Camacho Connecticut a blend with a formidable kick and zest that doesn’t back down

If you are a cigar enthusiast, then you have come across the Camacho brand. Camacho is a trendy brand with equally powerful cigars to boot. While we can talk all day about Camacho brands with their unique flavors and strengths, today we’ll speak about the Camacho Connecticut cigar. Camacho is well known and loved for their full-bodied, flavorful, and intense cigars. A Camacho kind of person is one who reveres a cigar with a formidable kick and zest that doesn’t back down. The Camacho Connecticut, however, was created to be more mellow than most of the cigars in the brand. The goal was to produce a cigar that is mild-mannered without compromising bold flavor.

The Wrapper

The Camacho Connecticut stogie enjoys an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade Wrapper. Right off the bat, you will notice the smooth, silky texture. The cigar is flawless with a solid feel throughout and no soft spots or openings. There are thin, barely-visible veins on the wrapper and a visible wrapper seam. Though the wrapper is not entirely smooth, it is robust and reliable, and therefore I can’t take any points off for a few veins. Camacho underwent significant marketing and brand revamps in 2013. The old Camacho Connecticut had a small classic, white label. The new Camacho Connecticut has a sizeable tangerine-colored label with bold black writing. While I love a rebrand as much as the next guy, this label is a little too large. The good news, though, is that removing the label is practically stress-free. It doesn’t tag on the wrapper, and once it's off, what is left is your good ol’ Connecticut. A good whiff of the wrapper has a sweet hay odor. Some may describe it as woody, but I detected an element of sweet, earthy, yet rich and matured hay.

The Flavor Pre-light

I always like to do a cold draw before lighting my stogie. A cold draw speaks to the airiness versus the resistance of the cigar. Additionally, you get a preview of the flavor before you indulge the smoke. A cold draw of my Connecticut delivered an earthy, sawdust taste with undertones of nuttiness. It had just enough resistance without being too hard and enough airiness without being too loose. There was also an incredible freshness of cedar most likely from the perfect combination of the Seco and Ligero leaves.

First third

The first draw of my Connecticut was refreshing, light, flavorful, woody, and creamy. There was chocolate, nutty, creamy, richness with a crispy citrus background. The flavor and smoke were rich; enough to wet my palate while feeling a little oily on the lips. The smoke was not dry. A few draws in and you will notice the peppery aftertaste. The Connecticut cigar has one of the best aftertaste flavor profiles. I noted citrus and pepperiness in the retro-hale with a woody, cedar background. As the first third ends, the toasted buttery notes fade.

Second Third

In the second third of my Connecticut, I noticed that the strength and intensity of the flavor, as well as the zing, were increasing. The buttery creaminess had dissipated and in its place was a peppery, creamy, and toasty-hay profile. The woody, cedar taste appeared later but stayed until the next draw. With every retro-hale, I tasted hints of the Ligero freshness. This zingy freshness is the most outstanding feature I discovered with the Connecticut cigar. The reason I could distinguish the Ligero from the perfect blend of Ligero and Seco is that this cigar is mellow. The medium-body has allowed subtle flavors to come through unlike in the full-bodied cigars. As the second-third drew to a close, I realize that my stogie is getting warmer.

Last Third

The last third of my stogie was a little surprising. The strength and intensity of the smoke did not relent. However, there was the tiniest bit of new flavor that was a mix of mineral and toasty, creamy notes. There was also a chewy, sweet, hay zing that jumped to the front of my palate. The citrus, woody notes stayed consistently in the background. It is unfortunate that the final nub was a little too warm for my liking. It was also soft to the touch but not cold enough to smoke until the end.

Overall the Camacho Connecticut starts well and build-ups consistently. The body, smoke, and intensity holds-up well enough to qualify as a medium to full-bodied cigar. The flavor is present throughout the cigar which delivers an overall satisfying smoke.

How Does It Burn?

Cigar lovers like me get it when the Connecticut stogie is dubbed the “utility cigar” because of its easy-going nature. It can be smoked anytime and for any occasion. Camacho Connecticut has a fantastic draw that is sturdy enough not to burn too quickly. The flavor and body of the cigar do not overwhelm the palate, but it still delivers enough bang to fulfill your cigar needs. The burn is razor-sharp, consistent, and even throughout the cigar. The ash is a healthy silver-gray, tight, firm, and holds-up well for up to half an inch. The burn rate is ideal.

The Price

The Camacho Connecticut, in my opinion, is reasonably priced. The price range is within reasonable bounds, and since it is an everyday cigar, it is worth the price. The fact that singles go for as little as $7.00 to $9.00, the zing and bang you get from smoking one of these is worth it.

The Origin

The Camacho brand of cigars was founded in 1961 by Simon Camacho in Miami, Florida. After the death of the founder in 1990, Camacho was acquired by Caribe Imported Cigars in 1995 and later by the Davidoff Group in 2008. Camacho cigars are known for their full-bodied, full-strength nature. The Camacho Connecticut is, however, a seismic shift from the typical Camacho cigars. It is mellow, yet flavorful and medium to full-bodied. Camacho Connecticut filler is a mix of Honduran Generoso and Aleman Ligero. The wrapper is an Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf and the binder, better known as Corojo, is the signature Camacho mix of Mesoamerican Criollo and Indonesian Sumatra. Camacho grows all their tobacco at Ranchos Jamastran in Danli, Honduras.

Why Camacho Connecticut is my go-to daily smoke?

If you have smoked other brands in the Camacho family, then you will instantly notice the difference with the Camacho Connecticut. As earlier stated, Camacho Connecticut is a medium-bodied cigar, and this is an essential attribute if you want an anytime-of-the-day cigar. Typically, full-bodied cigars pack quite a punch both in taste and bang, but they don’t always pair well with all beverages. My idea of the perfect cigar should be smokable at any time, in any weather, and pair well with any drink. While Camacho Connecticut carries a formidable zing and some level of acidity with the first few draws, it mellows down to a sumptuous creamy relish. I often enjoy my Connecticut in the morning with expresso, midday with a glass of white wine, or in the evening with a glass of scotch, whiskey, or cognac.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, you will find that Camacho Connecticut is an immaculate cigar for both the seasoned enthusiast and the novice. Its level of strength is not overwhelming as is the case with other dark and strong cigars, but the flavor is all there.