Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino Sungrown Pyramid No. 9
Legend has it that the Cuesta-Rey brand was once the official cigar of the King of Spain. That was in the late 1800s, back when it was made with Cuban tobacco. The brand eventually ended up in the hands of J.C. Newman Cigar Co., Tampa’s oldest cigarmaker, and today it’s produced in the Dominican Republic by Arturo Fuente. It wasn’t until 2002 that J.C. Newman created the Centro Fino Sungrown line, looking to add a bolder blend to the Cuesta-Rey portfolio.
The name references the Sumatra-seed wrapper from Ecuador. “Sungrown” refers to the tobacco grown out in the open sunlight, which makes the leaf stronger and darker. “Centro Fino” is the middle of the tobacco plant from where the tobacco was culled. Too high on the stalk and the tobacco is too dark. Too low and the leaf is too light. J.C. Newman likens the central part of the plant to a center cut of beef—more even in shape, texture and overall consistency. We loved the Pyramid No. 9 for its ability to convey rich, nutty layers with every puff, all accented by notes of honey, nougat, chocolate and a big, buttery cashew finish.
—Gregory Mottola
