The Muestra de Saka series is a way to sample (“muestra” means “sample”) the blends closest to a particular cigar man. In this case, it’s Steve Saka, the one-time CEO of Drew Estate, and the man responsible for more than a few fine stogies. Actually, that’s a little incorrect for this particular Unstolen Valor blend. This one is a hand-selected blend chosen by Saka out of a lineup made by Raul Disla, the manager of the Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. (NACSA) factory in Estelí.

Disla has the chops to make it worth smoking. He’s twisted up quite a few nice smokes himself. He’s worked in one capacity or another for the Cuevas and Toraño families, Dunhill cigars, the Nica Habano factory, and A.J. Fernandez (one of the most prolific blenders on Earth these days). Saka has released a few other sticks in the Muestra de Saka series, but for this one, he wanted to see what Disla might come up with if he was totally left to his own devices and asked to blend without constraint.

Music to an artist’s ears, really.

Disla laid out a spread of four stogies, and Unstolen Valor was the selection Mr. Saka considered most worthy of sharing. It’s a Nicaraguan puro that is actually one of the most impressive cigars we’ve seen in the year of its release. Instead of dynamic shifts from one note to the next, this cigar holds a very enjoyable flavor profile steadily and reliably, pretty much from beginning to end. Unshakeable black pepper over grilled meat, plus some earth, is the description Halfwheel provided. And rather than this becoming dull, they report that it’s like a quality single malt that knows which notes to play and plays them so well that you don’t find yourself looking for a greater range.

Perfect in its simplicity. Open an individual wooden coffin and pull out a cigar that does exactly what it’s supposed to – nothing more, nothing less.

This Dunbarton Muestra De Saka Unstolen Valor cigar is made in Nicaragua. Outside, you'll find a Nicaraguan wrapper. Inside, the binder is Nicaraguan, and the filler is Nicaraguan. This is a Toro cigar with a length of 6.00 and a ring gauge of 52.

Please browse our selection of Muestra de Saka Unstolen Valor cigars at your leisure.

• What are the flavors like?
o Stable pepper, grilled meat, earth

• What’s the strength level?
o Medium-full

• Who is this cigar for?
o Muestra de Saka Unstolen Valor cigars are for people who don’t have smoker’s ADHD.

• Will I want to smoke it to the nub?
o You’ll be hooked.

• What’s a good pairing with it?
o That single malt callout sounds pretty perfect for a pairing, here. Let’s pour Macallan 12 and drink the night away.

• What’s the best time/place to smoke this cigar?
o When you’ve earned your reputation and you’re proud of it.

• Any flaws/downsides?
o We had to go searching for flaws and didn’t find any, so we gave up. This is a really good cigar.