H. Upmann Nicaragua by AJ Fernandez Sunrise Robusto (5×52)

H. Upmann has been one of the most respected names in cigars since 1844. AJ Fernandez has been one of the most respected blenders alive for the last two decades. When Altadis first put those two together, the result was a bold, Sumatra-wrapped Nicaraguan that became an instant hit. Then came the darker, fuller Aniversario expression. Now for 2026 they’ve added a third chapter: the Sunrise. Rafael Nodal and AJ Fernandez built this one specifically to do something that almost nobody in the industry does well. A Connecticut wrapper that isn’t just smooth for the sake of being smooth.

Every tobacco in this 5×52 Robusto, the wrapper, binder, and filler, comes from Fernandez’s own farms in Estelí, which means the consistency and integration you get here is something most Connecticut-wrapped cigars simply cannot match. Cedar, toasted nuts, cream, a touch of coffee mid-smoke, and a natural sweetness that builds toward the finish. Medium body, effortless draw, and priced right at $12.99 a stick. This is the morning smoke Cigars Daily Nation has been waiting for.