The largest producer of cigars in the world, the Dominican Republic is known to enthusiasts around the globe as "Cigar Country." While Cubans are often more recognizable, Dominican varieties are of a far superior quality overall. With products that cover a wide variety of aromas, colors and price tags, visitors won't be able to resist sampling and returning home with a local stogie.
Providing the ideal growing environment, the majority of cigars are produced in the central island's Santiago and Cibao Valley regions. In fact, the country boasts more than 600,000 acres of tobacco plants. It is because of Dominicans' careful cultivation and management of tobacco crops that the country is able to produce cigars that are truly distinctive and of impeccable quality.
Cigar-Making Process
Cigar-making is a very involved process that takes anywhere from two to three years from start to finish, depending on the type and manufacturer.
After a seed is planted it takes four months before the plant is ready for harvesting, or removal of the mature, ripe leaves. The tobacco leaves are picked in six stages, from the bottom of the plant to the top. These stages include libra de pie (the base), uno y medio (section directly above the base), centro ligero (center of plant with thinnest leaves), centro fino (center of plant with mid-sized leaves), centro gordo (center of plant with thickest leaves) and corona (top of plant or crown).
Following the harvest, several steps are completed before the leaves are ready for the cigar factory.
Step 1: Aging & Curing
Tobacco must be dried immediately following the harvest. Therefore, leaves are hung inside for six to eight weeks.
Step 2: First Fermentation
Once the leaves are dry they are placed in piles and covered with burlap. This allows the remaining moisture to initiate the fermentation process, giving the leaves their brown color while lowering the tar and nicotine levels.
Step 3: Sorting
Following the fermentation process, the leaves are sorted according to color, size and texture. In addition, they are flattened and moistened, with any broken leaves discarded and used for cigarettes.
Step 4: Second Fermentation
After leaves are sorted, a second two-month fermentation process occurs to allow leaves to reach ideal temperature and humidity.
Following the final fermentation the leaves arrive at the cigar factory where they can age for up to two years, depending on the cigar type.
In addition to the cigar-making process, it is important to be familiar with the basic components of a cigar. Visitors to the DR who know this information will have a much more pleasurable and enjoyable time shopping around.
Cigar Anatomy
Wrapper
Responsible for aroma and appearance, the wrapper is a high quality tobacco leaf that encloses the binder and filler. The leaf should ideally feel thick and oily. The darker the color of the wrapper, the sweeter and stronger the flavor and the greater the oil and sugar content will be.
Light wrappers include Connecticut, Natural and Colorado Claro. Popular varieties of dark include Colorado, Colorado Maduro, Maduro and Oscuro.
Filler
The filler is a unique blend of tobacco leaves rolled into the center of the cigar. Originating at the middle section or base of the tobacco plant, the leaves partially determine how strong the cigar will taste and how distinctive the flavor. The two types of fillers include the long, which is an entire leaf rolled into the cigar, and a short, consisting of a variety of tobacco leaf scraps.
Bind
The binder is a leaf that holds the filler, or tobacco leaves, which are then enclosed into the wrapper. It originates from the top of the tobacco plant, where the extra sun exposure creates a strong flavor. Depending on the manufacturer, some use the binder as a filler to increase the flavor intensity of the cigar.
It is this unique blend of wrappers, binders and fillers that determine the overall flavor of the cigar. Those made in the DR are considered an art form and include such world recognized brands as Arturo Fuente, Carbonell, Juan Clemente, La Aurora, León Jimenes, Montecristo, Romeo y Julietas and Thiriet Mercedes.
Popular Brands
Arturo Fuente
Arturo Fuente cigars are family made with high quality tobaccos. Described as a "heavy-weight" cigar, they are made with Cameroon wrappers, except the Chateau Fuente selection which uses a Connecticut wrapper.
La Aurora
La Aurora possesses a mild to medium taste and includes a blend of Dominican tobaccos. It is wrapped in African Cameroon leaves.
León Jimenes
Containing a Dominican filler and binder, León Jimenes is a medium taste cigar with a Connecticut wrapper.
Carbonell
Carbonell is a very mild cigar that has no aftertaste, so it will not cling to breath, clothes or hair.
Cojimar
A personal favorite of celebrity Rosie Perez, Cojimar is a sugar-tipped cigar made with Dominican tobacco. Tourists are encouraged to try all seven flavors, including amaretto and vanilla.
Juan Clemente
Juan Clemente is a smooth cigar with a full-bodied taste. The filling and binder are from local Dominican agricultural areas. It contains a Connecticut wrapper.
Montecristo
The recipe for this famous cigar originated in Cuba, but the DR has manufactured its own version since 1995. Montecristo has a medium-to-heavy taste and uses a Connecticut wrapper with a Cuban filler and binder.
Romeo y Julieta
Favored by Jack Nicholson, Romeo y Julieta provides a smooth, mellow taste and is made with a Dominican filler and binder. The wrapper used is grown in Indonesia.
Thiriet Mercedes
Thiriet Mercedes encompasses a mild-to-medium taste and has a Dominican long filler and binder with a Connecticut wrapper.
Tourists who desire a flavorful and unique Dominican cigar for their own pleasure or a souvenir will find a variety of gift shops, factories or museums throughout the DR. Listed below are several places to visit while in "Cigar Country."
Cigar Factory Tours
There are several opportunities to visit cigar factories if you are visiting the Central region of the Dominican Republic.
Grupo León Jimenes Tobacco Company
Founded in 1903, Grupo León Jimenes is an international and multinational tobacco factory that offers tours to the public and includes a factory store.
Location: Santiago
Telephone: (809) 755-2514
Fabrica Anilo de Oro
Located in Tamboril, one of the most famous tobacco and cigar towns in the world, Fabrica Anilo de Oro is a small cigar producer that offers a tour along with a free, fresh rolled cigar at the end.
Location: Calle Real 85, Tamboril, Santiago Prov.
Hours: Monday - Friday, 7am to 4pm
Telephone: (809) 580-5808
Los Maestros
This factory is a small, family-owned company. Visitors are advised to call ahead for a tour.
Location: Tamboril, Santiago Prov.
Telephone: (809) 299-1702
Tabacalera Jacagua
Tabacalera Jacagua gives visitors a great sense of the cigar-rolling craft. Like Fabrica Anilo de Oro, guests will be offered a free, fresh rolled cigar following the tour.
Location: Cappelan 13, Tamboril, Santiago Prov.
Hours: Monday - Friday, 7am to 4pm
Telephone: (809) 580-6600
Pinar del Rio Tabacalera
Located in Villa Gonzalez, guests can learn the art of cigar-rolling from professionals. Following the tour, a distinctive gift shop awaits.
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm
Tubano's
This factory is heavily used is quite popular with tourists, who will see the cigar-rolling process and visit an exclusive gift shop.
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm
Museums
Museo del Tabaco
Housed in an old Victorian tobacco warehouse, this distinctive museum displays a collection of authentic tools, unique art and old photographs related to the tobacco industry. Exhibits cover crop usage dating back to the Taino times, and there is a mock cigar room where guests are able to observe how some of the finest tobacco in the world is processed and rolled.
Location: Santiago
Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5:30pm