Dunbarton StillWell Star English No.27 Toro Toro cigar is made in Nicaragua. Outside, you'll find an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Inside, the binder is San Andres, and the filler is Various. This is a Toro cigar with a length of 6.00 and a ring gauge of 52.

The Dunbarton StillWell Star cigar line is something fairly unique in the industry. The whole thing is still made with tobacco, but it’s the kind of tobacco that makes things interesting: pipe leaf! Steve Saka, the founder of Dunbarton, has been a pipe smoker for ages. Over time, he developed a habit of including a little pipe tobacco in his cigars. Once Jeremy Reeves, head blender of Cornell & Diehl pipe tobaccos got wind of it, the wheels started turning.

Of course, Saka wasn’t the first to ever come up with the idea of using pipe tobacco in cigars. In fact, his former employer, Drew Estate, included some in the Larutan line. But Saka was unsatisfied with the offerings out on the market. In his opinion, a lot of cigars that make the attempt are “unbearably sweet, utilize marginal pipe and cigar tobaccos, and are rather simple, heavy-handed blends that afford the smoker little sophistication or balance.”

Damn, Steve. Tell us what you really think.

But being the consummate artisan that he is, he set out to make something satisfactory. The result was this 4-blend StillWell Star line, which includes The English No. 27.

Like other cigars in the StillWell Star family, the English No. 27 is built on a core of cigar leaf that would make a fine smoke on its own. There’s an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a Mexican San Andrés binder, and a three-country blend of long-fillers that include high-quality Nicaraguan leaf.

Then comes the pipe tobacco.

The English No. 27 cigar includes “a quintessential mix of Burley and Turkish leaf with a generous portion of Cypriot Latakia pressed cake.” This leads to it being “rich and decadent while not being overpowering.” The flavors are extraordinarily interesting: pepper and earth (which you might expect), but also berries, black tea, and other scintillating fragrances. It’s not quite on the level of an infused blend, but it definitely delivers more unusual aromas than a standard cigar.

This is a cigar to pull out when you just need something fresh, or when you want that nostalgic smell of pipe tobacco that may remind you of an old relative from back in the day.

Call it whatever you want, but don’t call it boring.

Please browse our selection of Dunbarton StillWell Star English No. 27 cigars at your leisure.

- What are the flavors like? Pepper, earth, berry, black tea.

- What’s the strength level? Medium.

- Who is this cigar for? Dunbarton StillWell Star English No. 27 cigars are for those who can’t decide whether they’re in the mood for a pipe or a cigar.

- Will I want to smoke it to the nub? The engaging aromas will keep pulling you in.

- What’s a good pairing with it? This cigar line has us in the mood for something old-timey. If you can’t remember what your granddad drank in his lounger at the end of the day, grab any classic beer or spirit and enjoy.

- What’s the best time/place to smoke this cigar? Anywhere that hasn’t been updated in a long time.

- Any flaws/downsides? If you’re not a pipe smoker, you may need an open mind to approach this blend.