One of my absolute favorite wrapper tobaccos is the incredibly versatile Ecuadorian Habano. As you’ll notice in the list below, this wrapper leaf shines in a multitude of different combinations and concepts.
Today, we’re bringing you a curated selection of the best of the best – although this list isn’t exhaustive by any means since Ecuadorian Habano is a highly competitive category.
If you haven’t yet, you can also check out our Best of Cameroon Cigars article here. There's also a sampler linked below for you to try all of them at your convenience.
Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Pony Express
It might be hard to imagine the same wrapper that can exhibit such delicate tasting notes as also fitting into a fuller-bodied blend, but Pony Express showcases Ecuadorian Habano along with some very bold flavors in a square-pressed format.
Jeremy and Vlad from Casdagli have impeccable palates, allowing them to finetune a new blend in ways that others can’t or won’t before production. Everything Casdagli brings to market tastes inspired, but the Pony Express takes you on a completely different journey than the rest of their lineup.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Costa Rican Puriscal, Nicaraguan (2 binders)
Filler: Dominican Oscuro, Peruvian
Dapper Desvalido Lonsdale
One of my absolute favorite blends of yesteryear, Desvalido has all the grace of a dancer. This blend is dynamic and sophisticated, showing off the complex nature of this wrapper leaf. If I could only smoke one cigar for the rest of the year, Desvalido would be a Top 3 Contender at a minimum!
Our Blind Review Panel also went on to highly award Desvalido with two well-earned box recommendations as well as a 5-pack recommendation.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: U.S.A.
Filler: Connecticut Broadleaf, Nicaraguan Jalapa & Esteli
BLTC Lawless Robusto
When I first heard that James Brown was tweaking his original core blends, I was pretty damn excited. After he launched Black Label, he expanded into delve into Black Works Studio blends and (in my opinion) was killing it!
I remember sitting at the hotel, quarantining, and firing up my first revamped Lawless from a five pack… Think I smoked through the rest of that pack by the next day. There’s a depth to this cigar that still floors me til this day and rises to the top of my mental list every time I ponder Ecuadorian Habano.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Sobremesa Short Churchill
I will forever buy anything Steve Saka creates in a Short Churchill expression based off this cigar alone. I enjoy various sizes in the Sobremesa line to be sure, but the Short Churchill blend is on a completely different plane of existence.
This blend effortlessly accentuates sweet and bitter sensations like very few cigars can. It covers the gambit while being light on pepper, trading it instead for baking spices, creamy mocha, various woods, and citrus notes.
Wrapper: La Meca Ecuadorian Habano Grade 1 Dark Rosado
Binder: Matacapan Negro de Temporal
Filler: Nicaraguan, American
Foundation's Highclere Castle Victorian Robusto
Want sweeter sensations without comprising body, pepper, or savory notes? This cigar has it all and is another great example of just how versatile and complex Ecuadorian Habano can be. Nicholas Melillo of Foundation Cigar Co. creates blends that suggest he’s been working with tobacco his whole life, and this cigar achieves a harmony of flavor that’s as exciting as it is rare.
Highclere Castle Victorian also went on to receive two box recommendations and a 5-pack recommendation from our Blind Review Panel, joining a very small percentage of cigars that have been reviewed by us in the last few years.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Maduro
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Nicaraguan
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