Hemingway - November 2026
Each month we receive a selection of the best, hand chosen, cigars delivered to our door via Hemingway. This is what we got this month!
Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Ghooligan Toro (2025) Provenance/Factory: Honduras/Plasencia Strength/Profile: Medium-strength/Medium-bodied Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano) & U.S.A. (Broadleaf) Binder: Indonesia (Besuki) Filler: Dominican Republic (Piloto) & Nicaragua (Condega, Estelí & Jalapa) Vitola: Toro (6” by 50) The Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Ghooligan is a bit of a standout, crafted in Honduras as a barber-pole cigar that really catches the eye. It’s built with a unique mix of leaves, layering a rich wrapper over Nicaraguan tobaccos to give it more character than your average. It’s a fun take on the brand’s Black Market line, designed to offer something bit different for those keen to try a more distinctive-looking cigar (barber-pole). When it comes to the flavour and strength, this one generally sits in the medium to medium-full range, making it a decent choice for aficionados. You can expect a complex profile that often brings in bold notes of black pepper, baking spices and earthy undertones; sometimes rounded out with a touch of sweetness or roasted espresso as it burns down. It’s a pretty balanced smoke, and while the experience can vary, it’s definitely one that leaves a lasting impression on your palate. |
Alec Bradley Thirty Years Toro (2026) Provenance/Factory: Honduras/Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas Strength: Medium-strength/Medium-bodied Wrapper: Honduras (Trojes) Binder: Honduras (Jamastrán Valley) & Nicaragua (Jalapa) Filler: Honduras (Jamastrán Valley, Trojes) & Nicaragua (Estelí, Jalapa) Vitola: Toro (6” by 54) The Alec Bradley Thirty Years cigar released to commemorate the brand's 30th anniversary, serving as a testament to the company's evolution since its founding by Alan Rubin during the “Cigar Boom” in 1996. Handcrafted in Honduras, this cigar features a sophisticated blend of premium tobaccos. Profile, the Thirty Years is widely regarded as a medium to medium-plus strength cigar, making it approachable yet satisfyingly nuanced. Aficionados can expect a rich, balanced flavour experience characterized by prominent notes of leather and a steady, lively peppery spice. As the cigar progresses, these core elements are often complemented by hints of cinnamon and earthy undertones, culminating in a clean, toasty finish that highlights the careful aging and selection. |
GPC Cachtios Connecticut or Original (Habano) Short Robusto (2025) Provenance/Factory: Nicaragua/Plasencia & Tabacalera Barreda Cigars Strength: Medium-Medium+/Medium-Full Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Shade) or Nicaragua (Habano) Binder: Nicaragua (Connecticut version) Honduras (Original version) Filler: Nicaragua (Connecticut version) Nicaragua & Honduras (Original) Vitola: Short Robusto (4" by 50)
The Cachitos Short Robusto’s from GPC (Global Premium Cigars, formerly 1502 Cigars) are absolutely outstanding short & highly enjoyable cigars. The original (Habano) line was released in 2018 and in 2025 Enrique Sanchez-Icaza of GPC (and a great old friend of mine) released the newer Connecticut Shade version from Barreda. We’ve enjoyed a number of these over the last few months and they are just so tasty its not funny – so good in fact I’m seriously contemplating holding onto the leftovers. |
Micallef Herencia Habano Toro (2023 vintage) Provenance/Factory: Nicaragua/Micallef Cigars S.A. Strength: Medium-plus/Full-bodied Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Binder: Ecuador Sumatra Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua Vitola: Toro box-pressed (6” by 52) For those that have already enjoyed the Londres vitolas from Micallef, will have enjoyed the Herencia Habano; now we have it in Toro vitola (size) to maximise your enjoyment! The Micallef Herencia Habano is a living testimony to the Gómez-Sánchez family’s dedication to never compromising quality to meet demand. This cigar sits comfortably in the medium-strength range, making it quite approachable for many aficionados, yet it really punches above its weight with a full, complex flavour profile. Enthusiasts can expect a perfect balance of cedar, warm spice, and a gentle toasted sweetness that develops beautifully as the cigar burns, often pairing quite nicely with a decent espresso or a light rum. |
Punch Mr Punch Toro (2026) Provenance/Factory: Nicaragua/STG Strength: Medium/Medium-bodied Wrapper: Ecuador (Sumatra-seed) Binder: Nicaragua (Jalapa) Filler: Nicaragua Vitola: Toro (6” by 54) The Mr Punch by Punch cigar, introduced in 2026, serves as a playful yet refined homage to the brand's iconic mascot. This full-time release features an Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed wrapper, which is paired with a Nicaraguan Jalapa binder and a blend of premium Nicaraguan long-fillers. It is a well-constructed stick that brings a bit of character to the Punch portfolio, aiming to offer a classic experience with a modern twist. When it comes to the flavour and strength, it's a bit of a ripper that delivers a balanced medium-bodied profile. Aficionados can look forward to a lively, nuanced mix of wood, cream and warm spice notes that carry through the smoke. It’s a very reliable, easy-going cigar that doesn't try to knock your socks off with overpowering strength, but still provides plenty of flavour to keep things interesting from start to finish. The character, a jester or Punchinello, was inspired by the “Punch and Judy” puppet shows and has been featured on both the Cuban and non-Cuban versions of the brand’s packaging dating back to the mid-1800s. |
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