Puro…the translation from Spanish means “pure.” We will come across a cigar every so often that advertises itself as a Nicaraguan puro or perhaps a Honduran puro. So what does the term puro mean when it is associated with a cigar?

You will usually see the term puro associated with a country. In cigar lingo, a “puro” simply means that the cigar is 100% from the country it is associated with. In a Nicaraguan puro, the wrapper, the binder and the filler all come from Nicaragua. This can sometimes be a bit confusing since I did not mention the country of origin. A cigar can still be considered a puro even if made outside the country where all the components come from. A fine example of this is a new label we will be carrying—Casa Fernandez Miami. This wonderful smoke is actually rolled and manufactured in Miami, so it is one of the few premium cigars that can call the USA its country of origin. But the wrapper leaf, binder and filler leaves all come from Nicaragua, so it is a Nicaraguan puro. Hopefully I haven’t lost anyone yet! To further muddy the waters, I should also mention that the common term for a cigar in most Spanish speaking countries is puro…although it is not paired with a country so it is simply a slang term for a cigar—much like our term for a cigar is stogie!

For this short article though, I just want to focus on the term puro as it refers to wrapper, binder and filler all from the same country. Puros are truly a showcase for a country’s tobacco production. The majority of premium cigars use a variety of tobaccos from several countries to achieve that perfect blend. To create a puro, the selections of tobacco have been reduced drastically and it is up to the master blenders to find that perfect blend to create a cigar that will be a true representation of that country. 

Smoking a puro is what it is all about…each country has certain soil characteristics, varying weather and different varietal tobaccos that all impart specific flavors into the final finished cigars. The full flavored spiciness of Nicaraguan puros, the earthy rich flavors of Honduran puros, the mellow richness of Dominican puros, and the bold and powerful flavor of Cuban cigars (all Cuban cigars are puros) are the shining examples of the proud tobacco growers of each country. So stop by your local ABC and grab a puro...Quesada Oktoberfest from Dominican Republic, Oliva V from Nicaragua, or a Camacho Corojo from Honduras are some great examples.

The best cigar is the one you enjoy,

Steve Mungeer

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Cigar and Gourmet Products Planner and Certified Retail Tobacconist

Follow me on Twitter @abccigarmungo