H. Upmann Nicaragua by AJ Fernandez Sunrise Toro (6×54)

H. Upmann has been one of the most storied names in cigars since 1844, and AJ Fernandez has been one of the most productive forces in Nicaraguan tobacco for the past two decades. Their first collaboration in 2017 built a genuine following. The Heritage deepened it in 2022. Now comes the Sunrise, the third chapter in this partnership and the one that rounds out the portfolio with something neither of the previous releases offered: a Connecticut. Not your typical Connecticut, though. That is the brand’s own description of it, and when the people responsible for the blend feel the need to say that upfront, it means something.

AJ Fernandez and Rafael Nodal co-developed the Sunrise using Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade over tobaccos grown on AJ’s own farms in Estelí, rolled at his main factory in Nicaragua, and the result is a medium-bodied cigar that is smooth and approachable without ever going soft. In the 6×54 Toro you get an hour of cream, cedar, light citrus, and a gentle Nicaraguan earthiness underneath that keeps the whole smoke grounded and interesting from start to finish. Brand new off the PCA 2026 floor and shipping now. Under fourteen bucks. The best time to find out what they mean by that is right now.