Viva Republica
I can make this one brief, as I’ve already covered some of the details in a review. I stopped by the Viva Republica booth almost entirely unfamiliar with the line, as I don’t recall having seen them on the shelves of my local shops. The gents there were quite accomodating, and I hung out chatting for a while getting the details on their backstory and how they have built a relationship with La Aurora (who produces their cigars). It appears to be a mutually beneficial arrangement, and they have been given access to a large library of tobaccos for blending. They have also been given a great deal of latitude in the process – they’re very hands-on, making all the decisions throughout the process in order to achieve a cigar that is exactly what they want to bring into the marketplace. I have now smoked their new Rapture maduro, and have to agree with them that it is a fantastic cigar.