The Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 was the 92-rated #18 cigar of 2018, according to Cigar Aficionado. Not bad for a company that built its reputation by rolling Rejects cigars!
No, really. That was the name of the blend: Rejects.
The whole concept of the brand back in 1965 was to take a leftover secondary leaf and turn it into something worthwhile. They made good value cigars that were still a cut above what many others produced. Early on, copycat “Segundos” and factory rejects were made thoughtlessly by many brands. Some couldn’t have cared less what they were producing back in the old days, so long as they used up tobacco and ensured it didn’t go to waste.
Nat Cicco was different.
This was their core business, and they had to take what was left and make the best cigar they could. Their reputation was riding on it.
As history would have it, they did a capable job, carving out a place for themselves in the market as a brand that produced affordable cigars that still were made with high-quality tobacco. It was a better smoke than gas station packs, that was for certain. And over the years, that was good enough for the brand.
But in the last decade or so, Nat Cicco has undergone something of a rebirth, creating premium offerings that still are price-conscious. Now they’ve got high-end offerings that you can still get within the average cigar lover’s budget. And the Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 is perhaps the best of the bunch (although Casino Real is also a really nice smoke).
The tobacco used is mainly good Nicaraguan leaf. On top of that, you get a really handsome Ecuador Habano Maduro wrapper. It’s a very inviting luscious brown color, and the flavor definitely delivers. For a company that built its business on balancing price and quality, they know how to get the most out of every leaf that goes into its blends. This means construction, too! Cigar Aficionado had this to say:
“Driven by a bold cocoa-powder core, this squarely-pressed, pigtailed toro draws and burns quite evenly…” It’s got that box-pressed shape that makes drawing and aeration quite easy. Then comes the flavor. CA described the 1965 Aniversario as offering “secondary notes of toast, leather and black pepper before a sweet-and-nutty caramel finish.” Those are the kind of earthy and mature aromas that start to separate great cigars from merely good ones. This smoke is a treat, for sure.
It’s a perfect way to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of a company that continues to improve steadily as time goes on. These cigars are great, and that’s that.
Please browse our selection of Nat Cicco Aniversario 1965 cigars at your leisure.
