10. Muestra de Saka Exclusivo
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Length: 6 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 52
- Vitola: Toro
- MSRP: $14.95 (Boxes of 7, $104.65)
- Release Date: March 2017
- Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
- Original Score: 91
Muestra de Saka is the most ambitious project to date from Steve Saka's Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. It's a collection of cigars, there's at least eight that have made appearances in one way or another, but they aren't the same blend. Rather, Saka says it's a look into the soul of the cigarmaker, hence the name muestra de Saka translates to sample of Saka.
Exclusivo is the first one of now three to receive a formal release. The 6 x 52 toro pays tribute to Nicaragua, using tobacco from all four of the countries growing regions: Condega, Estelí, Jalapa and Ometepe.
So far, the one common theme of Muestra de Saka releases have been that they are expensive—this is the cheapest so far at $14.95—the yellow bands that remind me of Dunhill Cabinet releases and that each cigar has been packed in coffins. While Exclusivo might be overshadowed this week by the $100 Unicorn—not a typo—it made it to our top 10, more than enough to be deemed special. — Charlie Minato.
