Distributed by United Cigars, the Atabey cigar is a premium brand from Selected Tobacco. The man behind Selected Tobacco, Nelson Alfonso, is no stranger to top-shelf cigar collaborations. He has worked on branding for Cohiba, Padrón, and other highly respected names. But Alfonso’s efforts go far beyond design work, as he has created numerous quality brands through his Selected Tobacco company. Among them is the United Cigars Atabey, produced at his Tabacos de Costa Rica factory in Costa Rica.
The Atabey cigar is named for the supreme goddess of the now-extinct Taíno people, indigenous to the Caribbean Islands. To the Taíno, Atabey was not only the world’s first female—she also gave birth to their primary male god, Yucahu. Atabey is a goddess who oversees lakes, rivers, and water in general. She was considered a driving force in agriculture, including the cultivation of tobacco.
The Taíno worshiped Atabey during ceremonies featuring the full moon and men performing sacred dances. In their hands, they held rolled tobacco leaves. Now that is the kind of history lesson we can chew on.
Time to see what this goddess cigar brings to the table.
At the heart of the extremely limited United Cigars Atabey cigar is a secret blend of high-end tobaccos wrapped up in an aged golden Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. Some say the core blend and binder are Nicaraguan, though this has never been disclosed. And isn’t the secret part of the fun? As long as it’s a good smoke, we say keep the mystery alive. The gold band displays an image of Atabey, so it’s best to respect her secrets since she does have her eye on you.
In the end, if you pay tribute to the United Cigars Atabey cigar with your lighter, she will reveal her clandestine flavors. Right off the bat, you’ll notice sweetness, some brown sugar, wood, and spice. The leaf helps keep things rich and creamy. Ah, yes, the goddess is here to treat us right. Explore her a little further, and the spice picks up with an addition of pepper. The sweetness remains, as does the wood. As things wrap up, the spice and pepper remain dominant while the brown sugar and other sweetness serve as an excellent base. The burn is razor-sharp throughout, and the ash is long and otherworldly.
Please enjoy United Cigars Atabey cigars at your leisure.
