Mi Querida Black SakaKhan

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust

• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Nicaragua American Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
• Binder: Mexico (San Andrés Negro)
• Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras & Nicaragua
• Length: 7 1/4 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 54
• Vitola: Churchill Extra
• MSRP: $15.95 (Box of 10, $159.50)
• Release Date: August 2022
• Number of Cigars Released: 3,500 Boxes of 10 Cigars (35,000 Total Cigars)
• Original Score: 91

Note: This cigar, identical in both blend and size, was first released in November 2021 as the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Limited Edition “EM” Maduro, an exclusive for JR Cigar as part of the retailer’s 50th anniversary. While we never reviewed that cigar, it would have been eligible for the 2022 Top 25 as it debuted in the second half of 2021.

Steve Saka is no stranger to our Top 25 list, with many years seeing multiple awards being handed out to his Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust brands. The Mi Querida Black SakaKhan was one spot shy of giving Saka a trio of Top 10 cigars for 2022. Regardless of where it finished, this iteration of the Mi Querida lines is impressive.

The Mi Querida Black blend features a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper over a San Andrés Negro binder, hence the name, but the SakaKhan part came from a nickname Saka was given by his shipmates back in the 1980s when Chaka Khan became a popular artist. Initially released as one of the cigars to celebrate JR Cigar’s 50th anniversary, the blend and size stayed the same for the SakaKhan release. In addition, the Mi Querida Black line will be expanded to add additional sizes in 2023.

While the 7 1/4 x 54 size can be an intimidating time commitment, I wished I had more time with the Mi Querida Black blend. The profile is quite bold, but never to the point where it’s punishing or overwhelming. I very much look forward to seeing what else comes down the line for the Mi Querida Black, and that is because the SakaKhan is such a superb introduction to the blend. — Brian Burt