Family-owned from farm to factory, with the third generation now manning the helm, Artista Cigars isn't just some Dominican boutique brand, it's a tobacco powerhouse.
Located in the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic, this small yet extremely successful cigar company has been rolling stogies with its own crops for more than 65 years.
Following in the footsteps of their elders, the younger generation has taken the "finely honed techniques" passed down from their elders, and have decided to do something that, and I quote: "Might make them a little nervous."
Passing the proverbial torch is never an easy task, as it comes with a lot of responsibility and risk, but the grandchildren of Artista's founding fathers have built themselves quite the following. With swanky boxing, clever branding, slick cigar bands, and collaborative projects with people like baseball hall-of-famer, David Ortiz, the new era of cigar manufacturing at Artista seems destined for greatness.
And while the following three blends that make up the core line of Artista offerings are all box-pressed and similarly banded, the variety of flavors and aromatics that they provide are just as diverse and fulfilling as they come.
So sit back, study up, and let the art show begin...
“All of my cigar brands are like my children. You see them grow, you need to take care of them. For me, it’s very beautiful.”
- Ram Rodríguez, President of Artista Cigars
Artista Harvest Sumatra
[Buy 5-Pack]
Artista's Harvest Sumatra takes a top-grade Sumatran wrapper (presumably from Ecuador), and layers it atop an equally flavorful Cameroon binder. This combination of the Sumatran wrapper's herbal, mixed tea spice and dried fruit flavors blends beautifully with the creamy, earthy, nuttier notes found within the African leaf underneath. Both of these work seamlessly alongside Artista's family-farmed Dominican filler blend. All around, a very approachable medium Sumatran cigar that serves as a solid starting point for those who shy away from richer, stronger premium cigar blends.
Artista Falu Broadleaf
[Buy 5-Pack]
Named after the red barns of Northern Europe and the United States, Artista's Falu takes an oily, Broadleaf wrapper that borders on being labeled as burgundy in color, and throws an Indonesian Sumatran wrapper behind it for a splash of dark honey and chai tea.
With a proprietary blend of Artista-grown tobacco strains stuffed inside, this medium-full (some may find it to be full) cigar is a robust smoke for those who dig complex cigars. We have found that hints of hickory, fruit leather, actual leather, black pepper, and rum can all be detected in this blend.
Artista Midnight Maduro
[Buy 5-Pack]
The third cigar from Artista is its Midnight Maduro, which apparently is the first premium full-bodied cigar within the Artista Series. While this bold blend may have given the older generation reason for concern, the addition of a Connecticut Shade binder balances out that opaque Ecuadorian habano wrapper in a surprisingly successful fashion.
Like the yin to its yang, and visa versa, these two polar opposite forms of tobacco leaf balance one another out, all while playing off the tangy, richer tones provided by the filler blend pulled from Nicaragua, the U.S.A., and the Dominican Republic. Easily the most complex of the current core line, Artista's claim that you will encounter earthy notes of coffee, spice, candied chestnuts, and a citrus finish is pretty much spot on and then some.