"Discover what a cigar should be..." is the idea behind Cusano’s extremely successful line of cigars. Founder Michael Chiusano took a risk by investing in the cigar business in 1995, during the early cigar boom. Chiusano had his own investment company and was a casual smoker, until he went on a business trip to the Dominican Republic to help finance sugar cane production. While he was there, Chiusano was given a cigar rolled with local tobacco, and after being floored by it’s quality he had 100 cigars made with this blend. After selling these cigars at some local shops, Chiusano received rave reviews and decided that the cigar industry was his true calling. The name Cusano came from an alteration of Chiusano’s last name, as it was easier to spell and pronounce. Cusano cigars started out as something not so serious, as their first batches were intended to be a “thank you” to everyone who supported his initial endeavor. Soon orders poured in by the tens of thousands and Chisuano realized that he had a product worth holding onto.
Cusano came along at a good time in the cigar industry, because many cigar shops couldn’t get some of the bigger names in the industry, so settling for a Cusano seemed like the perfect idea. Hendrik Kelner of Davidoff fame joined up with Cusano in 1997 to take the blend that Chisuano had already made, and perfect it. Although Cusano started at a time when many little companies tried to break out, they remain one of the few that actually still remains pertinent in the cigar industry.
The Cusano Corojo ‘97 was rated #1 Newcomer by Cigar Aficionado in 2005, and received a 91 rating by the magazine. These cigars have a real Corojo leaf, which have color variations that allow it to have lots of lights and darks. The Cusano Corojo ‘97 is comprised of two Cuban seeds that were grown in Ecuador, in a valley that receives only 500 hours of sunlight every year. The Mexican Sumatra binder allows for the cigar to compliment the wrapper and maintain it’s spicy qualities. The Cusano Corojo ‘97 also received the highest rating ever given by Smoke magazine, an overall rating of 9.6, which is almost unheard of. With steady flavors of wood and leather, leading up to a cedary finish, the Cusano Corojo ‘97 is a quality medium-full bodied cigar. See what all the hype is about behind this Cusano line and pick up a box of 20 today.
The Cusano 18 Double Connecticut is another quality cigar from the Cusano family. A medium-bodied cigar that comes in boxes of 18, the Cusano 18 has also been received by the cigar industry very well. It received a 91 in the January, 2004 issue of Cigar Insider. The filler is from one of the first Dominican crops, harvested in 1985. It was a crop that Kelner had worked with, but he was having problems creating the exact cigar that he wanted. Cusano took this 18 year old tobacco, put in the filler, and added a Connecticut shade wrapper, as well as a Connecticut shade binder. In Chisuano’s own words, “...you get double the rich creaminess of the wrapper plus you got the sweetness of this 18-year-old filler.”
The Cusano 18 Paired Maduro lies right alongside it’s Connecticut counterpart in quality and consistence. The Cusano 18 Paired Maduro also received a 89 by Cigar Insider. Cusano paired together a Brazilian Mata Fina with a Connecticut broadleaf, as well as a rare Dominican Oro wrapper , to create a unique, exotic flavor. This Dominican medium-full bodied maduro is not an overpowering cigar, but it certainly does pack a bit of a punch. Michael Chisuano has come out of nowhere to create award winning cigars that consumers can enjoy at a price that anyone can afford. Keep your eye out for more Cusano, as future lines have the promise of being as successful as the 18, and Corojo lines. BestCigarPrices.com carries Cusano in most sizes and shapes at the most affordable price around.
- Less
