings into the blend. “This award is a testament to our team’s dedication to the Corojo seed, which is the most important core component for the Camacho brand,” says Dylan Austin, president of Davidoff Americas. “In our industry, new products normally garner the majority of the attention and accolades. Which is natural and understood. However, it is a real honor when a product that has been around for over two decades is recognized in such a manner.” The blend for Camacho Corojo was developed by Manuel Batista, general manager of Diademas Cigars. Batista is a 26-year veteran at Davidoff in the Dominican Republic who relocated to Honduras in 2016 to oversee the company’s Honduras operation that includes farming and production. The Camacho Corojo contains authentic Honduran Corojo three primings filler tobaccos (Pennsylvania Broadleaf for the box- pressed version), a Corojo Ligero binder and a Honduran Corojo fifth priming wrapper. This cigar is available in seven different vitolas: Churchill, Figurado, Gigante, Gordo, Toro, Robusto and Machitos. The box-pressed version of Corojo Camacho also comes in a Toro and Robusto vitola. Retailers were front of mind when Camacho developed the branding for the Camacho Corojo. In 2013, the branding and packaging for Camacho Corojo underwent a major revamping to make it more impactful and visually appealing. Camacho Corojo’s red color correlates to the blend’s bold nature that comes from its use of 100 percent Corojo tobaccos. This cigar is perfect for those seeking a cigar with a rich flavor profile and notes of leather, cedar wood and earth. It’ll pair well with most rums that have a good amount of spice but aren’t too sweet. Honduran Cigar of the Year: Camacho Corojo TOP CIGARS 24 THE TOBACCO BUSINESS AWARDS | 2021