The Nat Cicco cigar company (pronounced “SEEK-oh”) was first founded in 1965 around the concept of bargain-priced factory rejects. That’s what they called their sticks: Rejects.
The business idea was a hit, propelling Nat Cicco cigars into a comfortable spot in the market. As the decades rolled by, other companies launched their own “seconds” offerings, but rarely had the same focus on quality as Nat Cicco. For Nat Cicco, high-grade tobacco and decent medium trimmings were the way to build a value cigar that wouldn’t break the bank. Others were content to chop up whatever they had lying around into short filler and call it a day.
In short, this is the “good version” of a cigar most treat like an afterthought.
The Nat Cicco cigars brand (an abbreviation of the phrase NATional CIgar COmpany) was picked up in 2007 by Zander-Greg, an importer and distributor who had a vision for the future. Since then, high-quality new lines have been introduced, like Cuban Legends and Aniversario 1965. The company hasn’t abandoned the idea of friendly pricing but is adding high-quality offerings to build a full brand portfolio.
The question remains, though: how can you keep prices low while making good cigars? Well, instead of reducing the grade of leaf used or finding ways to reduce how decent the ultimate product is, Nat Cicco cigars strives to find more efficient ways to make their cigars, conduct operations, or otherwise shave down expenses.
All of that said, the company does have some premium cigars. In 2018, Cigar Aficionado put the Aniversario 1965 on its Top 25 Cigars of 2018 list at #18. With a dark Ecuador Habano wrapper, a pigtail cap, and a boatload of flavor, the Aniversario 1965 earned a 92-point rating and helped Nat Cicco cigars break new ground. The Casino Real fully delivers on the brand promise, bringing another 92-point rating to the table in the form of a Nicaraguan/Ecuadoran cigar that is priced under $6 dollars. The HHB Habano is also affordable and reliably good.
Some cigar companies aim for the top. Nat Cicco aims for the middle, trying to deliver both quality and price. Amazingly, they pull it off and somehow beat even our modest expectations. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the brand diverge even more as time goes on, offering dedicated bargain lines for the price shoppers, but also premium smokes who want to see what the company can do with great leaf.
Please browse our selection of Nat Cicco cigars at your leisure.
