The Best Connecticut Cigars: Creekside’s Draft Picks

From Creekside Podcast Ep. 040: These Are Hands Down The Best Connecticut Cigars, aired Jan 09, 2026. Recorded at Creekside Cigar Co. in Maineville, Ohio.

On this Creekside Podcast, Dave, Josh and Noah take on a friendly challenge: draft a starting five of Connecticut cigars. They make their picks on the spot, explain what they like about each one and occasionally lament a cigar another person got first. The result is a useful tour of the range within the category, from soft, creamy smokes to richer cigars with floral, coffee and spice notes.

How did the Connecticut cigar draft work?

The crew treated the exercise like building a team, not ranking five cigars from best to fifth-best. Each person took turns selecting cigars, with the order shaped by a coin flip and a snake draft. That meant choices reflected both personal favorites and the possibility that someone else might claim a cigar first.

That distinction matters. The hosts describe their selections as cigars they would want on their own Connecticut lineup, rather than a definitive ranking for every smoker. They also acknowledge how much preference can depend on the day: one person’s ideal cigar can change with their mood and what they want from a smoke.

Which Connecticut cigars stood out to the crew?

Noah opened with the Warped Piece Unique, praising its nuance, transitions and elegant character. He said it still brought plenty of flavor for a Connecticut. Josh chose New Dawn by Avowed, a personal favorite he described as sweet, chocolatey, nutty and a little caramel-like. Dave added Warped La Colmena and Rodriguez Reserva Privada, calling the latter a consistent, delicious Connecticut and a popular choice at the lounge.

Other picks highlighted different kinds of richness. Josh selected Espinosa Crema for its Connecticut Shade wrapper and creamy, buttery profile. Noah chose Charter Oak Pegnataro, noting its Ecuadorian shade wrapper and silky feel, along with a richness he finds distinctive. Later picks included Warped El Oso Blanco, Ferio Tego Timeless Sterling and Elegancia, Aganorsa Aniversario Connecticut, and Davidoff Aniversario.

The crew’s selections also included Dunbarton Sobremesa Brûlée and a cigar name that is unclear in the transcript. For the Sobremesa Brûlée, Josh praised its mild, sweet and creamy character, while the group briefly discussed whether it is sweet-tipped. Their conversation made clear that even a cigar’s sweetness can be a matter of debate among smokers.

What flavors can you find in Connecticut cigars?

The draft pushes back against the idea that Connecticut cigars all taste alike. Creaminess and sweetness came up repeatedly, but the hosts also described chocolate, caramel, almond, cedar, floral notes, coffee and spice. Some cigars were presented as gentle morning smokes to pair with coffee; others brought more intensity and a fuller range of flavors.

Josh’s description of New Dawn leaned toward chocolate and caramel, while Dave spoke about the floral character and development of Ferio Tego Elegancia. He said its flavors build through the cigar, with cinnamon candy and creamy notes early on, followed later by rich coffee and brûléed caramel. Those contrasting descriptions illustrate why the crew values both a cigar’s core flavor and how it changes as it burns.

What did the blind cigar tasting reveal?

Alongside the draft, the hosts smoked cigars blind. Josh’s cigar was revealed as a Jeremy Jack JJ14 Lancero, a size he said he had not smoked before. During the smoke, he noticed cream, light wood and dried-fruit notes, and praised its draw and burn. The reveal surprised him because he recognized the flavor profile without identifying the cigar.

The blind tasting is a reminder that familiar labels can shape expectations. Without seeing a band, the crew focused on how each cigar actually smoked. The available transcript identifies Josh’s Lancero, but does not include complete reveals for the other blind cigars.

Key takeaways

• The draft was a set of personal lineups, not a universal ranking of Connecticut cigars.
• The crew described a broad flavor range, including cream, sweetness, chocolate, nuts, cedar, coffee and floral notes.
• Several hosts valued cigars that develop and change as they smoke.
• The blind tasting gave Josh a chance to appreciate the Jeremy Jack JJ14 Lancero without knowing its identity.

Cigars from this episode

• Warped Piece Unique: Noah praised its nuance, transitions and elegant character, with plenty of flavor for a Connecticut.
• Avowed New Dawn: Josh described it as sweet, chocolatey, nutty and a little caramel-like.
• Warped La Colmena: Dave selected it as one of his Connecticut draft picks and called it a desert-island favorite.
• Rodriguez Reserva Privada: Dave praised its consistency and called it a delicious Connecticut.
• Espinosa Crema: Josh cited its Connecticut Shade wrapper and creamy, buttery character.
• Charter Oak Pegnataro: Noah praised its silky Ecuadorian shade wrapper and distinctive richness.
• Warped El Oso Blanco: Josh recalled cream, butter and a hint of floral character.
• Ferio Tego Timeless Sterling: Dave called it a creamy, sweet and delicious morning cigar, especially with coffee.
• Ferio Tego Elegancia: Dave described floral and cinnamon-candy notes, followed by coffee and brûléed caramel.
• Aganorsa Aniversario Connecticut: Josh described cedar, almond and other woody, nutty notes.
• Warped Saunter: Noah highlighted its floral character and fruity undertone.
• Dunbarton Sobremesa Brûlée: Josh praised its mild, sweet and creamy character and attractive presentation.
• Davidoff Aniversario: Dave praised its floral, sweet and creamy flavors, with touches of spice.
• Jeremy Jack JJ14 Lancero: Josh noted cream, light wood and dried-fruit flavors, along with an easy draw and good burn.

Shop, smoke and listen with Creekside

• Shop the cigars from this episode
• Join the Creekside Cigar Club for boutique cigars picked by our crew every month
• Visit our cigar lounge at 1381 US-22, Maineville, OH, open seven days a week
• Subscribe to the Creekside Podcast on YouTube and catch every episode